Cocktails for the Oscars!

If you are hosting a party for the Oscars this year, here are a couple of cocktail ideas that are sure to wow your guests.  Both of these drinks start with a sweet & sour base that can be made the day before your event.

Fresh Citrus Sweet & Sour Base:

• 1.5 cups sugar
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup fresh lime juice

Combine sugar and water in a pot and heat until sugar is well dissolved.  Add the lemon and lime juice and refrigerate.

Cocktail #1 is called “Red Carpet Glamour” and is credited to Aida Mollenkamp (http://www.aidamollenkamp.com/2012/02/moet-red-carpet-glamour-cocktail/):

Stir equal parts Fresh Citrus Sweet & Sour Base and Hum Botanical Spirit with fresh ice.  Strain mixture into a champagne flute to fill 1/2 way and top with your favorite sparkling wine. Garnish with a single rose petal and serve.  Super easy, with beautiful color fitting the occasion.  Hum Botanical Spirit is a bright red 70 proof spirit made from hibiscus, organic ginger, cardamom and kaffir lime.  I love finding a drink ingredient that introduces your guests to something they may have never tried.

Cocktail #2 is called “British Intelligence” and is an adaptation by Paul and Andy.  The name is an homage to two of the Best Picture Nominees for 2015 — The Imitation Game (which was about British code breakers during WW2), and The Theory of Everything (which was about Steven Hawking — an intelligent British person) :-).  Here is the recipe:

• 2 parts Gin (use a quality Gin but a lighter less aromatic selection may make this drink more approachable for people who aren’t Gin fans — I use Boodles)
• 1 Part Fresh Citrus Sweet & Sour Base
• 1/2 Part Crème de Mûre (blackberry liqueur)
• Pour over ice in a tall glass (about 2/3 full)
• Top off with Ginger Beer
• Garnish with a fresh blackberry

If you have difficulty finding the blackberry liqueur, you could substitute Crème de Cassis (a black current liqueur).

If you try these cocktails at your Oscars party, please drop me a comment and let me know how people liked them!  Enjoy and cheers!