Oscar Party Cocktails
Award season is in full swing and with the Oscars coming up swiftly on Sunday, why not watch the awards in style? I’ll show you how to entertain your Oscar party guests with movie themed cocktails and popcorn. Inspired by the best picture nominees, I created drinks to fit the themes and tone of each movie and internationally-flavored popcorn based on the foreign-language film nominees.
For recipes for each drink, click the links below.
Beasts of the Southern Wild - The Bathtub
Zero Dark Thirty – Midnight Shooter
Django Unchained - Mandingo Sunset
Silver Linings Playbook - Excelsior!
For recipes for my internationally-flavored popcorn, click here.
If you missed my segment on Good Day New York, you can watch it below!
Oscar Party Cocktails: Beasts of the Southern Wild – The Bathtub
Based in the southern Louisiana bayou community called the “Bathtub,” Beasts of the Southern Wild, is a story about a five-year old girl named Hushpuppy and her unhealthy father. While other Bathtub residents flee due to the oncoming storm, the two decide to stick it out with a few others in their community.
I created a cocktail called The Bathtub, named after the community the movie is based in. This drink was inspired by Louisiana food and spirits. It uses Louisiana’s own Tabasco sauce, vodka dirtied up by Louisiana bayou seasonings, and is garnished with a hush puppy, after one of the main character’s names.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. dirty vodka (Ketel One infused with hot peppers, whole allspice, bay leaves, oregano and thyme)
- 2 oz. tomato juice
- 2 oz. of clamato juice
- 2 oz. beer
- Tabasco
- 1 raw oyster (optional)
- Cajun spiced rim (dry crab boil seasoning)
- Lemon wedge
- Lime Wedge
- Hush Puppy for garnish
Instructions:
Infuse vodka and let sit for at least one day and up to a week. Add vodka, tomato juice, clamato juice, Tabasco (to taste) and beer into a cocktail shaker with ice and stir until combined. Moisten a pint glass rim with a lime wedge and dredge the rim in crab boil seasoning. Pour mixture into rimmed glass and garnish with a skewer of lemon and lime wedges and one hushpuppy.
Oscar Party Cocktails: Amour – Perfect Love
Amour is a story about a couple’s struggle after the wife suffers a stroke. The couple, retired music teachers, are in their eighties and have a daughter who lives abroad with her family.
Because Amour is a French-language film, my cocktail for Amour is named after Parfait Amour, a floral infused liqueur, which is French for “perfect love.”
Ingredients:
- ½ oz. Parfait Amour
- ½ oz. Cointreau
- Top with Moet & Chandon Champagne
Instructions:
Add Parfait Amour and Cointreau into a Champagne flute and slowly top off with chilled Champagne.
Oscar Party Cocktails: Life of Pi – Richard Parker
Pi, a young man, is in the only one from his family who survives a shipwreck and is stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean. Life of Pi unfolds as an adventure as Pi is stranded with a Bengal tiger.
The cocktail for Life of Pi is named after the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. My inspiration for this drink came from locations and nationalities in the film. The Chai tea is for Pi’s Indian origin, while the Cointreau is for Pi’s name, Piscine Molitar, a swimming pool in France. The Yuzu juice is for the Japanese freighter ship Pi and his family are on and the Canadian whiskey is because Pi’s family was destined for Canada.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. Chai Tea (hot brewed)
- 1 oz. Cointreau
- 1 oz. Crown Royal Canadian whiskey
- ½ oz. Yuzu Juice
Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice and stir well. Pour into a warmed brandy snifter and garnish with a lemon twist.
Oscar Party Cocktails: Les Misérables – Toulon
Taking place in 19th-century France, this movie is based on the musical Les Misérables, which is actually based on the French novel by Victor Hugo. The story follows Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, who becomes mayor of a town in France and struggles as he decides to care for a factory worker’s daughter, all while being hunted by a policeman.
Toulon is the name of this cocktail, inspired by and named after the city in which the prison Jean was in. It’s a classic French cocktail with spirits of the period and sugar and bitters because of the movie is bittersweet.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. Hennessy
- 1 oz. Benedictine (herbal liqueur)
- 1 oz. dry vermouth
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- sugar cube
- bitters
Instructions:
Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker half filled with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and decorate with a lemon rind spiral.
Oscar Party Cocktails: Lincoln – Yankee Punch
Based on part of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography of Abraham Lincoln, the film follow’s the President’s struggles during the Civil War. Lincoln focuses on the President’s efforts to have the 13th amendment to emancipate the slaves passed by the House of Representatives.
The Yankee Punch, the cocktail for Lincoln, is a period drink based off of a classic brandy punch. I used Kentucky bourbon in this drink because Lincoln hails from Kentucky.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Curacoa
- 2 TBS White Sugar
- 3 oz. Bulleit Kentucky Bourbon
- ½ small lemon
- 2 oz. of soda water
Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with shaved ice, shake well, pour into a Colins glass top with soda water, dress the top with fruit of the season.
Oscar Party Cocktails: Argo – Canadian Caper
A thriller based on the Iran hostage crisis in which the six fugitive American diplomatic personnel were rescued. In order to get them out, a CIA operative set up fake Canadian identities for the diplomats and a fake movie scouting.
The cocktail’s name is based on the article “Canadian Caper” and is a “fake” cocktail (non-alcoholic) about a fake movie. I wanted to make it a fun fruity, frozen cocktail…but if you want to be a little stealthy or covert in your drink making, slip in a shot of Canadian whiskey.
Ingredients:
- 1 pkg of Blue Raspberry Drink Mix
- 16 oz. Pineapple Juice
- 8 oz ice water
- 1 ½ oz. Canadian Whiskey (optional)
Instructions:
Blend blue raspberry drink mix and pineapple juice with ice in a blender until smooth and pour into a hurricane-style glass with a straw. Float the Crown Royal on the top filling the straw and garnish with a slice of orange and an umbrella and pretend you are whoever you are not…
Oscar Party Cocktails: Zero Dark Thirty – Midnight Shooter
“A story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s dangerous man,” this movie is a chronicle of the hunt for the al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. This film is a dramatization of the operation by Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 that found and killed bin Laden in 2006.
This cocktail is actually a shooter – down and dirty, quick and easy. As a hard, gritty film, the shooter I created for Zero Dark Thirty is called Midnight Shooter because the operation takes place in the middle of the night.
Ingredients:
- ½ shot black Sambuca
- ½ shot Bulleit Bourbon
Instructions:
Refrigerate ingredients then LAYER in chilled shot glass by carefully pouring over the back of a spoon in the following order; bourbon then Sambuca
Oscar Party Cocktails: Django Unchained – Mandingo Sunset
Django Unchained is a wester film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film follows a slave who sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner with the help of a German bounty hunter.
I created a surreal drink for a surreal movie. The drink’s name, Mandingo Sunset, was inspired after they rode into the sunset at the end of the movie.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. Bulleit Bourbon
- 2 oz. orange juice
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- ½ oz. Maraschino syrup
Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into ice-filled rocks glass. Drizzlle maraschino suyrup into the drink to create the sunset effect and garnish with orange.
Oscar Party Cocktails: Silver Linings Playbook
This romantic comedy-drama follows the story of a former teacher who moves back in with his parents after being in a mental institutation. He tries to reconcile with his ex-wife, but meets a girl with problems of her own and the two develop an odd friendship.
My cocktail, the Excelsior!, was inspired by a traditional drink from Philadelphia, the Philly Punch. Back in the Revolutionary War era, fisherman would gather to eat and drink, but at this time, individual cocktails were almost non-existent and punch was the customary way to drink with friends. The name for this drink comes from the main character’s mantra and the exclamation point is used to express the emotion “ever upward.”
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. Myer’s Dark Rum
- ½ oz. peach brandy
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- top with ginger ale
- lemon wheel
Instructions:
Combine rum, peach brandy, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and pour into a 6 oz. wine glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with a lemon wheel.
Oscar Party: Internationally-Flavored Popcorn
I created internationally-flavored popcorn based on the foreign-language film nominees. Recipes for each are below.
Amour – Austria
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of plain microwave popcorn
- 2 tbs Herbs de Provence
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp Fleur de sel
Instructions:
Pop the popcorn, then put it in a large ziploc bag. Evenly spray with a light coating of olive oil flavored cooking spray. Combine the other ingredients and add to the bag. Shake the bag to evenly coat the popcorn.
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of plain microwave popcorn
- 2 tsp ground white pepper
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp ground cloves
Instructions:
Pop the popcorn, then put it in a large ziploc bag. Evenly spray with a light coating of olive oil flavored cooking spray. Combine the other ingredients and add to the bag. Shake the bag to evenly coat the popcorn.
No - Chile
Tacama’s spice mix is a mixture of herbs and indigenous ingredients from Patagonia in southern Chile.
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of plain microwave popcorn
- 1 dried red hot pepper
- 1 tsp dill seeds
- 1 tsp Chilean smoked sea salt
Instructions:
Pop the popcorn, then put it in a large ziploc bag. Evenly spray with a light coating of olive oil flavored cooking spray. Combine the other ingredients and add to the bag. Shake the bag to evenly coat the popcorn.
A Royal Affair - Denmark
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of plain microwave popcorn
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp grated orange zest
- 1/2 tsp fennel seed
- 1/2 tsp anise seed
- 1/2 tsp caraway seed
- 1 tsp Danish smoked sea salt
Instructions:
Pop the popcorn, then put it in a large ziploc bag. Evenly spray with a light coating of olive oil flavored cooking spray. Combine the other ingredients and add to the bag. Shake the bag to evenly coat the popcorn.
War Witch - Canada
Ingredients:
- 1 cup real maple syrup
- ½ – 1 cup walnuts, chopped coarsely
- 9 cups plain popped popcorn
Instructions:
Heat maple syrup over medium heat until syrup reaches 236 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer. Lightly oil large mixing bowl. Mix popcorn, nuts and syrup with lightly-oiled spoon. When mizture cools, break off and eat.
1980′s Theme
The 1980′s was a decade of excitement. It was a decade of speaking out and fighting for what you believe in.
It was also an age where people found interest in debates, and solving problems.
During the 1980′s, Billy Bush was going to St George’s Academy in Newport, RI where he played Lacrosse and Hockey for his school. I was inspired to take a few of America’s favorite foods found in the cafeteria of any school and turned them into miniature snack bites with a 80′s inspired signature cocktail from the icon candy, The Astro Pop.
Pac Man and Cheese
Ingredients:
4 cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
½ cup sour cream
4 tbsp. butter, cut into pieces
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
peanut oil
flour
1 egg
plain bread crumbs
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 35o degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once you have the macaroni cooked and drained, place in a large bowl and while still hot and add the cheddar.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and add to the macaroni mixture.
- Pour macaroni mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Top with additional cheese if desired.
- Chill macaroni and cheese in the refrigerator overnight.
- Cut into pieces using a round cookie cutter.
- Heat 2 inches of oil in a large heavy duty Dutch over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Dredge each circle in flour then egg, and then coat with bread crumbs.
- Fry for about 1 minute on each side until golden brown.
- Drain on paper towels before serving.
Truffle Tater Tots
Ingredients:
1 large bag frozen tater tots
truffle salt
Directions:
- Follow the instructions on the back of the package to bake the tater tots.
- Sprinkle with truffle salt.
Mini Pizzas
Ingredients:
Frozen Pizzas
Directions:
- Heat the oven to the temperature as instructed on the frozen pizza.
- Using fun shaped cookie cutters, cut the frozen pizza into small pieces.
- Bake as instructed.
Astro Pop Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 oz. Absolut ® Raspberri vodka
1 oz. sweet and sour mix
½ oz. grenadine syrup
½ oz. Blue Curacao liqueur
Directions:
1. Add vodka and sour mix into a tumbler with ice to chill.
2. Shake ingredients and pour in a large shot glass.
3. Use Grenadine and allow to sink to the bottom of the glass (pour slowly
down the inside of the glass)
4. Allow Blue Curacao to sink to the middle of the glass (it will sit on top of the
grenadine if poured slowly down inside of the glass)
5. The finished product will be red, blue, then white from the bottom to top.
1980′s Inspired Playlist
Here is a great playlist to immerse your guests in the 80′s theme.
1. Rick Springfield – Jesse’s Girl
2. The Bangles Walk – Like an Egyptian
3. Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is a Place on Earth
4. UB40 – Red Red Wine
5. Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
6. Daryl Hall – Kiss on My List
7. Steve Winwood – Higher Love
8. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
9. Kool & the Gang – Celebration
10. Boston – Amanda
11. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
12. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
13. Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
14. Escape Club – Wild, Wild West
15. INXS – Need You Tonight
16. Olivia Newton-John – Physical
17. Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
18. Lionel Richie – Truly
1990′s Theme
The 1990′s is the Decade of Disasters because lots of disasters happened. The Y2K bug, the earthquakes, the Gulf War, etc. This is the Decade of Discovery. Scientists discovered how to clone animals, and they released the Hubble Telescope.
During the 1990′s, Billy Bush was a student at Colby College in Maine. I was inspired to do some New England style foods and a “White Mule” cocktail which is the mascot of Colby College. In 1998, Billy Bush married his lovely wife, Sydney.
Mini Lobster Roll
Ingredients:
hot dog buns
chives
premade deli lobster salad
Directions:
- Cut hot dog buns into thirds.
- Fill hot dog buns with lobster salad.
- Garnish with chopped chives.
Dirty Fries
Ingredients:
1 package frozen crinkles fries
Old Bay Seasoning
Tarter sauce
Directions:
- Sprinkle the fries with Old Bay Seasoning.
- Follow the instructions on the back of the package to bake the fries.
- Serve in paper cones.
- Cut a circle out of paper.
- Fold the circle into quarters.
- Cut one triangle out of the circle.
- Fold the circle, overlapping the edges a bit.
- Tape to close together.
- Serve with a dollop of tarter sauce.
Gazpacho with Guacamole and Crème Fraiche
Gazpacho
Ingredients:
6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 purple onion, finely chopped
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 sweet red bell pepper (or green) seeded and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1-2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. sugar
6 or more drops of Tabasco sauce to taste
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
4 cups tomato juice
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients.
- Blend slightly to desired consistency.
- Place in non-metal, non-reactive storage container, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to blend.
Guacamole
Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
½ red onion, minced (about ½ cup)
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tbsp. cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp. of fresh lime or lemon juice
½ tsp. coarse salt
a dash of freshly grated black pepper
½ ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped
Directions:
- Cut avocados in half. Remove pit. Scoop out avocado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl.
- Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, lime or lemon, salt and pepper and mash some more. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness, add the amount of your choice.
- Keep tomatoes separate until ready to serve.
- Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidations from the air reaching it.
- Refrigerate until ready.
- Just before serving, add the chopped tomato to the guacamole and mix.
To make Gazpacho with Guacamole and Crème Fraiche:
- Fill a votive holder 1/3 of the way.
- Garnish with a dollop of crème fraiche and guacamole.
White Mule Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. crème de cacao
light cream
Directions:
- Pour vodka and crème de cacao over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass.
- Fill with light cream and serve.
1990′s Inspired Playlist
Here is a great playlist to bring your guests to the 1990′s.
- Mr. Jones – Counting Crows
- Hey Jealous – Gin Blossoms
- Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
- Runaway Train – Soul Asylum
- All I want – A Day To Remember
- Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
- Brick – Ben Folds Five
- Everything Falls Apart – Fee
- Lump – The Presidents of the United States of America
- Freshman – The Verve Pipe
- No Rain – Blind Melon
- Pets – Porno for Pyros
- Steal My Sunshine -Len
- Fade Into You – Mazzy Starr
- Mother Mother – Tracey Bonham
- Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry
