We love HBO shows almost as much as we love drinking, so we were pumped when they announced that plans are in the works to provide an online-only streaming subscription sometime in 2015. We can’t wait to kick back with a cold drink and binge watch some of the greatest shows on television—whether it’s old shows we want to see again or new ones we can’t wait to view for the first time. For now, we’ll just raise a glass in celebration with a few drinks inspired by the men from four of HBO’s top shows. Whether you come from New Jersey or Westeros, there’s a drink here for you and they’re all spoiler free.
The Drink: The Soprano
Inspired by: Tony Soprano, The Sopranos
- 2 oz. Maker’s Mark bourbon
- 2 oz. Amaretto
- ¾ oz. Southern Comfort
- ¾ oz. Lemon juice
- ¼ oz. Sugar syrup
Chill an Old Fashioned glass in the freezer. Place all the ingredients in the base of a cocktail shaker and add a liberal amount of ice and stir. Strain into the chilled glass, filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest. If you think is just another whiskey drink, forgeddaboutit.
The Drink: Blood Orange Margarita
Inspired by: Vincent Chase, Entourage
- 1 ½ oz. Tequila Avión añejo
- ¾ oz. Cointreau
- 1 oz. blood orange juice
- ½ oz. sour mix
Build in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with an orange slice and enjoy like a movie star.
The Drink: Scofflaw Cocktail
Inspired by: Enoch Thompson, Boardwalk Empire
- 1 oz. rye whiskey
- 1 oz. dry vermouth
- ¼ to ¾ oz. grenadine to taste
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- 1 dash orange bitters
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Toast to Prohibition—especially that it ended.
The Drink: The Blackthorne
Inspired by: Robb Stark, Game of Thrones
- 2 oz. Sloe gin
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- 3 dashes angostura bitters
- A splash of absinthe
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled lowball glass and try to forget that “Winter is Coming.”