5 cocktail collections that capture the geek spirit(s)

Ah, there’s nothing quite like settling in for a night dedicated to your favorite pastimes (reading, gaming, watching movies), especially when letting loose and relaxing with a nice, stiff drink, is there? No finer way to melt away the innumerable stresses that life’s daily grind can leave weighing down those tired shoulders.

But what if you could combine the two on an even deeper level? Pay tribute to your favorite fandom and get that satisfying buzz at the same time? Well, that’s exactly what a handful of intuitive geeks set out to do: create drinks that perfectly captures the spirit of their favorite things, be they movies, TV shows, video games, book series, etc. Here’s a small sampling of those cocktail recipes, with all the ingredients spelled out and words of wisdom via the creators themselves, to help you have a truly geektastic evening to remember! Or to not remember (depending on how crazy you go).

ROUND 1)  PACIFIC RIM

(Drinks created by HardActToFollow)

‘The Jaeger’
Ingredients:
–  4 oz. Jagermeister Herbal Liqueur
–  1 oz. Red Bull Energy Drink
–  2 oz. Monster Energy Drink

‘The Kaiju’
Ingredients:
–  1 liter Everclear
–  5.25 liters Vodka
–  1 liter Triple Sec
–  .5 liter Bacardi 151 Rum
–  1 bottle Peach Schnapps
–  1 bottle Apple Schnapps
–  1 bottle Sour Apple Schnapps
–  4 bottles Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill Wine
–  1.75 liters Gin
–  10 liters Sprite
–  1 liter Sunny Delight
–  8 liters Hawaiian Punch
–  2 containers Orange Juice Concentrate

Creator(s)’ note: “This one’s not fooling around, folks. Lure the kaiju in with this drink’s sweet fruit punch flavor, then knock them out with the insane amounts of alcohol it contains.”

ROUND 2) INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US

(Drinks created by EXP Restaurant + Bar. Art by Julianna Kolakis.)

‘Emerald Fist’
Ingredients:
–  1/2 oz melon liquor
–  1/2 oz green sourpuss
–  1/2 oz limoncello
–  1/2 oz lemon juice
–  1/2 oz simple syrup
–  Sprite

Creator(s)’ note: “Shake all alcohol, put on rocks in a tall glass, fill with sprite. Garnish with Lime. Begin focusing Willpower.”

“In brightest day, in blackest night. No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evils might, beware of my power. The Green Lantern’s light.”

‘Superman into Kryptonite’
Ingredients:
‘Superman’:
–  1 part Red sourpuss
–  1 part Blue curacao

‘Kryptonite’:
–  1/2 oz Green creme de menthe
–  Energy drink

Creator(s)’ note: “In a shot glass, carefully layer your blue curacao on top of the red sourpuss. Then, in a tall glass, add a mixture of 1/2 oz green creme de menthe and energy drink to taste. Standard issue drop shot, now with Kryptonian killing might. Drop him in and plan your world domination.”

ROUND 3) STAR TREK

(Drinks created by Quark’s Bar at Star Trek: The Experience / provided by The Ugly Couch Show)

‘James Tea Kirk’
Ingredients:
–   .75 oz Bacardi Superior (or other white rum)
–   .75 oz Gin
–   .75 oz Vodka
–    .75 oz Blue Curaco
–   1 oz Sprite (or 7up or other Lemon Lime soda)
–   1 oz Sweet and Sour mix

Creator(s)’ note: “The James Tea Kirk is basically an AMF (Adios Mother F*cker). Not a difficult drink to find a recipe for. Mix together and pour over ice.”

‘Mind Meld’
Ingredients:
–   1 oz Bacardi Superiour (or any white rum)
–    1 oz Bacardi 151 (you can use any 151 proof rum I suppose, since you don’t drink it for the taste)
–    1 oz peach schnapps
–    1 oz tripple sec
–    about 1 oz Cranberry Juice
–    about 1 oz Pineapple Juice

Creator(s)’ note: “Probably our second most popular drink on the menu… Basically mix all the ingredients listed together and pour over ice and there it is. If you can find it, peach sugar for the rim of the glass is the garnish we used. Have fun with this one.”

ROUND 4) BIOSHOCK INFINITE

(Drinks created by James Dance of Loading as part of an official Bioshock Infinite series of drinks. Photography by Will Edgecombe.)

‘Possession Vigor’
Ingredients:
–  1 bunch of Basil
–  1/2 Lemon
–  1/2 Lime
–  25 ml Sugar Syrup
–  50 ml Tanqueray Gin
Abisnthe Froth Recipe (Serves 4):
–  1 Egg White
–  25 ml Sugar Syrup
–  25 ml Water
–  25 ml Absinthe

Creator’s note: “Add Basil and Lemon half into a cocktail shaker and muddle the two heavily. Next add a shot of sugar syrup to the mix, add in the Tanqueray gin double measure, fill to the top with Ice and shake vigorously. Finally strain through a strainer forcing any remaining liquid out of the ingredients. Serve in a rocks glass with fresh ice. Add some Absinthe froth to the top of the drink. To make the froth, combine the ingredients in blender and whisk until foam forms, skim some off and add to the top of the drink.

‘With POSSESSION, the free will of your enemies matters no more. Make your foes blindly fight and die for you.’ –Fink Manufacturing advertisement”

‘Devils Kiss Vigor’
Ingredients:
–  25ml Spiced Rum
–  25ml Chambord
–  10ml Grenadine
–  1 Lime
–  50ml Ginger Beer
–  50ml Cloudy Lemonade (carbonated)
–  2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
–  Cinnamon
–  15ml Overproof Rum

Creator’s note: “Fill a high ball glass with ice, pour in grenadine, Chambord and dashes of bitters to begin. Carefully pour in cloudy lemonade and ginger beer down the side of the glass leaving the grenadine sitting in the bottom, add juice of a lime and finish the drink with a shot of Spiced Rum to the top.

To serve place drink on a saucer and place the measure of overproof rum around the base, light with a match and allow guest to flick cinnamon onto the drink/flame, extinguish, add straw and serve. Anyone looking to get drunk can drink the rum left in the saucer when cool.

‘A civilized man has power over fire. A refined man handles fire with finesse: DEVIL’S KISS.’ –Fink Manufacturing advertisement”

ROUND 5) MASS EFFECT

‘Serrice Ice Brandy’

(Drink created and photographed by Dani from Gourmet Gaming)

Ingredients:
–  1.5 fl oz Vodka (or Soda Water if you want to lessen the alcohol)
–  1/4 fl oz Apricot Brandy
–  1/2 fl oz Blue Curaçao
–  1 Tablespoon Fresh Lime Juice
–  Ice
Garnish:
–  1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
–  1-2 Teaspoons Water
–  Red Food Colouring
–  Wedge of Lime

Creator’s note: “When making the garnish, place the sugar in a small container and add the water with a few drops of red food colouring. Shake the container to mix the colour and dye the sugar red. Rub a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass then dip the glass into the sugar to coat it.

When making the drink, pour all the ingredients into the cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake it up until chilled. Add a few cubes of ice to the prepared glass, pour and drink upon defeating the Reapers.”

(Drink inspired by Dr. Chakwas’ favorite tipple from the Mass Effect series)

‘Ryncol’

(Drink created and photographed by Dani from Gourmet Gaming)

Ingredients:
–  1 oz absinthe
–  1 oz grain alcohol
–  1 dash blue curacao

Creator’s note: “Shake all ingredients and pour into a small glass. WARNING: Do not take this drink lightly.  It is extremely potent, just as in the game.  As always, be responsible when consuming alcohol, especially this cocktail.”

Ryncol is Krogan liquor. It “sets off radiological alarms” and “hits aliens like ground glass.”

BONUS ROUND) BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM

‘Arkham Party Shot Set’

(Drink created by James Dance of Loading for an article in The Guardian)

Ingredients:
–  Midori
–  Vodka
–  Crushed ice
–  Blue Curacao
–  Sambuca
–  Cranberry juice
–  Rum
–  Popping Candy
–  Fresh Mint
–  Sugar Syrup
–  Blackcurrant Coulis
–  Champagne

Creator’s note:

“This shot set sees some of Gotham’s most dastardly villains taking on the Dark Knight.

For The Riddler, pour 20ml of Midori down the inside of glass, then add 5ml of vodka over a spoon.

For a Mr. Freeze, crush some ice and pour it into your shot glass, followed by 10ml of Blue Curacao and 10ml of Sambuca.

Your Joker is made from 15ml Blue Curacao, cranberry juice and rum with a topping of popping candy (‘You’ll need to stir it up with a straw to get the colour,’ says James).

Then we have a Poison Ivy, grown from 15ml of rum, a fresh mint leaf (or a dash crème de menth if you prefer) and sugar syrup.

Finally, create your Batman/Bruce Wayne shooter with 5ml of blackcurrant coulis and champagne. Now let the flavour battle commence!

The caped crusader better have some paracetamol in that utility belt – this isn’t so much a cocktail as a super villain fist fight.” [subscribe2]