By now, you all probably know what huge lushes we are here at the opera house — and we love sharing cocktail recipes with those who may enjoy a drink or two as much as we do. With Verdi’s Don Carlo currently playing on the stage, what better way to celebrate a new opera season than with some show-inspired cocktails on the opera menu?!
We’ve got three cocktail recipes courtesy of Jonathan Garduño – former Bar Director of the Silverlake gem, Freedman’s LA — that are all sure to get you in the Don Carlo mood, especially if Don Carlo, Princess Eboli, or King Philip happen to be your favorite characters!
Carlo’s Crown
A unique drink recipe for the titular character — Carlo’s Crown is a mezcal based drink that features the aromatic basil leaves and the freshness of lemon juice to create something fit for a prince… albeit a sad one. That’s where the bitters come in.
- 1.5 oz mezcal
- .25 oz Ancho Reyes liquor
- .25 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- 1oz white peach syrup
- .75 oz lemon juice
- 3-4 basil leaves
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker, double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a laphroaig scotch mist
Eboli’s Love Potion
A smooth rum based mixed drink with velvet falernum to really capture the sugar and spice spirit of Eboli as well as ginger syrup because — let’s face it — Princess Eboli is a little more spice than she is sugar. But that’s just the way that we like her right?
- 1.5 Appleton estate rum
- .25 velvet falernum
- .25 all spice dram
- .5 ginger syrup
- Barspoon orgeat
- .5-.75 lime juice
- Club soda
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker except club soda.
- After shaking add 2oz club soda to shaker and pour into a Collins glass full of ice.
- Garnish with mint sprig and grated nutmeg.
A King’s Fury
A king like Philip deserves a sturdy drink, and sturdiness is what makes scotch well…scotch! Because King Philip is a bit of the stern sign, this drink features a dash of hot sauce to really capture that fury part of the drink, as well as dry vermouth to go along with his surly persona. A drink not for the faint of heart, we’re sure you’ll really enjoy this one.
- 1.5 scotch
- .25 dry vermouth
- .25 aperol
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- Combine all ingredients in in a mixing glass, stir 40 times, and strain into a chilled coup.
- Garnish with a flamed orange zest.
If you’re making these for your next party, all of these recipes can be multiplied to serve more. We promise we won’t tell that you got it from our blog, we’ll let your guests think you’re a word-class mixologist.
Enjoy!
For more information or to purchase tickets to Don Carlo, click here.
