The Liquid Muse

Oscar Foreplay

Bouncers and Parties and Cocktails, Oh My!

It’s Oscar weekend, which in LA, is bigger than Christmas, Hannukuh and New Year’s Eve rolled into one explosion of flashing bulbs, red carpet events and cocktails, cocktails, cocktails!

Last night, I popped into Los Angeles Confidential Magazine’s annual, star studded pre-Oscar bash at Skybar, in Hollywood’s Mondrian Hotel. The soiree honored Academy Award nominee, and March cover star, Forest Whitaker who already took home a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

The party was very Hollywood, in every sense. Hot Spot on the Sunset strip, beaucoup famous people, a fair amount of attitude (some burly guy at the door berated me saying that if I were media, I should be standing by the red carpet, working. I was like, "I’m a journalist, meathead, not a photographer... hence lack of camera…" Luckily one of the ladies in charge swooped in and saved me from his bear-like clutches).

Apart from that, it was a beautiful event. Yummy hors d'oeuvres, a gorgeous view of the city and… I got to sample Hendrix Electric Vodka! The 100% grain, carbon and crystal filtered vodka comes in original colored glass bottles depicting the late musician. Sets the tone for a par-tay, no?

If you are planning an Oscar party of your own, I have a whole slew of fabulous drinks to share. The first five honor the movies nominated:

Royal-Tea
(Photo and recipe courtesy of Beefeater Gin, in honor of the nominated film The Queen)
2 parts Beefeater Gin
2 parts brewed and chilled Earl Gray Tea
Squeeze of lemon juice
Spoonful of sugar
Serve over ice in a rocks glass garnished with lime wheels.

The Departini
(Recipe courtesy of Tequila Tezon in honor of the nominated film The Departed)
2 parts Tequila Tezon Reposado
1 part Martell Cognac
1 part Cointreau
1 tbsp agave nectar
Squeeze of lime juice
Shake well and serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Sunshine in Malibu
(Recipe courtesy of Malibu Rum, in honor of the nominated film Little Miss Sunshine)
1 part Malibu Mango Rum
1 part Malibu Pineapple Rum
Fill with orange juice
Combine ingredients in a highball glass over ice.

Babel-On the Rocks
(Recipe courtesy of Kahlua, in honor of the nominated film Babel)
2 parts Kahlua
1 part Stoli Elit
Float 2 parts half & half
Serve over ice in a rocks glass.

Lychee Letters
(Recipe courtesy of SOHO Lychee Liqueur, in honor of the nominated film Letters From Iwo Jima)
.5 part SOHO Lychee Liqueur
2 parts Martell Cognac VSOP
1 part pomegranate juice
1 part orange juice
Spoonful of sugar
Serve over ice in a rocks glass.

Want Even More Cocktails??

Hpnotiq burst onto the scene a few years back as the must-try cool liqueur. Celebs who love it include: Terri Hatcher, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Katharine McPhee, Terrance Howard, Wilmer Valderrama, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Gabriel Union, Kanye West, Busta Rymes.

The Oscar-Tini
2 oz. Hpnotiq
2 oz. champagne

Pour in Hypnotiq, top with champage, and sparkle!


Latin Sizzler
(A salute to rising Mexican cinema, courtesy of Mixologist, Keith Andreen)
2 parts Sauza® Tres Generaciones Añejo Tequila
3⁄4 parts DeKuyper® Triple-Sec
1 teaspoon full of powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
1 oz. of freshly squeezed lime juice
3⁄4 parts DeKuyper® Pomegranate Liqueur

Shake Sauza® Tres Generaciones Añejo Tequila, DeKuyper Triple-Sec, powdered sugar and lime juice vigorously. Serve up in a salt-rimmed martini glass. Float DeKuyper® Pomegranate Liqueur and garnish with a lime wedge.

The Top of the Pop
(For crooners and swooners nominated for this year’s Academy Awards such as Mark Wahlberg, Will Smith and Eddie “My Girl Wants to Party All the Time” Murphy, courtesy of Mixologist, Keith Andreen)

1 part ABSOLUT® VANILIA Vodka
1 part ABSOLUT® KURANT Vodka
1 part DeKuyper® Wilderberry® Schnapps
Float of Champagne
1⁄2 part Raspberry puree
3 fresh Blueberries
2 fresh Raspberries
1 fresh Blackberry
1⁄2 packet of POP Rocks! ® Blue Raspberry Candy

Neatly, pour raspberry puree into a martini glass, then sinkberries into it. Shake Absolut Vanilla, Absolut Kurant and DeKuyper Wilderberry Schnapps and gently layer over the puree. Top with Champagne. When ready to drink, pour in the POP Rocks! Candy.