The Fellowship of the Drink

Hi all! Erin here with the next Ilvermony drink for Horned Serpent house. Apologies for the delay--we’ve all been deep in a Pokemon Go spiral.

This house favors scholars. The horned serpent is a figure which appears in the mythologies of Great Lakes and south eastern Native American tribes. The horned serpent has a glittering jewel on its forehead and that was the inspiration for this drink.

This drink—like a lot of the ones I make for myself at home—is really, really easy. (Best of all it serves TWO PEOPLE!) You’ll need:

A personal watermelon

6 oz of tequila

4 oz of lime juice

Simple syrup (optional)

First cut the watermelon in half. Then, scoop the flesh out from one half and leave the rind intact. Save the intact rind in the fridge for your drinking vessel. Put all that watermelon flesh into a blender and add the other ingredients. Taste your puree and see if it needs any sweetening. If it does, add some simple to the mix and blend again. Once the drink is sweet enough for me I stick it in the freezer and let it mostly freeze. (I ended up waiting overnight for mine and ran it under a little warm water to unthaw so it could blend.) Blend the mostly frozen drink, pour it in the empty watermelon rind, and then invite a friend over to drink it with you!

Welcome to another month, drinkers!  This month, in honor of JK Rowling’s newly released story on Pottermore, we bring you drinks inspired by the American houses of Ilvermorny: Thunderbird, Wampus, Horned Serpent, and Pukwudgie.

Jessica here today, bringing you a beverage inspired by the Thunderbird House.

Witches and Wizards who are sorted into Thunderbird tend to be adventurers, and may also be considered some of the more soulful students of Ilvermorny.  The Thunderbird itself is a creature that is said to create storms where it flies, and can be traced to beliefs held by Native Americans in pre-colonial times.

A bit of research into pre-colonial American spirits turned up a drink called “haren a pitahaya" which was “a wine from the saguaro cactus” made by tribes that lived in what is now Arizona (Abbott 3).  Thus, as a nod to the Native American roots of the Thunderbird, this drink highlights cactus fruit by incorporating a Prickly Pear Syrup.  Check out the recipe for the syrup in the link, and make that at least one day before you make the Thunderbird itself.

Once you have the syrup made, you’re ready to gather your ingredients and make yourself a Thunderbird!  This drink makes an entire pitcher, so don’t be afraid to bust it out for parties and get togethers.

Ingredients

1 tray of ice cubes

1 chilled bottle chardonnay

.75 C Prickly Pear Syrup

1.75 C chilled lemon-lime soda

.5 lemon, cut into wedges

3-4 packets of Pop Rocks (I used the Tropical Punch flavor)

Mix together the first three ingredients in a pitcher and stir well.  Add soda and give one or two light stirs.

To give the extra little jolt of lightning which would come from a real Thunderbird, rim the glasses in Pop Rocks (which you can find at Party City or on Amazon) by sliding a lemon wedge around the top of the glass and then dipping the dampened edge into your desired flavor of the electrifying candy.  

Michael again, back with a drink for my favorite persnickety fencer, Pearl!

I was extremely excited when Michael suggested we do Steven Universe for this month on the blog. I LOVE Steven Universe. It is one of my all time favorite TV shows, and one of my favorite characters is Peridot. So, of course I had to do a drink inspired by this weird, anti-social space rock. Now, when a lot of SU fans read “Peridot Punch” they might envision something like this:

Trust me, this drink is much kinder, although after a few of them you may be “whoo-ing” along with Amethyst. The drink itself is a little sour, a little bitter, and with a nice hidden sweetness, not unlike our lovable Peridot herself. Its perfect for warm summer nights and could easily be made in batches for parties and picnics. Basically its a fancy, alcoholic limeade. So without further preamble lets get started, you clods. 

The Peridot Punch

Ingredients:

1 shot Chartreuse

.5 shot Vodka (I like Tito’s)

2 tsp agave to taste (or whatever sweetener you prefer)

The juice of two limes (the equivalent of 2 shots)

a sprig of basil (optional)

lime zest to garnish

The drink itself is very simple. Step one (the most unpleasant step) is juicing the limes. I used two limes per cocktail, which makes about 2 shots of liquid. If you’re juicing them by hand, like me, its best if you can use a small mesh strainer to get out any chunks or seeds that might fall into the drink as you squeeze them.

Step 2: Get out your limb enhancers and muddle that basil in the bottom of your serving glass. This step is pretty much optional but it adds a nice herbal quality that compliments the Chartreuse. Plus its super fancy. 

Pulverized.

Step 3 is to add the other stuff to the lime juice. Pretty straight forward. 

Why is the color correction on these photos so bad? I don’t know...ask my iPhone. Clearly I’m a professional.

Sidenote: I used 2 of these Wholesome! Organic Blue Agave packets mostly because I got them at work for free. It worked quite well, but any agave or simple syrup will do. I suggest staying away from granulated sugar or honey since they don’t dissolve as well when shaken with ice. Which leads me to the 4th step:

SHAKE THAT ish with ice.

I use a mason jar, which is probably not safe? I don’t know. Use a real shaker if you have it since its not made of glass, or at very least don’t sue me.

Step 5:

Strain and serve over the muddled basil and garnish with the lime zest. DRINK! 

I’m using a short tumbler (highball glass), although I see a lot of bars around me now serving this type of cocktail in a champagne saucer, which looks kinda classy. If you had a triangle glass somehow maybe that would be most befitting Peridot’s form? Just a thought. Someone let me know if triangle-shaped glasses are a thing.

Anyway, go forth and enjoy drinking you Mega Clods!

Bonus Peridot gif because this post wasn’t already long enough:

“He’s a frozen treat with an all new taste!  ‘Cause he came to this planet from outer space!” - Excerpt from the Cookie Cat Rap

Hello Fellowshippers!  Courtney here to bring you a treat inspired by Steven Universe himself.  In the first episode of Steven Universe “Gem Glow”, Steven is eating a cookie cat ice cream sandwich when he summons his gem weapon for the first time in his life.  Cookie Cat is Steven’s favorite dessert so I knew that for a boozy representation of Steven I needed to make an alcoholic cookie cat.  

This is definitely the most involved “cocktail” I have ever made for the Fellowship but if you have the time it is definitely worth it.  The alcoholic ice cream is homemade and I don’t have an ice cream maker so never fear if you also do not have this fancy tool.

There are three parts to the alcoholic cookie cat:

- Strawberry Champagne Ice Cream

- Vanilla Bourbon Ice Cream 

- Cookie Cat Cookies

For the Strawberry Champagne Ice Cream:

- 1 cup half and half

- 1 cup heavy whipping cream

- 1/2 pound heavily muddled strawberries (I used frozen)

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup Champagne

- Course Salt

- Ice

In a mixing bowl mix the half and half, whipping cream, strawberries and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.  Add the mixture to a quart sized freezer bag.  Fill a gallon sized freezer bag about a third of the way with ice and add a the salt to the ice (I used about a quarter cup).  Put the quart freezer bag in the gallon bag and shake vigorously for about 5 minutes.  At this point carefully remove the quart bag, open it and add in the champagne.  Return the quart bag to the gallon bag and shake for another 5 minutes.  Then put your strawberry champagne ice cream in the freezer.

For the Vanilla Bourbon Ice Cream:

- 1 cup half and half

- 1 cup heavy whipping cream

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 1/4 cup sugar

- 1/4 cup Bourbon 

Follow the same instructions for the Strawberry Ice Cream making sure to add the alcohol half way through the shaking process.

Once both ice creams have been allowed to sit in their bags in the freezer for about an hour they should be solid enough to combine in a stripe pattern either on a baking sheet or a 9x13 pan.  It should look similar to this when you’re done:

Once this is done cover the ice cream and pop it back in the freezer for at least four hours.

While you’re waiting for the ice cream to freeze make the cookie cat cookies!

- 1 package chocolate cake mix

- 2 eggs

- 1/2 cups shortening

- 1/2 cups flour

Add together all ingredients, mix just until combined.  Chill the dough for a half hour in the fridge.  Roll out the dough and use you’re favorite cookie cat cookie cutter to punch out the cookie shapes. Cook for 5 minutes at 375 degrees. I found my cookie cutter on Amazon and I punched the eyes our of half of the cookies with a straw.  

Phew!  Now you are finally ready to assemble!  Use you cookie cutter again to punch out the cookie cat shape in the ice cream and place your cut out ice cream onto one of the cookies:

Place your second cookie on top and you are ready to go!  As I said before these are a little bit of work but they are so so good!  The above recipe made four cookie cats for me. The alcohol content is relatively low (about 2.5%) but the champagne and bourbon do not get lost and the result is absolutely delicious.  When you eat one you will feel your gem glowing for sure!  Make sure to eat the ears first!

I love Steven Universe.  It’s a great show full of great characters and great ideas.  This week’s drink(s - more on that in a second) is based on my personal favorite character, the unofficial leader of the Crystal Gems: Garnet!

Now, if you’re in the know, you may be thinking: “Justin, Garnet is a fusion of two other gems, Ruby and Sapphire.  You can’t just make a Garnet cocktail all on its own; it has to take her fused nature into account.  You’d have to make, like... three drinks for that.”

WELL GUESS WHAT.

Sapphire

Sapphire is wisdom and calm.  She is floral elegance.  She is also a blue cyclops.  Sapphire (the cocktail) is a light, refreshing sipper that will leave  you with clarity bordering on prescience.

1 oz creme de violet

.5 oz lemon juice (about a quarter of the juice from a large lemon)

Club soda

Mix the creme de violet and lemon juice in a glass with ice, then add club soda.  Drink while chilling and contemplating the future.

Ruby

If Sapphire is the brains, Ruby is the heart.  She’s sweet, she’s bold, and she’s strong.  She’s a simple girl by nature, but capable of more refinement than you’d expect.  In short, she’s a raspberry.

1 oz brandy

.5 oz Grand Marnier (or triple sec)

.5 oz Framboise (or other raspberry liqueur)

.5 oz lemon juice

Pour ingredients over ice and stir.  Get pumped up.

Garnet

1 Ruby

1 Sapphire

.5 oz grenadine

Club soda

Lemon juice (optional)

Once you’ve made your Ruby and Sapphire cocktails, pour them together into one glass.  Add a bit of grenadine, then stir in some more club soda to loosen it all up.  If it’s too sweet, squeeze in the extra lemon juice.

Garnet is made o-o-o-o-of lo-o-o-o-ove, and she’s stronger than you.  Drink responsibly.

Hey, everybody! We’re back and this time we’re making drinks for something near and dear to all our hearts: Steven Universe. For those who don’t know, Steven Universe is a cartoon about a boy being raised by gem-based aliens and it is just one of the best things on TV right now. One of the most important of those aliens is Steven’s mother, Rose Quartz.

Big and effervescent and strong, Rose Quartz gave up her life so that Steven could live. All in all, she was a badass. So, I figured a drink for her was appropriate. 

To a shaker filled with ice, add: 

1.5 oz gin

3/4 oz raspberry syrup (16 oz frozen raspberries, 1.5 cups sugar, 1 cup water, boil, simmer, strain. Standard)

1/2 oz. lemon juice

Hello my beautiful lushes, this is Jessica bringing you a second bonus drink to close out the month.

Stun Spore was inspired by the poisonous flower atop Vileplume’s head (as well as by a personal challenge to create a more savory drink).  Vileplume, the final evolution of Oddish (in first generation games, at least) is a grass and poison-type pokemon.  The flower on a Vileplume’s head releases a poisonous pollen and is the point of origin for many attacks.  Being so heavy, voluminous, and toxic, this flower has always reminded me of large wild mushrooms, and this is where the idea for Stun Spore was conceived.

1oz mushroom infused vodka (tutorial below)

2oz shochu (forgot to photograph this with the ingredients above, but you     can see the narrative below for more on this Japanese beverage)

1.5oz tomato juice

juice of 1/4 lime

seltzer water (optional and to taste - I added about 1oz)

Mushroom Infused Vodka Tutorial

The mushroom infused vodka is something you’ll have to make on your own, but don’t fret, it’s easy!  Simply place a small handful of dried mushrooms in a mason jar and fill with vodka.  I happened to have some dried shiitake mushrooms, so I used those (though I imagine that any dried mushroom would do - pick your favorite!).  Let it sit for at least a week - the longer, the stronger - and strain out the mushrooms.  Ta-da!

Now, back to my babbling...

Shochu, the next ingredient, is a Japanese beverage made from various distilled items.  Some shochu is made entirely from distilled rice/sweet potatoes/barley, and some from a mixture of ingredients.  I chose to use Beniotome Sesame Shochu because it is distilled from a mixture of rice, barley, and sesame, which gives it a nuttier, more complex flavor than shochu that is distilled from only one ingredient. This article has some really great tips if you are buying shochu for the first time.  

Once you’ve combined the infused vodka and the shochu, the tomato juice gives a splash of color and a wave of savory tenderness to an otherwise dry beverage.  Add seltzer to taste.  Because this is a rather strong drink, I prefer to go a bit heavier on the tomato juice and seltzer, but then again Stun Spore is supposed to paralyze its opponent!

Hey all, Michael here bringing you a bonus Pokemon drink. This time around, in honor of both Pokemon and Easter, I’d focus on our favorite pastel and egg-based pokemon, Chansey!

I was inspired by the color first and foremost, but also by Chansey’s personality. Always cheery and helping Nurse Joy, I knew this drink needed to be light and tasty and reflective of the season.

Now, this is one of the more involved drinks we’ve made, but it is so worth it. I have made this on my own time more than any other of my Fellowship drinks. What you’re going to need:

1.5 oz. gin

1.5 oz. rhubarb syrup (recipe below)

.75 oz. lemon juice

1/3 oz. Campari

1 egg white

Rhubarb bitters

First, the syrup: take about a pound of rhubarb (frozen works really well too, if you can get your hands on it), and coat it all in a cup and a half of sugar. Let it sit for a couple minutes, then put it in a saucepan and add a cup of water. Bring it to a boil, simmer for 20 minutes and then strain it out. 

Pokedex entry:

They employ an electrically charged web to trap their prey. While it is immobilized by shock, they leisurely consume it.  When attacked, they create an electric barrier by spitting out many electrically charged threads.

I. Love.  Galvantula.  Spiders are gross and electric type pokemon are only okay, but something about the combination of the two… It’s just awesome.  Plus, Galvantula is super cute.  And don’t give me any nonsense about it being #596 in the PokeDex.  The original 151 are great, but there are plenty of cool pokemon from the later generations.

“But, Justin,” the powergamers ask.  “Can it fight?  Is it strong?”

Forget strong.  Galvantula is fast.  Let’s talk about Electro Ball.  This is a really fun move, and one Galvantula does better than anyone else, including a certain spotlight-hogging yellow rodent.  Electro Ball does damage depending on how much of a speed advantage Galvantula has on its prey opponent.  And with six (!?) electrically-powered legs, this fuzzy little monster can motor.

Count ‘em: Six.

On top of his starting speed, Galvantula has access to a moveset that includes speed tricks like Agility, Thunder Wave, Sticky Web, and Electroweb.  Let’s look at these: One use of Agility doubles Galvantula’s speed, and a well-placed Thunder Wave quarters most opponents’.  Sticky Web coats the battlefield, slowing any Pokemon the other trainer switches in.  Electro Web electrocutes and entangles foes, dealing damage and slowing them at the same time.

With all of these options, even when you’re starting on equal ground (which is not that often), Galvantula is capable of using a move or two to outspeed almost anything.  By a lot.  The EleSpider’s speed-based Electro Ball will often be stronger than Hyper Beam.

Poor Scraggy.

Competitive players may point out that Galvantula is better off taking advantage of its overabundance of eyes to accurately use Thunder.  But that’s not nearly as cool.  Be yourself, Galvantula.  Be an awesome lightning spider.  Don’t be every other electric-type pokemon.

Now that we’ve learned what Galvantula is all about, let’s embrace its awesomeness with a toast.

(picture here in, like, two seconds)

The Galvantula

Lemon

Sugar

1 oz chilled espresso

1 oz lemon vodka

Cinnamon powder

Start with your rim: pour a layer of sugar out onto a small plate.  Run a slice of lemon around the rim of a small glass, then turn it upside-down and press/roll the rim into the sugar.  The lemon juice should grab it and help it stick to your glass.  Turn it upside-up again and fill with espresso and lemon vodka (I used 360).  Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top and enjoy.

This is a yummy one.  The flavors of espresso and lemon go really well together, and the combination of caffeine and alcohol will wrap you in a web of electric jitters.

Okay.  Bye.

Like most people in my twenties, I spent a lot of time in my formative years playing Pokemon. Like, a lot. This month, in light of Nintendo’s announcement of seventh generation Pokemon Sun and Moon, the Fellowship has decided to shake, stir, and strain a bunch of Pokemon themed cocktails for you this March.

First up is the Growlithe.

This drink is perfect if you’re looking for something that packs a little growl in its punch. Since it’s low in alcohol and sweet, it’s great if you’re looking for a pre-dinner aperitif or a nightcap. I decided to pay homage to the Growlithe’s fire type origins by using bourbon as my base. Blood orange—a seasonal winter citrus—adds some sweetness, and the Suze’s bitterness keeps the orange from becoming too cloying.

To a large glass add,

1 oz Bourbon ½ oz Suze 2 oz Blood Orange Juice Simple Syrup to taste (if your orange is on the less sweet side)

Mix all ingredients together and strain into a tumbler. Add some ice, and you’re done! This drink could also easily be served up.

Happy Leap Day!  In honor of this rarest of holidays, we’re dedicating a February BONUS COCKTAIL to a Final Fantasy hero who’s all ABOUT leaping: the dragoon!

These noble knights perform their signature move, Jump, by leaping high into the air above the battlefield before crashing down spear-first on a distant enemy an entire combat round later.  Dragoons do all of this in heavy armor, which allows them to avoid damage and maintain a strong melee presence while picking off distant foes.  Even if it isn’t your favorite class to play, you have to admit that the dragoon has it going on.

See?

Some experts* believe that the dragoon, as a heroic archetype, owes its existence to the Swiss halberdier of the 14th century.  In the 1500s, the halberd was the bleeding edge (ha) of military technology; a hybrid between an axe and a spear, along with a hook for tearing enemies off their mounts.  This revolutionary polearm offered unrivaled versatility and was the key to a number of historic victories.  Soldiers used their shiny new weapons to rain death from above (and from below, and from the same level) upon their attackers.  These soldiers eventually inspired the video game character that eventually inspired the following cocktail.  True heroes, indeed.  Here’s what I imagine these stylish knights relaxing with after a long day of crushing tonberries:

The Dragoon (photo to come)

1 oz dry gin

1 oz kirsch (cherry brandy)

1 oz dry vermouth

Club soda

Mix the gin, kirsch, and vermouth in a cocktail shaker over ice.  Serve up with a splash of soda and a lemon twist, then down on the next round.

Hey all! Michael here, bringing you the final Final Fantasy drink for this month. I decided to focus one of my favorite standard classes: the white mage.

Yuna, Garnet, Aeris. Some of the most prominent characters in the series have been white mages. And if you ever don’t have one in your party, you’re playing wrong. I decided to make a drink that honored the class both in the color scheme (more or less) and using traditional medicinal liquors. Specifically, a vermouth and an old Italian herbal liqueur.

To a pint glass or other appropriate stirring vessel, add:

-  1.5 oz. tequila blanco

- 1 oz. Dolin Blanc

- .5 oz. Liquore Strega

The Cactuar is an icon of the Final Fantasy series: an adorable little cactus monster, all right angles and cuteness, plus a healthy dose of surprise TPKO.  For those of you not in “the know,” 1,000 Needles is the name of the Cactuar’s signature move.  Each needle does 1 point of damage.  If you’ve never seen it in action and your calculator is buried too deep in your phone’s app list, please allow me to confirm that, yes, this cute little bastard here will regularly nail your characters with exactly one thousand points of damage:

Right?

Cactuars roam around deserts, waiting for unsuspecting adventurers to approach them, lured in by their plushy-like adorableness.  While I urge you not to fall for their tricks, I do recommend the following cocktail, which was inspired by those little dudes.  Needles to say, it’s pretty good (sorry).

1,000 Needles

3 ounces reposado tequila

1 ounce fresh lime juice

1 ounce ginger liqueur

Pear juice

Pour the tequila and lime juice into a shaker, over ice.  If it helps you deal with your fear of being needled to death, you can pretend you’re making a margarita at this point.  For desert heat, add the ginger liqueur.  Shake, pour, and – did you know cacti grow fruit? – top with the pear juice.

Hello everybody!

Courtney here, bringing you the perfect drink to help you push back the Miasma of sobriety.  I am talking, of course, about Myrrh.  This powerful dew comes from Myrrh trees which are, naturally, guarded by scary monsters.  But!  You only need three drops to keep your entire village partying for a whole year!  

I know I've got your attention now, so grab your favorite chalice and let's get going.  In order to collect in-game Myrrh, you're gonna need some of these puppies:

Myrrh in Final Fantasy is found in the game Crystal Chronicles, for which you will need to dig out your Gameboy Advances and a GameCube (or Wii).  But it is totally worth it!  It has a great multiplayer mode so you and up to three friends can work together to collect that sweet, sweet Myrrh.  But before you start collecting fantasy Myrrh, pour yourself a real-life drink.  Pour a few for your friends, too, and maybe you'll get some extra consideration when it's time to divide up the loot!

- 2 parts lemon cucumber seltzer (to make this I infused water with lemon and cucumber and then carbonated it with my soda stream but you could just use store bought lemon seltzer if you don't have a soda stream) -1 part bison grass vodka -1/4 part simple syrup -1/4 part creme de violet

Shake the vodka, simple syrup and creme de violet in a shaker with ice.  Pour into the drinking vessel of your choice and top with the seltzer.

And we’re back! Like a long-lost party member resurrected in the third act, The Fellowship of the Drink is up and kicking again. To celebrate our return from the dead (or at least the KOd), we’re focusing on the inexorable Final Fantasy series. And what better way to get restarted than a Phoenix Down?

Obviously, since I can’t resist a pun, I made the drink a play on the Corpse Reviver No. 1, but I opted for more fruit and a slightly warmer characteristic than a standard one. I’m also poor, so I used brandy instead of cognac, but it’s still pretty tasty. 

To a pint glass/mason jar/yarai pitcher/etc. add:

1.5 oz brandy

.5 oz kirsch (a German cherry brandy)

.5 oz sweet vermouth

Angostura and plum bitters

Add some ice and give it a stir. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry if you have one on hand and let it get you back into the fight!

Erin here, with another Zelda cocktail. This one’s called the Light Arrow.  

Summer in Austin, Texas is kind of like being steamed slowly in your skin for four months. That being the case, I prefer to drink things that require minimal effort and deliver maximum refreshment. Hence, the Light Arrow.

Stuff You Need

1 oz Peach Simple Syrup*

½ oz Lemon Juice

1 oz Vodka

2 oz Club Soda

Ice

*To make this, make your simple syrup as usual, then stir in some peach slices, and let sit for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready to use the syrup, strain out the peaches. This syrup is a great way to use up any bruised peaches you might have, and it’s great in lemonade as well.

Doing It