Sunday, February 17, 2013

Oscar Cocktails: The Zero Dark Thirty


Zero Dark Thirty is the controversial spy movie based on the real life story of a young CIA operative's 8-year search for Osama Bin Laden. The gripping film is Director Kathryn Bigelow's follow-up to her 2010 Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker, and is nominated for five Oscars, including Original Screenplay, Actress (Jessica Chastain) and Picture.

For the drink, I was inspired by two things: first, the vivid imagery of the film's climatic raid on the Bin Laden compound, shot in first-person perspective through the muted green color of night vision goggles, represented by the dark coffee liqueur and the green tint of Chartreuse. Second, I considered the busy lives of the CIA operatives who put all other considerations aside for this mission. These aren't people who have time for fancy cocktails. A shot seemed more their style.

Oscar Cocktails: The Zero Dark Thirty

1/2 oz. coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa)
3/4 oz. Green Chartreuse
1/2 oz. vodka

In a tall shot glass, carefully layer the drink by slowly pour the liquors over the back handle of a spoon touching the inside of the glass just above the previous layer: first the coffee liqueur, then the Chartreuse and finally the vodka.

Like The Zero Dark Thirty? Vote for it as your favorite on Facebook. View all nine Oscar Cocktails here.

2 comments:

  1. A shot may be their style but achieving 3 defined layers in a shot glass is just as time consuming and more difficult than mixing a cocktail. That said, it tastes pretty good and I'm not a fan of Chartreuse.

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  2. True. It took me several tries to get it right. I guess I was thinking someone else would make it for them and they wouldn't have to waste time drinking it! Glad you liked it.

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