The Hills Are Alive

Inspired by the iconic song and wartime Alpine landscapes, The Hills Are Alive cocktail blends mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, Zirbenz pine schnapps, Italicus, and ginger syrup to create a lightly smoky, herbal drink served over crushed ice that echoes the enduring spirit of The Sound of Music. (Recipe Below)

Another iconic song from The Sound of Music and as a show tune, The Sound of Music. Inspired by the song and the Alpine hillside during World War II, The Hills Are Alive is a cocktail that blends equal parts Mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, Zirbenz Pine Schnapps, and Itallicus for an herbal forest flavor with a light smoke of a hillside scarred by cannon fire. Ginger syrup is added to balance the flavors and add a little pit of warming spice. Serve in a highball with crushed ice like the broken rocks and boulders of the hillside and sprinkle with some black flake salt to garnish. Even after the war made its way through the Austrian Alps, the hills still sing their song of 1000 years. This cocktail will help you sing along.

1 oz (30mL) Mezcal

1 oz (30mL) Amaro Montenegro

1 oz (30mL) Pine Schnapps

1 oz (30mL) Italicus

.5 oz (15mL) Ginger Syrup

Pack a chilled highball with crushed ice. In a mixing glass, combine 1 oz Mezcal, 1 oz Amaro Montenegro, 1 oz Pine Liqueur, 1 oz Italicus. Add ice and stir until chilled. Sprinkle with Black Flake Salt.

Ginger Syrup

.25 lb (113.4 g) Fresh Ginger

2 oz (60mL) Water

.5 cup (100 g) Cane Sugar

Blender Method

In a blender jar, combine Ginger and Water. Pulse until juice can be extracted. Strain out the solids through cheese cloth.

Juicer Method

Juice ginger, add 2 oz of water to the juice.

Combine in a small saucepan ginger juice and sugar.

Heat over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. When small bubbles start to form, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Pour into a syrup bottle. Store in a cool, dark place.

Mi Mama Me Dijo Mezcal

90 proof/45% ABV
Grupo Gastronomico Gracias A Dios, S.De R.L.
Double distilled, made from Maguey Espadin and Joven agaves fired in wood ovens, fermented and distilled twice. Results are a smoky, earthy mezcal without a bite and a finish of burnt almonds. An affordable bottle that makes a great mixing mezcal.
Amaro Montenegro

46 proof/23% ABV
Montenegro S.R.L.
Characterized as a bitter liqueur, it is a blend of sweet and bitter oranges, 40 different herbs, an no added sweeteners. The result is a mildly bittersweet liqueur with lightly vegetal and warming spice notes.
Zirbenz Pine Liqueur

70 proof/35% ABV
Zirbenz
Red pine cones from Arolla Stone Pines from the Austrian Alps are steeped in a grain brandy then filtered and sweeteners and water are added to balance the bitterness and alcohol content. Tasting lightly sweet and very piney and naturally and amber-red color, like a happy Christmas Tree.
Itallicus

40 proof/20% ABV
Apertivo Brand
Bergamont and Sicilian citron peel essential oils are released via a cold press method called "sfumatura". They are then macerated with a number of other essential oils, floral herbs and spices and blended with a neutral Italian spirit. It is filtered and then fortified with unrefined sugar and water. This process results is a delicious blend of complex flavors that makes this spirit almost a wild card of flavors when mixing with other spirits. Floral, herbal, sweet and bitter, and this spirit has a pleasant and citrusy lingering flavor due to the use of essential oils.
Ginger Syrup

Ginger add spiciness with a floral undertone. The sweetness and the spiciness helps bring flavor to the front of the tongue and carry to the middle-upper palate. A fresh ginger syrup reaps a lot of reward in a cocktail.

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Drinks: The Sound of Music Reimagined with Sing-Along Cocktails

The Sound of Music is a classic musical drama set in 1930s Austria that follows Maria as she brings joy, music, and healing to the Von Trapp family during the rise of World War II. Inspired by the iconic song “My Favorite Things” the Raindrops on Roses cocktail blends vodka, rose water, lemon juice, agave, and grenadine for a floral, pink lemonade–style drink. Drawing from the sweeping Alpine landscapes and title song, The Hills Are Alive cocktail combines mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, Zirbenz pine schnapps, Italicus, and ginger syrup for a smoky, herbal flavor. Both movie-inspired cocktails reflect the beauty, warmth, and resilience at the heart of this beloved musical. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp family singers, The Sound of Music remains a timeless favorite perfect for sing-alongs, movie nights, and themed cocktails.