Saw this in the Guardian. Hands up if you want to give some of these a go:
Six video game cocktails | Technology | guardian.co.uk
Love video games? Fed up with the same old festive drinks? We think we may have just the thing for you.
Inspired by our top 20 games of the year list – and our love of alcoholic beverages – I asked James Dance, owner of stylish Falmouth bar and video game arcade Loading, to create six new festive cocktails, based on the year's hottest titles.
He has recently designed drinks for Capcom's Street Fighter community event in London and made up an Alice: Madness Returns cocktail for Electronic Arts.
So, from the explosive Uncharted 3: Drinks Deception to the sophisticated LA Noire: Truth, Lie, Stout, these entertaining and exotic concoctions will be perfect for your Christmas gaming get-togethers.
Uncharted 3: Drinks Deception
Seeking adventure? Ignite this Goldschlager and overproof rum depth charge then plunge it into a ginger beer ocean.
What you'll need
Ginger beer (You could use Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer if you fancy more of a kick)
Goldschlager
Overproof rum ("we use Wray and Nephew," says James)
Cinnamon
A box of matches
Like the Uncharted games, this drink is one big action set-piece. Grab a highball glass and rub lime juice around the rim before dunking it onto a plate of sugar, then pour in 175ml ginger beer. Next, get a shot glass and pour in 10ml of Goldschlager, followed by 15ml of overproof rum, poured over the back of a spoon. You can now carefully light the shot and sprinkle cinnamon over the top from about 40cms to get an impressive flame. Then blow it out and drop the shot glass into the ginger beer.
*Although I think I prefer the alternative name 'Uncharted 3: Drinks Reception'
Elderflower Scrolls: Skyyrum
A sweet yet heroic epic, pairing elderflower presse with spiced rum to cast an exotic spell over your taste buds.
What you'll need
Skyy vanilla vodka
Sparkling elderflower presse
Spiced rum (Sailor Jerry)
Orange peel
We've based this whole drink entirely around a series of highly amusing Skyrim puns – but luckily, it's also delicious. First, create a sugared rim by dipping your high ball glass into the vanilla vodka, and then into a plate of sugar. Now put ice into the glass and pour in 175ml of the presse down the side (the inside, of course). Add a measure of spiced rum on top of that, and garnish with an orange peel dragon's tongue.
LA Noire: Truth, Lie, Stout
Solve the case of the Black Russian by interrogating this tasty mix of Kahlua, vodka and Guinness.
What you'll need
Kahlua
Vodka
Guinness ("We use the bottles of Guiness original," says James)
To reflect Rockstar's stylish noir thriller, we wanted a sophisticated, smooth drink with a classic feel, and an edge of darkness about it. Truth, Lie, Stout – based around the three responses that lead character Cole Phelps can make during interrogation sequences – is the result. Take your choice of glass and start with 25ml measures of Vodka and Kahlua, then top up with Guinness. "You should stir before drinking to move the booze around," adds James.
The Modern Warfare frag grenade
Earn maximum experience points by priming and consuming this explosive concoction.
What you'll need
Limoncello
Crème de Menth
Jagermeister
Baileys
Energy drink
Black vodka
Not so much a cocktail as a military exercise, this mission features two shooters colliding in an energy drink combat zone. Start by making a Soap MacTavish – get a shot glass and pour in limoncello, then Crème de menth. Now concoct a "Jagernaut", which is Jagermeister, then Baileys in another shot glass. Now get a half-pint glass and fix a "Makarov" – pour in your energy drink of choice, plus a shot of Black vodka. Now, wedge your two shooters in the mouth of the half-pint glass. Your first step is to pull the pin on the Soap Mactavish, by carefully yanking the glass free and downing the shooter. This will of course, result in your Jagernaut depth charging into the Makarov – now drink the resulting combination. That's right, it's the ultimate shooter-'em-up.
The Portal Two
The finest beverage breakthroughs from the Aperture alcohol research labs. Drink them in the name of science. You monster.
What you'll need
Blue Curacao
Vodka
Lemonade
Cointreau
Rum
Orangina
Small tumblers
This drink is, of course, designed to resemble the two coloured portals from the excellent sci-fi puzzle game. For the blue version, get a small tumbler and pour in 10ml of Blue Curacao, 10ml of vodka and top up with lemonade. For orange you'll need another tumbler, this time filled with 10ml of Cointreau, 10ml of rum and Orangina. If you fancy, you can jazz the glasses up with coloured sugar rims. Simply pour some sugar into a sandwich bag with the relevant food colouring, shake them up, pour the resulting mix into a dish and dip your tumbler in. "You can mix the portals together if you like," says James. "It's a very orangey flavour, which we thought tied in with The Orange Box, the compilation in which the original Portal appeared."
Batman: Arkham Party
The caped crusader better have some paracetamol in that utility belt – this isn't so much a cocktail as a super villain fist fight.
What you'll need
Midori
Vodka
Crushed ice
Blue Curacao
Sambuca
Cranberry juice
Rum
popping candy
Fresh Mint
sugar syrup
Blackcurrant coulis (you can buy this in bottles or jars if you don't want to make your own)
Champagne
This shot set sees some of Gotham's most dastardly villains taking on the Dark Knight. For The Riddler, pour 20ml of Midori down the inside of glass, then add 5ml of vodka over a spoon. For a Mr Freeze, crush some ice and pour it into your shot glass, followed by 10ml of Blue Curacao and 10ml of Sambuca. Your Joker is made from 15ml Blue Curacao, cranberry juice and rum with a topping of popping candy ("You'll need to stir it up with a straw to get the colour," says James). Then we have a Poison Ivy, grown from 15ml of rum, a fresh mint leaf (or a dash crème de menth if you prefer) and sugar syrup. Finally, create your Batman/Bruce Wayne shooter with 5ml of blackcurrant coulis and champagne. Now let the flavour battle commence!
• All images © Loading/willedgecom.be and respective game publishers