In honor of the 86th Academy Awards this Sunday, March 2nd, I'm serving up sneekys inspired by each Best Picture Nominated film. Host a viewing party with easy appetizers and these sneekys. With all the great films nominated, there's sure to be a sneeky that speaks to everyone. Cheers!
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12 Years a Slave : Blackberry Royale
In 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup tries to fashion a pen and ink out of wood and blackberries in a desperate attempt to reach his family in the North. I'm serving up a refreshing pitcher starring blackberries.
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 2.5 oz créme de cassis
- 1 lemon
- 1 bottle (12 ounces) ginger beer, chilled
- 4 cups ice
- 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled dry sparkling wine
- In a large pitcher, combine blackberries, créme de cassis, and 1 tablespoon from half the lemon. Stir to combine, lightly pressing on berries to release juices.
- Add ice to pitcher. Fill with ginger beer and sparkling wine and stir gently to combine. Slice remaining half of lemon in thin slices and add to pitcher as garnish.
Gravity : Kahlua White Russian
For a movie that has audience members thrilled and on the edge of their seats, George Clooney provides some comic relief by saying he knows where the Russian stash their vodka on board the Russian satellite. Inspired by the small role vodka plays in the movie, I'm serving up White Russians.
- 2 oz Kahlua
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz cream or milk
Philomena : Buck's Fizz
There are several food moments through Philomena as Philomena proves to be enthusiastic about food and drinks. The one that stood out to me is when she is offered a Buck's Fizz cocktail on the flight to Washington D.C.
- 1 (750 ml) bottle champagne
- 0.5 liter squeezed fresh orange juice
Chill your Champagne & Orange Juice. Select a tall and elegant shaped champagne glasses! Pour about one third of orange juice into the glass first and then top up with champagne.
Nebraska : No Frills Beer
Beer plays a big role in the film Nebraska. Bruce Dern consumes a great deal of beer throughout the movie and is drunk once or twice. For beer buffs I recommend a good American craft beer such as Brooklyn Lager.
Her : Grand Cosmo
This movie was a little difficult to come up with a sneeky. I was ultimately inspired by how sentimental and romantic it was so I'm serving up this sweet, classic cosmo.
- 0.5 oz grand marnier
- 0.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
- 0.5 oz cranberry juice
- 0.25 oz fresh lime juice
Dallas Buyer's Club : Skinny Man Margarita
A skinny margarita for Ron Woodruff, an AIDS patient who smuggled unapproved pharmaceuticals into Texas when he found they improved his symptoms and distributed them to fellow patient. Cheers to you Ron!
- lime wedge
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 3 oz. (90 ml) tequila
- 1 oz. (30 ml) lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 oz. (30 ml) agave nectar
- ice
Combine the silver tequila, lime juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and replace the lid. Shake the drink until the ingredients are well combined. Pour the drink into salted glasses.
The Wolf of Wall Street : Money Maker Martini
A lavish twist on a classic martini to accompany a movie based on a beyond lavish lifestyle.
- 1.5oz Vodka
- 0.5oz Chambord
- 0.5oz pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz champagne
American Hustle : After Party
(pictured above)
- 6oz Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
- Juices of 1 lime
- 4 slices jalapeno
- 4oz pomegranate juice10oz. agave nectar or simple syrup
- Seltzer on top
Muddle lime juice, jalapeno, and simple syrup. Add pomegranate juice, bourbon, and shake well. Strain into ice filled Collins glasses. And top with seltzer. Garnish with lime wheels and pomegranate seeds.
*Recipe courtesy of Huffington Post
