"The Grinch Cocktail" Recipe (Inspired by "How the Grinch Stole Christmas")

 "The Grinch Cocktail" (Inspired by "The Grinch)

By: The Film Bartender

    There is nobody that hates Christmas more than the Grinch himself! The Grinch is one of the most iconic characters and figures during the Christmas season, doing everything he can to try and stop this jolly holiday from happening in Whoville. Created by Dr. Seuss, this character has been iconic since his creation, and has therefore spawned numerous films retelling his story and how his heart grew three sizes. Due to how important he is during the Christmas season, it is only right that our cocktail today is inspired by the green monster who wants to destroy his least favorite holiday once and for all. Keep reading to find out more information about the character of the Grinch, the movies that have been made off of Dr. Seuss' classic children book, and to find the full recipe for "The Grinch Cocktail" below!

    Dr. Seuss is known for being one of the most famous and influential children's authors of all time. His books usually featured rhymed verses, with wacky and fun illustrations done by Seuss himself. His famous books include "The Cat in the Hat", "The Lorax", and "Green Eggs and Ham", with the former two having been turned into movies as well. In 1957, Seuss released "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", a picture book about a grouchy, green man who is sick of watching the town of Whoville enjoy Christmas, and will stop at nothing to destroy the jolly holiday. The story goes with him going into the town and stealing all of the citizens' presents and decorations, leaving the town bear. However, when he realizes they don't care about those earthly possessions and love just being together, it makes his heart grow three times in size, allowing him to love both people and Christmas as a whole. 

    This book was so popular that it garnered a 1966 television special of this story, which is perhaps Seuss' most famous and beloved. It featured a retelling of the story, using the same animations and plot lines from the book for television. Directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam, the special contained the voice talents of Boris Karloff, June Foray, Thurl Ravencroft, and Dallas McKennon. Despite being a TV special, it became a beloved staple of the holiday season, with it being shown on television multiple times every year and becoming a hallmark for Christmas. Even today, this classic animated special still holds a special place in the hearts of millions during the Christmas season.

    Around forty years later, Universal Pictures decided it was time for the Grinch to be adapted once again, this time in live-action. The 2000 film, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", was written by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, directed by Ron Howard. The film starred Jim Carrey as the Grinch, Josh Ryan Evans as the Young Grinch for flashback sequences, Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who, Jeffrey Tambor as Mayor Augustus MayWho, Christine Baranski as Martha May Whovier, Bill Irwin as Louie Lou Who, Molly Shannon as Betty Lou Who, and Anthony Hopkins as the Narrator. 

    While the movie followed the same plot beats and story as the book and the television special, the filmmakers added different plot lines, showcasing various character arcs. At the same time, Howard leaned more into a Tim Burton-esque filming style, with lavish costumes and borderline terrifying makeup and hair. The film did extremely well at the box office, grossing $345 million worldwide, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 2000. While audiences learned to love and appreciate it, making it a cult classic, the critics weren't as sold. The movie garnered mixed reviews, tending to lean more to negative, citing it is a weird and dark film about a grouchy character. However, due to its cult classic standing, it has become the movie to watch every holiday season. 

    While fans of the book had the television special and the Jim Carrey film to watch during the Christmas season, Universal decided to make an animated film based off the book for the newer generation of audiences. "The Grinch" was released by Universal and Illumination pictures, written by Michael LeSieur and Tommy Swerdlow, directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney. This animated picture starred Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch, Cameron Seely as Cindy Lou Who, Rashida Jones as Donna Who, Kenan Thompson as Bricklebaum, Angela Lansbury as Mayor McGerkle, and Pharrell Williams as the Narrator.

    The film followed the same story and plot beats as the book and the other film adaptations, this time adding in more elements around Cindy Lou Who and bringing a more childlike and fun atmosphere, like the other films in Illumination's filmography, such as "Despicable Me" and "Sing". The film was a major success, grossing $527.8 million worldwide against a budget of $75 million, making it Universal's second highest grossing film of the year, behind "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom". On a critical standpoint, this film also garnered mixed reviews, but more critics liked it more than they did the Jim Carrey adaptation. 

    Due to so many adaptations of this classic character, it is only right to give him his very own cocktail! This tasty, sour drink will fit in perfectly alongside the character of the Grinch, and can easily be enjoyed during a rewatch of any one of these classic films! Keep reading to find the full recipe for "The Grinch Cocktail"! 

"The Grinch Cocktail"

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 oz Vodka

- 2 oz Green Apple Pucker Liqueur

- 2 oz Lemon Sweet N Sour Mix

- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup

- Sprite

- Ice

- Cherry (to garnish)

Directions:

1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, add Vodka, Green Apple Pucker Liqueur, Lemon Sweet N Sour Mix, and Simple Syrup. Shake vigorously for about thirty seconds, until well combined and chilled.

2. Strain into a rocks glass full of ice, and top with Sprite. Drop a cherry into the drink. Serve.

Film Fact: The scene where the Grinch is directing his dog, Max, before stealing Christmas in 2000's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", is Jim Carrey making fun of producer and director Ron Howard, imitating his style of directing. Howard found the scene so funny that he decided to include it into the movie.

    You have now made your very own cocktail inspired off the Christmas classic films, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"! This cocktail goes perfectly with your next Christmas party or event, or even just a rewatch of this holiday film! Check back tomorrow to find another Christmas cocktail recipe, and let me know what you think of this film and cocktail below! Also if you haven't done so already, give me a follow on Instagram at @thefilmbartender to check out all my recipes and stay up to date on the new drinks coming out! Until then, happy drinking!