TIPSY NERD COCKTAILS

SEASON ONE

For each weekly episode of Tipsy Nerds Book Club Podcast, we recreate a cocktail from the book we’re reading that week—or create one inspired by the story. Come back to this page often to check out our latest creations. Better yet, make sure you sign up for the Tipsy Nerds newsletter (hit the “Join the Club” button), and you’ll receive the recipes with photos in your inbox.

THE WHITE WALKER

This “Other” inspired drink is strong enough to turn even the most pleasant dragons into fierce, blue-eyed zombie lizards!

1 ounce vodka

2 ounces Godiva Chocolate Liqueur (for a less expensive/less rich option substitute RumChata)

Shake with ice and pour into a chilled Martini glass. Drizzle blue Curacao down the sides for that “reanimated Other” look.

You can also make this in a highball glass with crushed ice and top with cream soda.

BARATHEON BUCK

Season 1, Ep. 1

Inspired by house Baratheon’s stag sigil, this bourbon drink is simple yet rich enough for a king. Fitting, since all three Baratheon men are—or proclaim themselves king—at some point!

2 oz bourbon (try Calumet, a smooth Kentucky bourbon)

1 wedge lemon

Ginger beer (try Bottom’s Up natural ginger beer)

Optional: Orange peel for garnish

In a double rocks glass (or a tall glass for a less strong drink), over ice pour the bourbon. Squeeze the lemon into the glass, the top with ginger beer. Stir gently with a cocktail spoon. Garnish with orange peel or a lemon wedge.

Chablis and Bourbon

Season 1, Ep. 2

In the post-apocalyptic world of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, by Philip K. Dick (and Bladerunner and Bladerunner 2049), cocktail mixers are limited. The Tipsy Nerds enjoyed Chablis in honor of John Isidore who had a bottle stashed away in a safe desposit box in case he ever found a woman to share it with! Deckard also shared a cocktail with a woman (sort of). Rachael brought bourbon to the party, so we enjoyed some Johnny Walker Black, the bourbon of choice for the movie version of Deckard.

OM’S NECTAR

Season 1, Episode 6

Inspired by the melon patches Brutha hoes in Small Gods by Terry Pratchett, and the favorite food of the small god, Om. Coconut rum and melon - yum! This drink is the perfect cocktail to sip while on your pool floatie.

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Captian Morgan Coconut Rum

.75 oz Midori watermelon liquor

1 oz pineapple juice

3-5 oz ginger beer

Shake the rum, Midori and pineapple juice with ice in a shaker. Pour into glass with crushed ice or large round ice, depending on preference, and top with ginger beer to taste.

OPTIONAL: To make a creamy, frozen drink, blend liquors and juice with ice, pour into glass and top with whipped cream. Omit the ginger beer. Can increase juice and alcohol to make a larger amount.

GIANT’S TABLE #1- ENDER’S OCEAN (left)

Season 1, Episode 10

While facing the Giant in Ender’s Game, the Giant’s Drink changes each time Ender plays the game. In one version, the Giant’s Drink looks like ocean waves. In another it hissed and foamed. This drink is the fruity combination of the two.

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz citron vodka

1 oz blue curacao

1 Tbs fresh lime juice

1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail

Add ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake and then strain into a martini glass. (Dry ice added for effect!)

MOLLY MILLIONS’ EYE

Season 1, Episode 8

Molly Millions is one of the coolest names in the literary world. The character also has badass vision-enhancing mirrored lenses installed in her eye sockets. We’d be fools not to name this drink after her.

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz Sake

3/4 oz Orange Liqueur

5 ml Cherry Brandy

5 ml Lemon Juice

2 Tbs Blue Curacao

Tonic Water

Add ingredients minus blue curacao and tonic water into a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into glass. Fill with tonic water and add blue curaçao.

The Waystone Special

Season 1, Episode 13

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 oz Bourbon

3 oz apple cider

1/4 tsp maple syrup

Splash of lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and heat on low until syrup dissolves. In the summertime, put in fridge and chill. Serve over ice ball. In the winter, ladle from the saucepan into a mug and serve warm.

WINTER is COMING MULLED WINE

This tasty cocktail will warm you from the inside out, even if you’re stuck at the wall with Ser Alliser Thorne. This recipe makes enough for you and your fellow brothers/sisters of the Night’s Watch to enjoy!

1 bottle good-quality red wine (try Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Malbec)

1 orange (cut into rounds), plus more for garnish

8 whole cloves

4 cinnamon sticks (plus more for garnish)

2 star anise

1/4 c. brown sugar OR 2-4 T. honey or agave nectar (to taste)

1 c. brandy

1 c. ruby port OR bourbon

Combine the wine with the orange slices, sugar (or honey) and all spices in a pan. Warm it slowly just until small bubbles form. Do NOT boil! You don’t want all the alcohol to burn off. Once warmed through, add the brandy and port (or bourbon) and warm it through, again taking care not to boil. Once warm, strain. Serve warm with a garnish of orange wedge and cinnamon stick.

NOTE: If you prefer a sweeter drink, go for the port and sugar. If you enjoy a liquor forward, stronger-tasting drink, then go for the honey and bourbon.

PAN GALACTIC GARGLE BLASTER

Season 1, Ep. 3

This is one strong drink! One’ll do ‘ya! Sip responsibly, sit back and wait for your brains to feel like they were smashed in by a lemon wrapped around a gold brick!

Ginger-infused simple syrup:

1 ounce water

2 Tbs sugar

1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeling and thinly sliced. (Or 1/4 tsp powdered ginger)

Mix ingredients in small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

For the drink, mix together:

1/2 ounce absinthe

1/2 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice

1 1/2 tsp fresh lime juice

Ginger simple syrup

Splash of blue Curacao for color

Top with champagne

HOWEY’S OLD FASHIONED

Author’s Choice Drink

Season 1, Ep. 4

When we asked Hugh Howey what his favorite cocktail is, he told us it was an Old Fashioned, and said it would be cool to have a fresh take on this old drink. Challenge accepted! This drink takes a wee bit of planning, but it is so delicious, it’s work a bit of extra work.

INGREDIENTS:

3 oz Bourbon (Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon used here)

1/2 oz Vanilla & Fig Simple Syrup

1/4 inch - 1/2 inch thick slice of peeled orange

3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

Orange Twist & Luxardo Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Put the orange in a work jar/glass and muddle until it’s a find pulp. Add the rest of the ingredients, fill with ice and stir. Once chilled, use a fine mesh strainer and strain into another work glass. Discard the pulp from your strainer, then strain again over large, round ice ball in your serving glass. Garnish with orange twist and Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Vanilla & Fig Syrup:

3 T. Trader Joe’s fig butter

1/2 t. vanilla extract

1/2 orange peel

2/3 c. Demerara Sugar (or sub natural cane sugar)

2/3 c. filtered water

Peel the orange and set aside. Combine rest of ingredients (except orange peel) in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, immediately bring down to a simmer and add the orange peel. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes before straining through a fine mesh strainer. Let come to room temperature before storing in the fridge.

NOTE: Yield is 2/3 cup of syrup, and can last in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Excellent on French toast or waffles too!

GIANT’S TABLE #2 - THE GIANT’S DRINK (right)

Season 1, Episode 10

In Ender’s Game, Ender repeatedly faces the puzzle of the Giant’s Drink, a game with two drinks, both of which lead to death. Don’t worry, our drinks won’t kill you, but Giant’s Drink #1 packs a mighty punch.

INGREDIENTS:

Fresh Mint

1/2 oz Simple syrup

1 oz whiskey

Top with Champagne

Add mint and simple sugar to a glass. Muddle. Add whiskey. Stir. Strain into Champagne glass and top with champagne.

Welcome to Earth

Season 1, Episode 11, 4th of July!

Since 1996 you can’t celebrate America’s freedom without Will Smith and aliens. In honor of one of Will Smith’s many badass/cheesy lines, we named this patriotic buzzpunch “Welcome to Earth”.

INGREDIENTS:

RED: 1/3 Grenadine (bottom)

BLUE: 1/3 Blue Curacao (middle)

WHITE: 1/3 Vodka (top)

Tip for Layering: Pour your first layer into a shot glass. Use a tea spoon or other small spoon to help control the flow of liquor for the top two layers. Place the spoon in the shot glass and slowly pour each of the next two layers using the spoon to slow the flow. Slow and steady is key here!

ICE-COLD DARK BEER

Season 1, Episode 14

In the Left Hand of Darkness, the only alcohol mentioned on the planet called Winter is beer. The planet is so cold, they even drink hot beer! We opted for an icy-cold dark brew. Guiness is our favorite on a cold day.

COFFEE MARTINI

Season 1, Episode 18

The perfect combination of caffeine and sugar to keep you wide awake and fighting crime with the deceased and a super sexy paranormal hunk.

INGREDIENTS:

Coarse sugar and ground coffee to rim the glass.

Ice Cubes

1.5 oz Vodka

1.5 oz Kahlua

1.5 oz Irish Cream Liqueur

Chocolate syrup (optional drizzle for glass)

Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add booze. Stir. Drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass. Strain booze mixture into glass and serve.

BLOOD of MY BLOOD BLOODY MARY

In honor of the Mother of Dragons, try some tequila or mescal in your next Bloody Mary. It’s so tasty, you may never drink it with vodka again.

1 oz tequila

1/2 oz Grand Marnier

1 oz Dimitri’s Bloody Mary seasoning

5-6 oz (or to taste) tomato juice or Bloody Mary mix of choice

Crispy bacon and olives for garnish

Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Garnish with a piece of crispy bacon, an olive and imagine yourself on the back of a dragon.

LANNISTER’S GOLD

Season 1, Ep. 1

This drink is smoother than Cersei's lies, Tyrion's wit, and Jaime's hair put together.

1.5 oz gin

1/2 oz citron vodka

1 oz Cointreau

1/4 oz brandy

3-4 slices fresh ginger (or to taste)

Combine and shake vigorously with ice. Pour into chilled martini glass. Garnish with candied ginger or a lemon wedge.

SILO 17 SHOOTER

Inspired by Wool, by Hugh Howey

Season 1, Ep. 4

A strong, flaming drink inspired by the down deep! As Robyn says in the episode, make sure the flame is out completely before throwing this one back!

Layer One (Down Deep): RumChata (or Bailey’s Irish Cream)

Layer Two (The Mids): Goldschläger

Layer Three (Up Top): 151 Rum

Tip for Layering: Pour your first layer into a shot glass. Use a tea spoon or other small spoon to help control the flow of liquor for the top two layers. Place the spoon in the shot glass and slowly pour each of the next two layers using the spoon to slow the flow. (Not working? Check out the video tutorial HERE)

Tips for Flaming: REMOVE ALL ALCOHOL BOTTLES, etc. from the area before you light the flame! You can set your shot glass in a clean, empty sink to light for more protection. Light with a long, fireplace type lighter. Use a larger glass or even your shaker to put out the flame before drinking (or you can blow the fire out). MAKE SURE THE FLAME IS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED before drinking!

THE GOLDEN SCALE

Season 1, Episode 5

Inspired by Lessa’s golden dragon Ramoth. This drink will make you feel like you too could be a Dragon Rider of Pern. Be gone, Threads!

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 oz Thyme Infused Bourbon, strained.

Top with ginger ale.

Garnish with a fresh sprig of thyme.

For that extra glitz and glamor, rim with edible gold lustre dust and sprinkle some onto the top of the drink for an opulent finish. Dip the thyme in the gold to make yourself queen or king of all dragons.

To make the infused bourbon: Pour your bourbon into a lidded glass jar with a few fresh sprigs of thyme (substitute a few dashes of dried thyme if you don’t have access to the fresh stuff). Leave for 3-4 days then strain into your glass. If you don’t have that much thyme (har har!), overnight will also work.

VIGILANTE JUSTICE

Season 1, Episode 7

Drink inspired by Watchmen.

INGREDIENTS:

5 blackberries

2 oz spiced rum

3/4 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz egg white

1 barspoon activated charcoal

Muddle the berries in a shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake without ice for about twenty seconds or until egg foams.

Add ice and shake to chill.

Strain into chilled glass.

Garnish with 3 dashes of bitters.

The Antichrist (the Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angel of the Bottomless Pit, Great Beast that is called Dragon, Prince of This World, Father of Lies, Spawn of Satan and Lord of Darkness)

Season 1, Episode 12

You asked for British and we are giving you British with this Gin and Earl Gray tea cocktail named after Adam Young, The Antichrist (the Adversary, Destroyer of Kings, Angel of… Oh, you get it!)

INGREDIENTS:

6 oz cold Earl Gray Tea

1 1/4 oz gin

1 1/4 oz honey simple syrup

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

2 lavender sprigs

Brew tea and refrigerate to cool. Make honey simple syrup: Mix 1 1/4 cup water with 1/4 cup honey (you will have extra). Simmer until honey dissolves. Cool.

Add all ingredients into a shaker with lavender and ice. Shake. Strain into a glass over a large ice cub. Garnish with lavender.

VEXED

Season 1, Episode 17

In How We Became Wicked, a person can become immune to the effects of the Singers. It is called being “Vexed”, and we think it’s the perfect name for our special mimosa inspired by the powdered orange juice they use in this dystopian novel for making their Sunday brunch drinks.

INGREDIENTS:

Champagne

Tang

Triple Sec

Mix it like a mimosa and enjoy!