frontlines: the cocktail.

Just in time for the upcoming Manticon (where I will be Guest of Honor), I present to you the first Frontlines-themed cocktail: the Shockfrost.

Those of you who have read ANGLES OF ATTACK will know that the Shockfrost is featured in the novel as the specialty of the bars on the ice moon New Svalbard, and that it’s supposed to pack quite a punch. Andrew mentions the look (blue) and the flavors of the drink when he tries one for the first time (notes of licorice, mint, and God-knows-what-else). So I made a trip to the liquor store for ingredients and experimented with the flavors a bit to create a real-world replica.

Frontlines Shockfrost:

1.5oz Bombay Sapphire Gin

1.5oz Blue Curacao

1.5oz Everclear 151

1/4oz. (a dash) of absinthe (Pernod will substitute)

1/4oz. (a dash) of peppermint schnapps

Put 4-5 ice cubes into a shaker and add all ingredients except for the Everclear. Shake until ice cold.

Take a lowball glass and pour the Everclear into it. Swirl to coat glass with Everclear. With a long-nosed lighter, set the Everclear on fire and let it burn for a few moments.

Dump contents of the shaker, ice included, into lowball glass to extinguish the Everclear. Drink one of those for a really good mood, drink two to get soaked, drink three if you want to forget what planet or moon you’re currently on.

(In the novel, Sergeant Fallon lights her drink and puts it out with her hand before downing it. In real life, that would take a great deal more Everclear than I added to the recipe. Let’s just say that the ice miners on New Svalbard don’t screw around when it comes to getting drunk, and that they like their cocktails strong enough to fuel a drop ship.)

For expediency, you can add the Everclear in the shaker and pour the whole thing without lighting the glass on fire, but that takes away half the fun.