"Pennywise" Cocktail (Inspired by "IT") (BOTB 2022 Day 12) Recipe

 

Bring Out the Boos 2022

Day 12: "Pennywise" (Inspired by "IT")

By: The Film Bartender

    "We all float down here!" Those are the infamous words used by the evil clown Pennywise and his adolescent victims in the hit horror film, "IT". The clown goes around the town of Derry, Maine, and terrorizes and kills innocent children. With such a long history in film, Pennywise has become one of the most famous and scariest horror movie villains of all time, which makes him worthy enough to serve as the inspiration for Day 12 of this year's Bring Out the Boos event!

    Pennywise started as a figment of horror writer Stephen King's imagination, which he then created in his 1986 horror novel, "IT". The novel followed a group of kids in Derry who are being terrorized by the evil clown, who is preying off of their own horrors and childhood innocence. King's novel was very dark and scary, and was a massive hit when it was first released. Because of that, it inspired director Tommy Lee Wallace to adapt the novel into a 1990 mini-series/movie.

    The 1990 movie starred Jonathan Brandis, Seth Green, Annette O'Toole, Richard Thomas, John Richard, Brandon Crane, Ben Heller, Marlon Taylor, and Tim Curry as the terrifying clown. It served as a mini-series, with one episode focusing on the front half of the book, when the Losers were children, and the second episode focusing on the latter half where they're all grown up. It garnered praise from both critics and audiences, and has established itself as a cult classic over the years. 

    Then, in 2017, Andy Muschietti took the classic novel and put his own spin on it, crafting a brilliant and terrifying R-rated film about Pennywise and the young kids he haunted. It stars Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, Nicholas Hamilton, and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. The movie was beloved by fans and critics alike, and many praised Skarsgård's performance as the terrifying clown. It became one of the highest grossing R-rated horror films of all time, and became an instant classic. 

    In 2019, Muschietti released a sequel to his hit 2017 film, focusing on the adult lives of the characters from the first film. In addition to starring the child actors and the terrifying clown from the first film, the grown-up characters are played by Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, James Ransone, Jay Ryan, Isaiah Mustafa, Andy Bean, and Teach Grant. However, the sequel was panned by critics for the lackluster plot and pacing, and is considered nowhere as good as the first film. 

    Due to Pennywise and "IT" being a classic horror character and film respectively, it's only right for Pennywise to get his own cocktail. This drink inspired by the clown is a refreshing, ice cream beverage that is perfect for a hot summer day, which there are lots of throughout these movies. The mixing of the white and red shows that all of his victims truly do float down in the sewers. 

Ingredients:

- 3 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream

- 1/2 oz Bailey's 

- 1 oz Vodka

- 2 oz Cranberry Juice

- Club Soda (to top)

- 1/2 oz Grenadine

- Ice

Directions:

1. In a blender jar, add the Vanilla Ice Cream and Bailey's. Mix until the ice cream is soft and they are mixed together. Take the jar off the blender and set aside to let the ice cream melt. 

2. In a Highball glass, add crushed ice. Pour in the Vodka and the Cranberry Juice, then stir together. Top with Club Soda.

3. Take the ice cream mixture, and pour it slowly on top of the concoction in the highball glass. Allow it to float on top, and it will sink the more it sits. 

4. Pour the Grenadine over the top of the ice cream mixture. 

5. Serve. 

Film Fact: Jack Dylan Grazer was the first one out of all the kids to work with Skarsgård while shooting. During their scene, Grazer would cry and gag while Skarsgård was right in his face, yelling and drooling. Skarsgård was genuinely concerned for the young actor, and after the scene ended, asked him if he was okay. Grazer looked right at him and said, "Love what you're doing with the character!" Skarsgård was left confused and impressed at Grazer's attitude, calling the child actors "little professionals". 

    Now you have made your very own drink to celebrate the classic horror character! Pennywise is one of the most terrifying horror villains of all time, and will remain that way for the rest of cinema. Today, both versions of the Stephen King tale are classics and will be considered some of the best and most influential horror movies of all time!

    Today is Day 12 of my Bring Out the Boos 2022 Halloween event, where I will be making a drink everyday for the month of October to celebrate the Halloween holiday! We are almost halfway through this year's event, and you can find the rest of my earlier drinks on the blog! Check back tomorrow for Day 13's drink, which will be based off the classic slasher film, "Friday the 13th"! Until then, happy drinking!