Above: Red Carpet Cocktail.
The ballots have been cast, the results tabulated. Now all that’s left is to sit back, relax, and wait for the “And the winner is…” announcement. Yes, it’s time again for the Oscars! This Sunday, Jimmy Kimmel hosts the 89th Academy Awards ceremony. Whether you’re throwing a fancy viewing party or watching while vegging in sweats, you’ll want to have a well-prepared cocktail (or two) at hand. These drinks, created by Chicago-based mixologist Tommy Lansaw, honor the most buzzed-about films at this year’s Oscars.
4 Movie-Inspired Cocktails to Drink While Watching the Oscars:
Red Carpet Cocktail
(pictured above)
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Jim Beam Black
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 3/4 orange blossom honey
Preparation:
Add liquids into cocktail shaker and shake. Double strain into a rocks glass and top with gold flakes.
Over the Moon
“Moonlight” is the underdog at this year’s Oscars. The understated yet riveting story set in Miami follows protagonist Chiron as he grapples with his sexuality in three stages: during childhood, in his teen years, and as an adult. Along the way, Chiron is challenged by his drug-addicted mother, mentored by a tender-hearted drug dealer, and conflicted over a high school crush. Each lesson learned pushes him closer to uncovering his true self. “Moonlight” is a painful film to watch, but a poignant one. Its virtues lie in the cast’s subtle performances, its pregnant pauses, and its unflinching look at the intersection of poverty, race, sexuality, and masculinity. This cocktail combines the dark and the light, forces that struggle to co-exist in the film.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces Jim Beam Black
- 1/2 ounce St. Germain
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce red wine (to top)
Preparation:
Combine all liquids into a shaker. Shake well. Double strain into a small Collins glass. Top with one ounce of bold red wine. Garnish with a lemon moon and star.
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The Manchester
If you’re the strong, silent, melancholy type, “Manchester by the Sea” is probably your pick for Best Picture. This sorrowful story centers around divorced janitor Lee Chandler, played by Casey Affleck, who unexpectedly loses his brother, Joe, to cardiac failure. Chandler is tasked with legal guardianship of Joe’s 16-year-old son, Patrick, a responsibility he isn’t entirely sure he’s up for, particularly because it involves relocating to Manchester. Chandler and Patrick bumble through their grief together, inciting both laughter and tears. This cocktail is strong enough to squash any disappointment that might arise when “Manchester by the Sea” inevitably gets robbed at the Oscars.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of Jim Beam Black
- 1/2 ounce of simple syrup
- 2 dashes bay bitters
- 1 dash orange bitters
Preparation:
Combine all liquids into a pint glass and stir for 60 rotations. Pour into a rocks glass with a large cube. Garnish with a sailboat.
Song and Dance
There are movies that you love to hate and there are movies that you loath to admit you love. La La Land, the musical tale of two appallingly attractive people trying to hit the big time in show biz, would be the latter. Mia, an aspiring actress played by Emma Stone, and Sebastian, a jazz pianist played by Ryan Gosling, endeavor to establish their show biz careers, find success through unlikely avenues, and (of course) fall in love. It’s almost too saccharine to stomach, but it’s what Hollywood does best…and might, secretly, be the cinematic pick-me-up we all need right now. This cocktail is just as sweet as this endearing Oscar contender for Best Picture.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces of Jim Beam Black
- 1/2 ounce of Aperol
- 3/4 ounce strawberry syrup
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- Egg white
Preparation:
Combine all liquids (except egg white) into a cocktail shaker. Shake. Double strain into a clean cocktail shaker. Add egg white and shake until well combined and the egg white has emulsified. Strain into coupe/footed rocks glass and allow the foam to settle. Add confetti firework stencil.
