TIPSY NERD COCKTAILS

SEASON TWO

For each 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.

Middle Earth Miruvor

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

“`Give them this,’ said Gandalf, searching in his pack and drawing out a leathern flask. `Just a mouthful each – for all of us. It is very precious. It is miruvor, the cordial of Imladris. Elrond gave it to me at our parting. Pass it round!’

As soon as Frodo had swallowed a little of the warm and fragrant liquor he felt a new strength of heart, and the heavy drowsiness left his limbs. The others also revived and found fresh hope and vigor. But the snow did not relent.”

We hope you will also feel renewed and hopeful after drinking this cocktail! Or at least tipsy.

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 oz vodka
1 grapefruits
1 tsp elderflower cordial
Ice cubes
Sparkling water
1 sprig of thyme

Pour 1.5 oz of vodka into a glass. Squeeze juice from the grapefruit into the vodka. Add elderflower cordial and ice cubes. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a sprig of thyme.

Doomsday Wassail

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

This is a recipe to share with your friends at your next holiday plague party. Grab a glass, a plague doctor’s mask, and something to lance Buboes with and enjoy. (Don’t forget the antibiotics!)

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups water

1 cup honey

4 whole cloves

3 cinnamon sticks

2 lemons, thinly sliced

1 750 ml bottle red wine

Boil the water, honey, cloves, and cinnamon for five minutes. Remove from head and add lemons. Let sit for ten minutes. Add the wine and heat until steaming but not boiling. Serve hot with a side of doxycycline!

Mockup Marshmallow-tini

Marshmallows, a short story by D.A. Xiaolin Spires

We couldn’t read a story called “Marshmallows” without creating a marshmallow-flavored drink! Grab your marshmallow fluff and a blowtorch. This is a beautiful, delicious and festive holiday drink!

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz Creme de cacao

2 oz vanilla or marshmallow vodka

1-2 oz Torani toasted marshmallow syrup (to taste—more for a sweeter drink)

1 oz heavy cream (or coconut or almond cream for vegan or non-dairy version)

Dark Chocolate syrup for garnish (optional)

Marshmallow Fluff for garnish

Toasted Marshmallow for garnish

Step 1

Drizzle a martini glass with dark chocolate syrup or marshmallow fluff or melted marshmallow. Dip the rim of the glass into marshmallow fluff. If wanted, use a small chef's blowtorch to toast the fluff on the rim—carefully!

Step 2

Pour creme de cacao, vodka, Torani syrup and heavy cream into a bar shaker full of ice. Shake it well for about 30 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass and enjoy!

Clone Club Martini

Orphan Black (The Next Chapter) with guest host, writer Heli Kennedy.

INGREDIENTS:

2 0z Vodka

1 oz Blue Curacao

1/2 Black Raspberry Liqueur

Lemon Twist

Optional: Black Food Coloring (for effect!)

Shake vodka & liqueurs in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass & garnish with a lemon twist. If you have food coloring available, use either a few drops of black OR 2 drops blue, 2 drops of red and 1 drop of green (put the food coloring in while shaking).

Pilcher’s Face

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.

Poor Pilcher. We all knew he was doomed, but what a way to go out. And what a plot twist! Enjoy this blood red drink in honor of those who fell at the hands of our favorite anti-hero and brutal cannibal, Hannibal Lecter.

INGREDIENTS:

The General Organa

Star Wars

This cocktail is beautiful, sweet and packs a punch—just like our favorite fictional general! A great drink to serve for the holidays or at your next Star Wars party.

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz red wine

2 oz bourbon

1 oz simple syryp

Orange peel

1 large round ice sphere

3 Luxardo cherries

Shake all ingredients (except the ice and cherries) together with ice for 20-30 seconds.

Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass.

Add ice sphere to the glass and strain the cocktail into the glass.

Add one cherry to the drink and put two on a cocktail skewer for garnish with a twisted orange peel. Enjoy!

All Eggnog Photos on this page ©D.A. Xiaolin Spires, 2019

Used by Permission. No unauthorized duplication permitted.

Croaker’s Grog

The Black Company by Glen Cook.

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Dark Rum

1/2 oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

1/2 oz Demerara Sugar Syrup (2 sugar to 1 Water)

2 oz water

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

This is an easy one. Mix them all together and enjoy. Don’t drink too much or you’ll be GROGGY and might wake up surrounded by mercenaries dressed in black. Enjoy!

Citizen’s Sazerac

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

This cocktail is a bit more complex to make than some we’ve featured, but it has a lovely nuance that we hope you will try. To become a citizen you must either serve in the military, or drink this beverage. The choice is yours.

INGREDIENTS:

Absinthe

Sugar Cube

1/2 teaspoon water

3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

2 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

1.5 oz Cognac

1.5 oz Rye Whiskey

Lemon Twist

Chill a rocks glass. Muddle the sugar cube with the water. Add the bitters, cognac and rye. Add ice and stir. Use a small amount of absinthe and coat the inside of the glass with it then discard. Pour the chilled liquors into the glass then twist the lemon rind to release the essence over the glass. You can discard the lemon or add a twist it you’d like.

Better than Virtual Reality Eggnog

Marshmallows, a short story by D.A. Xiaolin Spires

The author, D.A. Xiaolin Spires, suggested an eggnog with Kinmen Kaoliang liquor. Challenge accepted! Natalie created this original recipe and wanted to create a nog that was less sweet but full of flavor. You can make this with cow’s milk and cream, or with almond milk and coconut cream. Either way, it is creamy and yummy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup almond milk (or 2% milk)

1/4 cup Demerara sugar (or white sugar)

3 large eggs (separated)

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla

pinch of sea salt

5-8 dashes of ginger bitters

1/2 cup coconut milk cream (or heavy cream)

4-8 oz Kinmen Kaoliang liquor (to taste)

Nutmeg, Star Anise and Cinnamon Stick for garnish

Step 1

In a saucepan, heat the milk to warm but do not boil. Turn off the heat.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl, gradually add the sugar into the egg yolks and whisk until thick and pale.

Step 3

To temper the eggs, which 1/2 cup of the warm milk into the egg-sugar mixture. Add this back to the remaining milk in the pan, add the vanilla and sea salt, and stir over low heat until thickened and blended. Do not boil! Turn off the heat and stir in the cream.

Step 4

Place pan in a large bowl half-filled with ice water. Stir occasionally until chilled. (Or, if making ahead, you can put it in the refrigerator at this point to cool down). When chilled, stir in the bitters and liquor. 

Step 5

In a clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold them into the eggnog. Top each serving with grated nutmeg, add a cinnamon stick at the side and finish with a whole star anise.

This recipe is easily doubled for larger groups. Before adding the liquor and egg whites, you can put it in a punch bowl for a party.

It is easily adaptable as well to your tastes. You can use cowmilk dairy or use almond milk and coconut cream for a non-dairy version. You can use the typical rum or brandy, but we hope you will try the Kinmen Kaoliang or Baijiu (a similar liquor from Sichuan, China).