These silver screen sips will be served up at official 2020 Oscar parties and Cocktail Academy’s Matt Landes is winning awards season yet again. These chic, cinematic cocktails inspired by this year’s crop of Academy Award nominees will be front and center at the post-awards bashes. Check out the creative concoctions and toast this year’s nominees in style.
Cliff’s Bloody Mary – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
“To honor Brad Pitt’s character of Cliff Booth, I opted for a Bloody Mary similar to the one that he drinks in the opening scene at the famous Musso and Frank Grill,” says Landes. “Nothing screams classic Hollywood more than a restaurant that boasted regulars like Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, and Greta Garbo. The drink is also perfect for the morning after if you’ll be drinking into the night like Tinseltown.”
- 1.5 oz Vodka
- 3 oz Tomato Juice
- .5 oz Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry
- 8 Dashes of Tobasco
- 4 Dashes of Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 Pinches of Celery Salt
- 2 Grinds Black Pepper
- Lemon + Lime Wedges, for garnish
- Celery Stalk, for garnish
Add all ingredients to a cocktail mixer and stir until chilled. Pour into desired cocktail glass. Garnish with stacked lime and lemon wedge and larger-than-necessary celery stalk for dramatic effect.
Cowboy Birthday Party – Parasite
Spoiler alert! This cocktail was inspired by the climax of the movie – the birthday party of the young Park son,” says Landes. “We utilized watermelon as a nod to the classic Americana that the Park son is obsessed with and included Shoju to honor Korean director Bong Joon-ho.”
- 1.5 oz Tequila Blanco
- .5 oz Shoju
- 1 oz Lime
- .75 oz Simple Syrup
- 4 Cubes of Muddled Watermelon
- Watermelon Wedge, for garnish
- Cracked Black Pepper, for garnish
Mix all ingredients into a shaker and top with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass with an ice cube and garnish with the watermelon wedge and a few cracks of fresh black pepper.
Love Is A Great Beautiful – Little Women
“The classic taste of chamomile, rose and lemon form a delicate but powerful drink that speaks to the March sisters’ struggles, quest for love, and female identity at a time when women had no voice at all,” says Landes.
- 1.5 oz Chamomile/Rose-Infused Vodka
- .5 oz Dry White Port
- .75 oz Lemon
- .75 oz Simple Syrup
- Lemon Twist, for garnish
- Baby Breath Flower, for presentation
Infuse the vodka by soaking a mixture chamomile and rose in the spirit for at least 4-hours and up to 24 hours in advance. Mix all ingredients into a shaker and top with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour into a champagne flute (or fluted glass) and garnish with the lemon twist and baby breath flower (for presentation only).
The Joke is On You – The Joker
“We had quite a lot of fun with this drink and wanted something dark that would linger on your tongue after you had a sip; similar to the effect Joker has on the lower class Gotham denizens in the film,” says Landes. “This drink represents Arthur Fleck’s journey from misunderstood man to complete villain and the flavors, while seemingly conflicting, come together in a maddeningly delightful drink.”
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz Lime
- .5 oz Cassis
- .25 oz Cherry Heering
- .75 oz Beet Juice
- Muddled Fresh Marjoram
- Topped with Soda
Add marjoram, lime and cassis to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the marjoram with a wooden muddler. Add Tanqueray gin and beet juice and top with ice. Shake vigorously. Fill a tall glass with a single long ice spear (or ice cubes) and strain drink over. Top with soda water.
Cocktailacademyla.com, @Cocktail_acdmy
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