GorJess Entertains: Oscar Themed Cocktails

It’s no secret that the Oscars are like Christmas to me. Not only do I live to see all of the beautiful gowns float down the red carpet, I also love watching all of the films to prepare for Hollywood’s most glamorous evening. Throwing your very own Academy Awards viewing party has become wildly popular, and if you’re going to do it you might as well go big.

One of my favorite things to do when entertaining for an Oscars event/party is to use the nominated films as theme inspiration. A creative way to do that is to create food and drinks that relate to each movie. This time around it’s all about cocktails. Every year television personality and entertaining expert Mark Addison (www.MarkAddison.com) creates a series of signature Oscar Cocktails inspired by each of the Academy’s Best Picture nominees. These fun, easy-to-make drinks will provide the perfect libations at awards viewing parties everywhere, and encourages party guests to show support of their personal hopefuls in the biggest, most-anticipated category of the night. And if you (like myself) prefer non-alcoholic drinks, you can simply tweak the recipe to your liking.

Below I’m sharing a few of these celebratory recipes inspired by own personal favorite films in the Best Picture category leading up to the ceremony on Sunday night. Each recipe includes a picture of the finished cocktail and a step-by-step recipe by Mark.

 KIWI PUNCH Inspired by “Lady Bird”:

The Kiwi Punch represents the struggle of Lady Bird (aka Christine) who desperately wants to fly-off to an out-of-state college but feels grounded by her overprotective and critical mother.  A Kiwi is a flightless bird native of New Zealand as well as a fruit also from New Zealand.  Kiwifruit gives this punch it’s fruity punch and is served in a soda glass making it look unassuming while packing another punch of vodka.

*simply omit the vodka for a non-alcoholic version sans a punch!

Ingredients

2 cups kiwi, peeled and diced
12 mint leaves
2 tablespoons sugar
3 limes, juiced
2 cups vodka
2 cups tonic water
ice cubes
1 kiwi, thinly sliced for garnish

Garnish: Star fruit slice, mint sprigs

Tools & Materials

16 oz. Riedel Coca Cola Glass

Directions

• In a pitcher, combine diced kiwis, mint leaves, sugar, and ½ lime juiced. Muddle the contents until fully combined.

• Fill the pitcher with ice and top off with vodka and tonic water.

• Stir, pour into eight tumbler glasses over ice making sure each glass receives equal amounts of kiwi and mint leaves. Garnish with a star fruit slice and mint sprig.

  APRICOT NEGRONI SPRITZER Inspired by “Call Me By Your Name”:

  

   

The iconic Italian Negroni is updated with apricot liqueur and French dry vermouth inspired the film Call Me By Your Name’s Italian location, the apricot orchards surrounding family’s Italian countryside villa and the French heritage of romantic lead character, Elio.

*note: no peaches were harmed in the making of this cocktail… (to soon?)

Ingredients

1 1/4 oz gin

1 1/4 oz French dry vermouth

3/4 oz Aperol

1/4 oz apricot liqueur

3 dashes of orange bitters

* Optional: 2 oz. prosecco

Garnish: orange peel & apricot wedge

Tools & Materials

16 oz. Chateau Baccarat Tumbler

Mixing Glass

Directions

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and slowly stir to chill.

For more creative drinks you can purchase a signed copy of Mark’s latest book ‘Cocktail Chameleon’ on his official website.

*Disclaimer: All of these lovely drinks are just fun ideas for those of the legal drinking age wherever your location may be.