Christmas Bonus - Drinks from It's a Wonderful Life

Sips Across the Sea - Episode #10

In this special Christmas episode of Sips Across the Sea, hosts Eric Zandona @ezdrinking and David T. Smith @summerfruitcup discuss the drinks featured in the Frank Capra classic It's a Wonderful Life. This Christmas classic set partially during Prohibition, features many drinks including, bourbon, gin, champaign, mulled wine, and flaming rum punch! This episode also features an original cocktail called Buffalo Girl from author and friend of the show Aaron Knoll @theginisin.

Spirits mentioned in this episode include:

• Moët & Chandon Champaign Impérial 12% ABV

• Old Crow Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40% ABV

• Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey 50% ABV

• El Dorado 3 Year Rum 40% ABV

• Smith & Cross Traditional Jamacia Rum 57% ABV

• Hampden Estate Rum Fire White Overproof Rum 63% ABV

Cocktails recipes mentioned in this episode include:

Screwdriver (International Bartenders Association)

• 1 Part Vodak

• 3 Parts Fresh Orange Juice

  Add ice to a rock glass or goblet. Pour a measue of vodka intot the glass and add the orange juice on top. Stir to mix.

  If the drink is too strong, try 4:1 or 5:1 OJ to vodka.

French Mulled Wine from Encyclopedia of Home-Made Wines (1957) by Mary Aylett

• 28g cinnamon, ginger and clove

• 85g sugar

• 5-8oz water

• 20oz red wine

• orange or lemon peal (optional)

  Combine spices, sugar and water in a sauce pan and heat on medium and reduce to a syurp. If you like add citurs peal to the syrup while cooking. Pour the syrup over the the red wine and stir gently until hot. Serve in a mug or stemed wine glass.

Flaming Rum Punch

• 1oz white rum

• 1oz aged Jamaican rum

• ¾oz fresh lime juice

• ½oz ruby port

• ½oz orgeate

• ½oz fresh orange juice

• ¾oz overproof Jamacian rum

  Combind first six ingredients in a cocktail shaker and with ice. Shake and strain into a warmed rocks glass or Irish Coffee mug. Top with overproof rum, ignight with fire and springle with cinnamon. Allow flam to burn out, let glass cool and enjoy.

Buffalo Girls by Aaron Knoll

• 50ml gin

• 25ml fresh orange juice

• 10ml maple syrup

• Soda water

  Build in a Colins glass with ice. Add gin, orange juice, and maple syrup, give a quick stir and top with soda water. Serve with a straw.

  Locations, Resources and Media mentioned in this episode include:

Locations, Resources and Media mentioned in this episode include:

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Trading Places (1983)

Uncle Buck (1989)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

The Bishop's Wife (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)