A chillingly smooth twist on the Korova Milk Bar’s infamous Milk-Plus, blending peppermint Rumple Minze and orange-sweet Cointreau into a half-and-half base for a mind-awakening, violence-free homage to Alex’s sharpened state—garnished with a surreal orange slice nodding to the film’s iconic pop-art aesthetic.
"Like Clockwork" is inspired by the cocktail Alex and his droogs would drink to sharpen up for his second-to-Beethoven passion, and that, was violence. Spiked milk called "Milk-Plus" from the Korova Milk Bar was the cocktail to have for these dystopian youths. Alex as the narrator, described it as a drink that "...would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence". While there are some spirits that have the reputation for fueling violence, we did not want to put that in our cocktails, nor encourage the stereotypes. We chose the refreshing flavors of peppermint, from Rumple Minze, and a touch of sweet orange , from Cointreau, flavors and scents which are often used by runners and athletes to liven up the mind and body in preparation for athletic trials. These flavors set in the background of half and half eases the sharpness of the peppermint and alcohol making it a dangerously easy cocktail to drink cold in a well chilled, tall Collins glass sans the ice. We had fun with the garnish by using a half slice of orange, dipped in black glitter and secured with a ball-end cocktail pick to look like the Clockwork Orange eye in the Surrealistic Pop-Art style of A Clockwork Orange movie posters.
Cocktails and Video Recipe Created by Boozy Movies
Like Clockwork
1.5 oz (45mL) Rumple Minze (chilled)
1.5 oz (45mL) Cointreau
3 oz (90mL) Half and Half
Pinch Salt
In a shaker tin, Add 3 oz Half and Half, 1.5 oz Rumple Mintz, 1.5 oz Cointreau, and Salt. Add Ice, spring and more ice, cover and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Double Strain into chilled collins (no ice)
Cut an orange slice in half and dip rind into black sprinkles. Spear and rest on the edge of the glass.
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Rumple Minze
100 proof/50% ABV
Diageo Company
German style peppermint schnapps although largely unknown to Germany. The high proof lends itself to its strong peppermint smell and taste.
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Cointreau
80 proof/40% ABV
Remy Martin Company
An colorless orange liqueur made with bitter orange peels and alcohol from sugar beets. Produced in France with the triple sec liqueur recipe still a kept family secret.
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Half and Half
10.5% - 18% fat
Half and half is an equal parts mixture of cream and milk. Now, there are great non-dairy options in the market.
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Salt
Salt is a great flavor changer. It can balance sweetness and bitterness, smoothing out a cocktail. It can also enhance citrus flavor and acidity without the need for more acid. It is most commonly used in rimming cocktail glasses, but a sprinkle in the cocktail shaker can really impact a cocktail. Make it into a saline solution to enhance stirred cocktails.
Ultraviolence and Beethoven’s Ninth: Cocktails inspired by Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange presents a disturbing narrative, starting with the violent, unrepentant Alex and his gang, only for the tables to turn as Alex becomes a victim of the justice system’s mind control in the name of "reformation" raising ethical questions that could spark a debate—perhaps over cocktails. Inspired by the film, two cocktails are created: “The Alex” a sophisticated Aperol Spritz with Riesling, Aperol, and ginger beer, reflecting Alex’s complex character and his love for Beethoven, and “Like Clockwork” a milk-based drink with peppermint and orange, drawing from Alex's violent preparation with “Milk-Plus”. The former cocktail is designed to evoke Alex’s bliss while listening to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and the latter, with its smooth but dangerous appeal, references the brutal energy Alex seeks in his violent escapades. The film and book both use language and dystopian imagery to explore the consequences of unchecked authority, much like 1984, with Kubrick’s adaptation faithfully preserving the essence of Anthony Burgess’s satire. Overall, A Clockwork Orange remains a clever, chilling commentary on power and control in society, encapsulated by two cocktails inspired by its most iconic moments.
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