A bold, bittersweet riff on an Aperol Spritz inspired by Alex's love for Beethoven in A Clockwork Orange, built around German Riesling—Beethoven’s drink of choice—with Aperol and ginger beer for spice, citrus, and a vivid nod to the film’s iconic orange hue, all served in a wine goblet as a cinematic tribute to both elegance and chaos. (Recipe Below)
The Alex, of course inspired by the character cleverly played by Malcom McDowell, in A Clockwork Orange, it is clear that the one of the few things that Alex holds dear is the music of Ludwig Von Beethoven. So, we've created a sort of Aperol Spritz which we think Beethoven and Alex would have loved. German Riesling is the center of this cocktail as it was Beethoven's drink of choice and the Ginger Beer highlights the spice and floral flavors in the German Riesling. Aperol, a bitter liqueur, provides the vibrant orange color we had to have in a Clockwork Orange cocktail (the bitterness that Alex is constantly covering up with vice and violence) and it helps carry the flavors from the front of the palate towards the back. Build this, like Alex would directly into a wine goblet, much like the glass given to Alex in the tense scene when Frank Alexander encourages Alex to "Try the Wine!" . Garnish with a fat orange wheel to keep the ice down and add orange bitters on top to enhance the orange scent. All of this results in a long tasting refreshing cocktail, just like the refreshment Alex would feel after listening to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Alex: "Oh bliss! Bliss and heaven! Oh it was gorgeousness and goergeousity made flesh. It was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now. As I slooshied, I knew such lovely pictures!".
The Alex
1 oz (30mL) Aperol
3 oz (90mL) Riesling w/ ginger notes
1 oz (30mL) Ginger Beer
Dash Orange Bitters
Straight into a chilled goblet, add 1 oz Aperol, 3 oz of Riesling, and 1 oz of Ginger Beer, Top with crushed ice. Cut an orange wheel to fit over the ice and garnish with a few dashes of angostura bitters
To Make Ginger Bug:
3 Tbs (45 g) Fresh Ginger Root with skin (divided)
3 Tbs (45 g) Organic Cane or Palm Sugar (divided)
Filtered Water
Day One: Combine 1 Tbs (15 g) of cut ginger, and 1 Tbs (15 g) sugar in a pint jar or water tight container. Fill with filtered water and cover with lid, shake to stir. Remove lid and cover with a towel on top to allow air flow and leave at room temperature.
Day Two: Add another 1 Tbs (15 g) of cut ginger, and 1 Tbs (15 g) sugar. Cover with lid, shake to stir, remove lid and replace with towel store at room temperature.
Day Three: Add another 1 Tbs (15 g) of cut ginger, and 1 Tbs (15 g) sugar. Cover with lid, shake to stir, remove lid and replace with towel store at room temperature. Leave until day 7 when bubbles will be apparent. The Ginger Bug is ready to use! Store in refrigerator and feed at least once a week or when used.
To Make Ginger Beer:
.5 lb (227 g) Fresh Ginger
.5 - 1 cup (100-200 g) Organic Cane Sugar
Filtered Water
Juicing Method: Juice fresh ginger to make about 1 cup of liquid. Combine in a flip top glass bottle with .5 - 1 cup (to taste) of sugar and top with filtered water. Shake to combine. Leave at room temperature out of direct sunlight for 3 days making sure to open the bottle at least once a day to relieve built up pressure. Once desired fizziness is achieved, store in the refrigerator and be mindful to cover when opening because of built up pressure.
Cocktails and Video Recipe Created by Boozy Movies
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Aperol
22 proof/11% ABV
Campari Group
An orange Italian bitter named after the French slang word for aperitif. Aperol has the same flavors as Campari with half the alcohol content. Flavors of Aperol come from rhubarb, gentian and cinchona. This results in a tart flavor on the tongue, herbal notes in the upper palate and an almost soapy bitter finish. Aperol works well in carbonated beverages as it brings out the herbal notes and mellows the bitterness.
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German Riesling
8% - 12% ABV
German Rieslings produce a fresh flavor showcasing tree fruit and mineral flavors without the oakiness that is generally characteristic of most Riesling wines. Late harvest Rieslings tend to have a higher ABV along with acidity. German Rieslings are almost never blended with other varieties, and they are a major producer of cloned vines.
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Ginger Beer
A non-alcoholic, carbonated beverage that is flavored strongly of ginger root with various levels of sweetness, depending on the brand. Ginger Beer was historically made by natural fermentation. We love the Ginger-Bug Ginger Beer.
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Orange Bitters
35% - 45% ABV
Bitters are made by concentrating flavors into an alcohol base. Orange bitters vary by brand, but are generally made with bitter orange peel, cardamom, caraway, coriander, anise and toasted sugar.
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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