Cocktails with a Literary Twist Created by The Calm Scribe

What goes well with a good book? A nice cocktail. What's even better? A cocktail inspired by and crafted for that book. The Calm Scribe has taken his bartending, culinary, and literary experience to craft delicious cocktails based on some of your favorite books. Some are based on characters, and some are based on the overall book. If you have a favorite book or character you would like to see turned into a cocktail, send us a message, and we will develop it. Contact us here to make your suggestions.

As always, please enjoy these cocktails responsibly and follow local laws and regulations. Let us know your thoughts when you try them!

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Inspired by Season 2, Episode 1: Rise of the Chroma Conclave

Dragon's Scale

Inspired by the vicious attack by the Chroma Conclave, the Dragon's Scale features Green Dragon Tincture, gold lustre to represent the dragon's horde, and sparkling wine to keep everything stirring. This cocktail is a spin on the Dragon's Mist listed below. Please enjoy responsibly. If you are not experienced with cannabis tincture, please use less or omit it altogether.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Crème de Menthe
2.5 ml (or 1/2 barspoon) Green Dragon Cannabis Tincture (Optional)
Champagne or Sparkling Wine
1/8 tsp Gold Lustre (Optional)
Spritz of Absinthe
Caution: This cocktail is extremely potent.

Preparation:

1. Add ice to the cocktail glass to chill.
2. Add ice to shaker.
3. Add vodka, crème de menthe, and green dragon to the shaker and shake vigorously.
4. Remove ice from cocktail glass, spritz glass with absinthe, and strain drink into glass. Add gold lustre.
5. Top off with champagne.
6. Garnish with mint leaves (or cannabis leaf) and an extra spritz of absinthe across the top. (Optional)

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Inspired by Season 2, Episode 2: The Trials of Vasselheim

The Smoking Vassel

This cocktail was inspired by the majesty of Vasselheim. Featuring natural and easily accessible ingredients that seemed most likely available in Vasselheim. Barrel-aged gin makes up the core of this drink. Frangelico is a hazelnut liquor with a bottle designed to look like a Friar, representing natural flavours and religious orders. A splash of water is included to balance the drink and illustrate the wall of water that shows truth. The maple syrup sweetener and orange bitters pay homage to its natural beauty and the order of the Wild Mother. The cherry and orange peel garnish is an easily sourced garnish which ties the drink together. All smoked with pecan wood chips. An easy sipping and multi-layered cocktail. A smoky scotch can be used in place of the gin.

​Ingredients:

3/4 oz Frangelico
2 oz Barrel Aged Gin (or Scotch)
2 dashes Orange Bitters
1/2 tsp Pure Maple Syrup
Splash of Water
1 Orange Wedge
1 Ice Cube
Cherry and Orange Peel Garnish

​Preparation:

1. Muddle the orange wedge, maple syrup, bitters, and Frangelico in the bottom of a rocks glass
2. Add ice
3. Add the water and gin
4. Stir until chilled
5. Garnish with orange peel and cherry
6. Smoke with pecan, cherry, or oak (Optional)

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Inspired by Season 2, Episode 3: The Sunken Tomb

The Sunken Heart

Taking inspiration from the Sunken Tomb and the end of this episode, The Sunken Heart is a layered cocktail. The layers and complexity of this cocktail tease not only the eye but also the palate. The dark cherry at the bottom is a surprise that represents love and loss as it waits to be found in the dark depths of the drink. Maraschino liqueur and Amaretto add a subtle sweet and nutty note to the cocktail, adding complexity to the dark coffee-infused rum, which calls to wake up even the deepest sleeping being. Topped with club soda, the drink visually gives the impression of a layer of water which deepens to mystery. Finally, the cardamom bitters tie all the flavours together and accents the coffee rum. Each sip offers a refreshing sensation with multiple layers of flavour to tease the tastebuds.

​Ingredients:

​1.5 oz Dark Coffee Rum
0.5 oz  Maraschino Liqueur
0.5 oz Amaretto
5 dashes Cardamom Bitters
1 Amarena Cherry (or Maraschino Cherry)
Ice
Club Soda

​​Preparation:

1. Add rum, maraschino liqueur, and Amaretto to a Collins glass
2. Add amarena cherry to bottom of glass
3. Add 5 dashes of cardamom bitters (or to taste)
4. Add ice to glass and stir, ensuring cherry stays at the bottom
5. Use a barspoon (or back of a spoon) to layer club soda to top off
6. Serve
7. For maximum flavor, stir to combine before drinking

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Classic Literary Cocktails

The Pennywise

Created in 2022, this literary cocktail is inspired by Pennywise from IT (1986) by Stephen King. Crafted with a Soju base, the drink features flavours of lychee, dragon fruit, passion fruit, pineapple, and spice. Much like its namesake, Pennywise starts light and fruity and then becomes more sinister as the heat slowly builds.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Soju
0.5 oz Gin
2 oz Pineapple Juice
2 droppers of Ginger Honey Syrup
3 dashes Sweet Reaper Bitters
1 Egg White
2 Thai Chilli Peppers

Preparation

1. Combine soju, gin, pineapple juice, ginger honey syrup, sweet reaper bitters, and egg white in cocktail shaker with a spring.
2. Vigorously shake ingredients until frothy.
3. Add ice and shake until chilled.
4. Strain into a coupe glass.
5. Garnish with two Thai chilli peppers (after running them around the rim) to create the iconic smile.

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Tropical Fire

Created in 2022, Tropical Fire is a more accessible and lighter variation of the Pennywise. Inspired by Lord of the Flies (1954) by William Golding, this cocktail is light and fruity, with just a hint of heat. Letting you know that the island paradise you are on is not all that it seems.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Soju
4 oz Pineapple Juice
2 droppers of Ginger Honey Syrup
3 dashes Sweet Reaper Bitters

Preparation

1. Combine soju, pineapple juice, ginger honey syrup, and sweet reaper bitters in a Collins glass.
2. Stir for 30 seconds.
3. Garnish with pineapple, chili, and maraschino cherry.

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Dragon's Mist (Mist of the Dragon)

Created in 2022, this literary cocktail is inspired by Eyes of the Dragon (1987) by Stephen King. Crafted with a vodka base, the flavor profile of this drink is minty with an earthy and subtle nutty note. Served in a cocktail glass, this drink will take you on a fantastic voyage.
NOTE: Green Dragon Tincture is extremely potent and should be used with caution. Use only where allowed by law.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Crème de Menthe
2.5 ml (or half a barspoon) of Green Dragon Cannabis Tincture
Spritz of Absinthe

Preparation

1. Add ice to the cocktail glass to chill.
2. Add ice to shaker.
3. Add vodka, crème de menthe, and green dragon to the shaker and shake vigorously.
4. Remove ice from cocktail glass, spritz glass with absinthe, and strain drink into glass.
5. Garnish with mint leaves (or cannabis leaf) and an extra spritz of absinthe across the top. (Optional)

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Sparkling Dragon's Mist

An easy sipping version of Dragon's Mist for those who prefer a lighter cocktail than a martini. Let the bubbles take you away to fantastic lands while you sit back and relax.
NOTE: Green Dragon Tincture is extremely potent and should be used with caution. Use only where allowed by law.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Crème de Menthe
2.5 ml (or half a barspoon) of Green Dragon Cannabis Tincture
1 splash of Absinthe
4 oz Club Soda

​Preparation

1. Fill a Collin's glass with ice to chill.
2. Add ice, vodka, crème de menthe, green dragon, and absinthe to a shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
3. Strain into chilled glass and top off with club soda.

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The Neglected Coffee

Inspired by Rip Van Winkle (1819) by Washington Irving, this cocktail with a subtle sweetness to it will remind you of an iced coffee. Or perhaps a coffee waiting by your bedside while you sleep the hours away.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Kraken Black Roast Rum
1 oz Vodka
0.5 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
0.5 oz Frangelico
Mini Marshmallows
Chocolate Drizzle

​Preparation

1. Fill a cocktail glass with ice to chill.
2. Add rum, vodka, Irish cream, and Frangelico to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
3. Remove ice from glass and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
4. Strain cocktail into glass and garnish with flamed marshmallows.​

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Soon to be Released!

More Vox Machina cocktails and two gothic inspired cocktails to send chills down your spine.