Elias Eells of Bar Cart Bookshelf, a YouTube channel that designs mixed drinks for SF/F novels, has come up with not one but three drinks for the Rook and Rose series — one per book! Some of these can also be made as mocktails, for those of you who’d prefer non-alcoholic versions. Check out his videos for a demonstration of how to mix the drinks!
Vraszenian Spiced Chocolate, two ways
(The Mask of Mirrors)
This includes both a hot chocolate-style non-alcoholic drink and a dessert cocktail.
- Ingredients (hot chocolate)
- 2 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 oz vanilla syrup
- 1/2 oz pecan orgeat (see below)
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 2 oz heavy cream
- 3 dashes aromatic bitters (can omit for complete avoidance of alcohol)
Mix in the order listed, dust with cinnamon, and enjoy! If you like your hot chocolate thicker, alter the balance of the boiling water and heavy cream, or just use hot milk in place of both. If you lack vanilla syrup, use 1 oz pecan orgeat and add a quarter teaspoon of vanilla.
- Ingredients (dessert cocktail)
- 1 1/2 oz creme de cacao
- 1/4 oz vanilla syrup
- 1/4 oz pecan orgeat (see below)
- 1 oz heavy cream
- 3 dashes aromatic bitters
Shake with ice and serve dusted with cinnamon.
- Pecan orgeat
- 2 cups pecans, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 oz brandy or vodka (for preservation if not using all the orgeat quickly)
Heat the water and sugar over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil 3 minutes. Turn heat to low and add nuts; simmer 3 minutes. Slowly increase heat back to medium, and remove from burner before it starts to boil. Cover with a lid and steep 3-8 hours. Strain out the nuts with a double layer of cheesecloth in a fine mesh strainer. Add vanilla and alcohol; keep refrigerated. Yields about 1 1/4 cups; you can halve the recipe if you need less.
The Black Rose
(The Liar’s Knot)
- Ingredients
- 1 oz. brandy (cognac works well)
- 1 oz. creme de cacao
- 1 oz. black cherry grenadine (see below)
- A few dashes of aromatic bitters
Pour ingredients together and add ice; stir for ~20 seconds. Strain into a glass.
Black cherry grenadine
Mix equal parts black cherry juice and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar is fully dissolved. Pour off three quarters, then boil the remaining quarter until it’s reduced by half and pour it back into the rest. Add ¼ teaspoon of rose water for 2 cups of juice and 2 cups of sugar. Let cool.
The Trials of the Volti
(Labyrinth’s Heart)
- Ingredients
- Mint
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz blueberry grenadine
- 1 oz slivovitz (optional)
- 2-4 dashes cardamom bitters
- Tonic water
Gently muddle several mint leaves in the bottom of your shaker. Top with remaining ingredients, except tonic water, then ice. Shake for 15 seconds until frosty and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top with tonic water and garnish with a sprig of mint.