We drink, And We Know Things

Night Gathers, & This Sunday Our Watch Begins

This Sunday marks the start of the 8th and final season of Game of Thrones, which is both thrilling and grievous at the same time. We have been (somewhat) patiently waiting for this final season to begin for so long now, we can almost taste the joy of reuniting with those most beloved, and reviled characters. However, just like when you get to the end of a good book, the mourning period once those sweet six episodes are up threatens to be devastating, for at least a month...or three.

So lets makes some drinks and toast what is to come, those who have passed, and pray to the old gods, the seven, the children of the forest, and whoever else might listen, that this prequel HBO has planned isn't a stinker.

What Do We Say To The God Of Death?

Not today, my lord, not today. George R. R. doesn't shy away from killing our favs, but he has been known to bring a few back every now and then. Let's not even get into what level of zombie the Night King qualifies as. So a Corpse Reviver seemed inevitable choice. We went with No.2, and it is soooooo delicious, you really ought to do yourself a favor and start making these on the regular.

Corpse Reviver No.2

"Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse."
-- Savoy Cocktail Book

3/4 oz Gin
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz triple sec
3/4 oz lillet blanc
Absinthe wash
Rinse a martini glass with Absinthe and set aside. Shake all ingredients on ice, strain, and pour into glass.
As the Savoy Cocktail book indicates, four of these in quick succession will garner the opposite reaction from the now undead corpse. So, as always, moderation, folks.

Badass Women From The South

We were huge fans of the Sand Snakes, and it's only too bad the show didn't give them as much to do as the books. Would have really liked to have seen how they fared in the cold against the Night King. So lets pour a little out for Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene.

Blood & Sand 

1 oz Famous Grouse Scotch

3/4 oz Carpanco Antica Formula vermouth

3/4 oz cherry herring

1 oz fresh orange juice

Pour a little out for Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene. RIP, ladies.

Shake all ingredients with ice - strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with cherry

Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not.

I didn't have the Famous Grouse and cherry herring so I used my cherry flavored whiskey (1.5 oz) and 1/4 oz of Luxardo maraschino liqueur. It was still delicious.

He Has No Birthright, He's A Damn Bastard

Oh, Jon Snow, what will your fate be? King, dead, not dead, just very badly wounded and with psychological trauma from bopping your aunt. Either way, we can't wait to watch. And let's not forget our second favorite bastard, the ever-rowing Gentry. Thank God that guys back in the fold, we missed him and can't wait for that Arya reunion.

Suffering Bastard 

4 oz ginger beer - I used by ginger syrup and seltzer water

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1/4 oz simple syrup

1 oz London dry gin

1 oz brandy

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Add ginger beer to highball/Collins glass, then add remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, shake and strain into glass.  Gently fill with cubed or cracked ice.  Garnish with mint and swizzle stick if you've got them. 

We hope you try one or all three of these during your viewings and let us know what you think. And not to be too much of a killjoy, just remember this classic Ramsey line when considering what might happen this season, "If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." 

By Julz and Nicola