Classic (Game) Cocktail of the Week: The New Donk City
Mario returns to the big city, and we have the perfect cocktail to toast his new journey.
Some people like to unwind over the weekend by listening to favorite podcasts; others prefer to relaxing with an alcoholic libation. We figure: Why not both? With the Classic (Game) Cocktail column, we'll offer weekly recommendations on cocktail recipes to accompany our most recent podcast episode.
Disclaimer: Please drink responsibly, and only if you are of legal age (or have permission).
Classic (Game) Cocktail #9: New Donk City
Mario returns to action today with his first proper, free-form 3D adventure in a decade and a half. But more importantly than that, this marks Mario's first trip back to the big city since, what, 1994's Donkey Kong for Game Boy? Super Mario Odyssey's New Donk City is a thinly veiled version of Manhattan, so for this week's cocktail, we're going to make… a thinly veiled version of a Manhattan. Right on.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts single-barrel bourbon
- 1 part Carpano Antiqua vermouth
- 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
- 1 bourbon cherry (for garnish)
The name "New Donk City" suggests a connection to Mario's old rival Donkey Kong. And you know what Donkey Kong liked to throw? Barrels. So to honor Kong, we're using a single-barrel whisky for this recipe.
The New Donk City demands top-quality ingredients. So don't just use bottom-shelf vermouth; use Carpano Antiqua. And don't settle for Angostura bitters; take it up a notch with Peychaud's. These are things worth having on your bar in any case! And just think: Super Mario Odyssey is a massive game but doesn't have any in-game monetization or come with some ridiculous special edition box. It's a sprawling adventure for a reasonable $60, unlike pretty much any other major release this year. So you can afford to spend your savings on good cocktail mixers.
Oh, wait… you didn't buy the amiibo set, did you? My god! Get your priorities straight!
Instructions:
- Combine ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker.
- Stir with a bar spoon until well-blended and cold.
- Strain into chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with cherry.
Again, it's basically a fancier Manhattan. Sip slowly and enjoy.
Some notes:
- Stirred, not shaken. You're not James Bond, and just as you deserve better than vodka martinis, you also deserve a Manhattan variant that isn't all foamy and diluted by ice chips.
- Is it wasteful to use single-barrel bourbon in a cocktail? Maybe, but sometimes reckless indulgence is called for. I mean, don't use some $100 bottle of whisky, but this is a premium drink to celebrate a premium game. Nothing less than the best for a game of the year contender!
- Next time: Breath of the Wild... Turkey? [chin-stroke emoticon]
