It’s probably tough to enjoy a drink when you’re a superhero. How do you have the time to hit happy hour when you’re so busy saving the world from alien invasion or secret, diabolical organizations held-over from WWII. Except Tony Stark, who obviously enjoys the occasional cocktail…or several. Luckily, the non-heroes who admire the Avengers can make up for their teetotaling ways by amply toasting them with themed drinks created by the venues of the MGM Resorts International. These drinks look so tasty, the bartenders themselves are heroes in their own right.
Avengers fans will be pleased to see that these cocktails are truly inspired by the characters. Being Russian, it’s only appropriate that the Black Widow’s drink has a good amount of vodka. The Hulk Pizzazerac Cocktail is made with green absinthe. The Hammered, naturally, is inspired by Thor. The Fireball is a fiery shot that will help you fight your inner demons a’la Tony Stark. And what is more appropriate for the traditional Captain America than an Old Fashioned?
You’ve probably already seen Avengers: Age of Ultron; Try mixing up a few of these signature cocktails and see it again.
Black Widow: What She’s Having
Courtesy of Craig Schoettler, Sage at ARIA
Ingredients
Sage
2 oz. Breckenridge vodka
1 oz. Lemon shrub
1 Rosemary infused ice cube
Top with soda
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake. Strain and pour over rosemary ice cube (chop rosemary and freeze it in water in ice cube trays). Garnish with lemon wheel and fresh ground black pepper.
Captain America: The Old Fashion
STACK at The Mirage
Ingredients
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Scrappy’s Orange Bitters
2.5 oz. Wild Turkey 101
.75 oz. of Housemade Gomme Syrup (you can use simple syrup at home)
Directions: Combine all ingredients in the serving glass then stir for 15 seconds. Add ice and stir an additional 3 seconds. Finish with a Luxardo brandied cherry. Express an orange peel over the top of the glass and set a peel in the cocktail as a garnish.
The Hulk: Pizzazerac Cocktail
Created by Lead Barman Eric Smith, Rx Boiler Room at Mandalay Bay
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Hennessy
1 oz. High West Double Rye
3 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
.5 oz. Absinthe
Allspice syrup
Directions: This is a tough one to make at home. The ingredients are barrel-aged individually. Then the ingredients are married into one barrel where the drinks are then served from. Maybe it’s best to just admire this super barrel-aged cocktail from a far. Or head to the Mandalay Bay.
Iron Man: House-Made Fireball
Michael Mina Pub 1842 at MGM Grand
Ingredients
2 oz. George Dickel Rye
0.5 oz. Spicy Cinnamon Syrup
Directions: Bring 2 quarts simple syrup (1:1 sugar and water) and 10 cinnamon sticks and cayenne pepper to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Let sit for a day or two, then combine with George Dickel Rye. Chill the drink before serving.
Thor: Hammered
Public House at Luxor
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Jack Daniels
.5 oz. simple syrup
1 fresh squeezed lemon and sour mixed
Raspberries
Directions: Fill a glass with ice and pour in the Jack Daniels, simple syrup, and lemon-sour mix. Turn the ingredients by pouring them into a mixing tin and then pour it back into the glass for less froth. For more froth, shake the ingredients in a mixing tin. Garnish with 2-3 raspberries in the drink.