The Oscars are upon us and Hollywood’s star studded night is the perfect opportunity to have some fun spotlighting the vodka cocktails we would pair with some of the films up for the coveted golden statue for Best Picture this year.

Peanut Butter Banana Shots Inspired by Elvis

If you know “The King”, this drink needs no explanation. A fan of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, we think Elvis would have approved of this one.

• 3 oz Yacht Life Vodka
• 4 tsp. Peanut Butter
• 1.5 oz creme de banane liquor or other banana liquor
• 2 oz Kahlua
• 2 oz low-fat milk
• Ice cubes
• Salt

Chill four 2 oz shot glasses. Add ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 15-30 seconds. Strain into the glasses.

Ginger Martini Inspired by Triangle of Sadness

With a luxury cruise as a main setting of this award winning Palme D’Or film, Yacht Life Vodka makes a natural fit for a cocktail, but if you’ve seen the movie – you know ginger is NEEDED as well. This ginger martini recipe is perfect for calming your own triangle of sadness. 

Ginger Syrup

• 1 Lemon
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 Cups Fresh Ginger (approx. 8 oz)
• 2 Cups Water

Cocktail Ingredients

To make the cocktail: Chill a martini glass. Fill a cocktail shaker with the vodka, ginger syrup, lime juice and ice. Shake for 15-30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add a twist of lemon and serve.

• 3 oz. Yacht Life Vodka
• 1 oz Ginger Syrup
• 1.5 tsp Fresh Lime Juice
• Twist of Lemon
• Ice

To make the syrup: Grate the peel of the lemon lightly (try not to include too much of the bitter white pith). Chop with the fresh ginger in a food processor. Heat in a saucepan with the sugar and water until boiling. Reduce heat and summer, partially covered for 15 minutes. Strain and cool. (Can cover and refrigerate for 1 week).

Blue Vodka Spritzer Inspired by Avatar the Way of the Water

When a film can transport you to another world entirely, it needs a special cocktail to match – and in the case of an Avatar inspired cocktail – it HAS to be blue. This Blue Vodka Spritzer is a little sweet, a little sour and a lot of fun for an Oscars inspired party.

• 1 oz. Yacht Life Vodka 
• 1/2 oz Blue Curacao
• 4oz. Lemonade 
• 2 oz. Sprite
• Ice 

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour the vodka, blue curacao and lemonade directly into the glass and stir. Top off with the sprite. 

Old Fashioned with a Twist, Inspired by Top Gun: Maverick

Taking a classic and bringing it into the modern world, while keeping what made the original perfect, was the secret to the success of Top Gun: Maverick. It felt comfortable, but new. Characters you loved, but different. That is why we paired this film with another classic – the old fashioned – but with a twist. 

• 1.5 oz Yacht Life Vodka
• 1 Orange Slice
• 2 Maraschino Cherries
• 1 Sugar Cube or ½ oz Simple Syrup
• 3 Dashes Chocolate Bitters
• 1 tsp water
• 1 oz Club Soda

Add the sugar and bitters into a mixing glass. Add water and stir until the sugar is nearly dissolved. Add ice to the glass. Fill with the vodka and stir until well chilled. Strain over a rocks glass and one large ice cube. Squeeze the orange over the glass, then drop into the glass to garnish with the cherries.

A Bagel Martini Inspired by Everything Everywhere All At Once

It is impossible to explain the film Everything Everywhere All At Once in only a few sentences. To say it is about doing taxes would be correct. It is also about family. Parental relationships. Love. Kindness. Multiverses. Googly Eyes. Bagels…and so much more. 

This Olive Eyed Bagel Martini was the perfect fit for such an eclectic movie. 

• 3 oz. Yacht Life Vodka 
• 1 dash Dry Vermouth
• 1 oz Olive Brine
• Ice
• 2 Green Olives 
• Cream Cheese
• Everything Bagel Seasoning

Chill the martini glass in the freezer. Once chilled, rim the glass with cream cheese (twist the rum through the block of cream cheese or run the cube of cream cheese along the rim as you would a lime or lemon wedge). Dip the rum of the glass into the everything bagel seasoning. Add the vodka, vermouth and olive brine to a shaker with ice. Shake for 15-30 seconds. Strain over the chilled glass. Add the 2 olives for garnish.

No matter who takes home the trophy, EVERYONE wins with cocktails like these! 

Tag @YachtLifeVodka in your Oscars night cocktail photos so we can be inspired by your creations too!