In the spirit of all we believe in here at FYA, tonight I get to start a new category where we choose signature drinks for our favorite YA characters! Of course, being the first to post, I get the honors of choosing the drink for everybody’s favorite badass, Katniss!!!
And I’ll be writing it as I sample, so… get out your cocktail shakers and your favorite book, and prepare to get properly sloshed, FYA style!
Okay, so I know y’all want to know one thing: what does Katniss drink? But hold your horses, we’ll get to her in a little bit. First off, I wondered what the kids from the Blue Bloods series would drink?
Easy peasy. Something BLUE, yeah? Since once they start going through the transformation into vampires, it’s hard for them to get drunk, these kids love their cocktails, and since I can’t remember what the author had them drinking, I did some research on my own, and found this very fitting lovely, courtesy of CocktailTimes.com:
Envy
I know, could the name be any more perfect? Plus, the cherry represents the blood!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz blue curaçao
pineapple juice
maraschino cherry for garnish
Preparation:
Pour the tequila into the glass of your choice.
Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Add the pineapple juice.
Stir well.
Top with blue curaçao and stir lightly again.
Garnish with a cherry, and enjoy!
So then I got to thinking about our favorite series ever, The Hunger Games, and all of the many characters that could provide drink recipes, but by this time, I’ll be honest, I’m feeling a little tipsy, so only the obvious ones came to mind:
Haymitch would drink Ripple. All the time.
Gale orders Wild Turkey, neat (for obvious reasons, or you know, to me right now, because of the hunting thing, wink, wink.)
Peeta, anyone? I can’t quite pick one.
And now, for the piece de resistance:
The Katniss
So, let me just say, YUM. This is one fiiiiiine drink. It’s called the Charmides cocktail, and was created by Marcos Tello from The Doheney in Los Angeles. This drink was inspired by Oscar Wilde, and his love of absinthe. Of course, thanks to Wikipedia and Ancient Greek studies (take your pick) we all know that the Charmides is a dialogue of Plato, where Socrates and a handsome and popular boy discuss the meaning of sophrosyne, which, translated into English means “temperance”, “self-control” or “restraint”. Of course in typical Platonic fashion, a satisfactory definition is never reached, but many important points are nonetheless thrust to the surface.
Where was I? Right, clearly NOT as hardcore as Katniss is, ’cause I’m pretty fuzzy right now. Erin and I figured Katniss needed a signature drink that was SERIOUS. We knew it must include Gin, Absinthe and Bitters. So I googled the shizz out of those three things until I found this. Ummm, losing train of thought….right, Ingredients! You need ingredients!
Ingredients:
1 part Pernod Absinthe
seedless green grapes
1 dash bitters
1 1/2 part Gin
3/4 part ginger syrup
1/2 part fresh lime juice
soda water
Preparation:
Muddle grapes, Absinthe and bitters.
Add gin, ginger syrup and lime juice.
Shake and strain into an ice-filled collins glass, top with soda water.
Garnish with grapes
That first sip was hesitant, but boy, does this drink go down smooth! I’ve never had absinthe before, and until today, didn’t even know it was legal! Well, it is legal here in Massachusetts, so, yay! I’m not seeing the green faerie, but wow! Yummy and strong! Since Katniss is such a super freak badass, once she’s of age, I totes see her rocking this beverage. And folks, you should make it. I’m not much of a cocktail girl, usually. I stick to gin and whiskey. (can I just tell you that I have never used auto spell correct so much in my life?) um, but this drink IS SO FREAKIN’ GOOD!!!!!!! Drink one in Katniss’ honor!
Cheers!
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This category is all win! So awesome. What is even awesomer is that I have a post-it note right now on my monitor that says BUY GRAPES. Now this reminder was for my preschooler’s Valentine’s party but I’m now adding to my shopping list. Don’t worry…I’ll send grapes with him not the bitters and absinthe. Katniss rocks so I can’t wait to drink this cocktail on her behalf!
wow, i’m totally going to try these in about 4 months! i can def. see mimi and jack force knocking back glasses of envy, and katniss’s drink is PER-FECT. right down to the bitters and berries.
RIGHT! Thanks for reminding me, Meghan! I had this whole thing about how the grapes represented the berries, but after the first drink, things just got fuzzy. Happy to report I’m up and feeling fine this morning, which makes Katniss’ drink even MORE awesome!
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW SERIES. and not just cos it gives me an excuse to get my drink on, cos, ha ha, like i need an excuse!
jenny, way to get yr mixology pants on! the katniss sounds DIVINE. as for peeta, i’m thinking… vodka soda? simple, clean, not super girlie but not super manly either.
i’m sure some of the peeta hatahs out there will say he’s a strawberry daquiri drinker, but i think peeta’s a beer man — a nice, dark stout or a strong ale.
meghan, you are so right. nix my voda soda suggestion. plus hello, beer bread is AWESOME, so it all comes together!
I’ve got to agree with Meghan. This morning I was thinking about it and was thinking he’d be a beer drinker. He probably knows all about all kinds of grains and I could picture him brewing his own beer in his basement while painting pictures for Katniss. He’s not a sissy…just sensitive.
Katniss’ drink scares me. I had a bad night because of Absinthe once. Of course, sleeping belted into a tree all night also scares me, so why do I even think I could keep up with Katniss in any way EVER.
As for Peeta, I think he’s a good bourbon on the rocks kind of guy. It goes well with desserts and I picture him with a sturdy old fashioned glass in his fist.
Guys, I like all of these options for Peeta. I think he’s pretty well-rounded, so maybe he brews his own beer, but also will have some bourbon with his hot-cross buns? Trish, a do not envy you your bad night on absinthe. eeesh. that stuff is STRONG! I think it’s like, 110 proof or something. buy hey, made from herbs! I recommend trying one of these. just one.
All I know is I’m really thirsty now!!
I don’t know where else to post this guys but
http://onourmindsatscholastic.blogspot.com/2010/02/hunger-games-book-3-cover-revealed.html
wahoo!
TALYA YES! we just posted about it, so check it out and weigh in mockingjay madness!
jenny, all i’m sayin’ is i’d totally have bourbon with peeta’s hot cross buns …
Dang, the Katniss sounds TASTY! I love me some bitters–any drink with bitters, and I’m in.
Peeta’s definitely a beer man, with the yeast and the hops and the whatnot.