Ever stared longingly at a glowing Estus Flask in Dark Souls, wishing you could take a sip? Or perhaps eyed a frosty bottle of Nuka-Cola in Fallout and wondered what post-apocalyptic refreshment truly tastes like?
Yup, me too. For years, we’ve consumed countless virtual elixirs, chugged mystical milks, and downed questionable concoctions on screen to save our souls. But what if you could bring those pixelated pleasures into your real-world glass? What follows is a list of my own concoctions, inspired by the most iconic drinks.
Most of these recipes are for alcoholic cocktails, but I have made sure a few mocktails made the cut, and there are plenty of ways to make most of these drinks still referential without the boozy buzz they’d provide. Drink responsibly!
10 Nuka-Cola
Fallout
This shimmering beacon of pre-war Americana is quite possibly the only thing keeping some of Fallout’s survivors going. More than just a soda, it’s a taste of nostalgia wrapped in a distinctly retro-futuristic bottle.
While we can’t promise nuclear-powered fizz or a bottle cap fortune, this concoction aims to capture that classic cola comfort with a little extra kick and some radioactive embellishments. Just try not to get attached; we hear the withdrawal symptoms are a real blast.
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1 oz spiced rum
1 oz vanilla vodka
0.75 oz lime juice
0.5 oz grenadine
cola
blue food colouring, if you want to be a little extra with it
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1. Combine the rum, vodka, lime juice, and grenadine in a glass with ice and stir gently to combine.
2. Top with your cola.
3. If using blue food colouring, pour it over the back of a spoon into the glass so it diffuses gently for that radioactive glow aesthetic.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel if your apocalypse isn’t so tragic.
9 Estus Flask
Dark Souls
For many, the Estus Flask isn’t just a drink; it’s a lifeline. A warm, glowing beacon of hope in a world determined to crush your very spirit. Every sip is a promise of renewed strength, a fleeting moment of respite before the next inevitable demise.
This cocktail is warm, slightly herbaceous, and just sweet enough to put a spring in your step without being as blunt as an energy drink. It might not literally restore your health, but it’ll certainly make you feel a little more resilient.
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1.5 oz of your favourite whiskey or brandy
0.75 oz apricot liqueur, or peach as an alt
0.5 oz lemon juice
0.25 oz ginger syrup
2 dashes aromatic bitters
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1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.
2. Strain into a glass (or a flask, if you’re authentic about it).
8 Skooma
The Elder Scrolls
Ah, Skooma. The very name conjures images of shady back alleys, Khajiit caravans, and a potent, illicit high. This isn’t just any drink; it’s the moon sugar elixir whispered about in taverns and sought after in the darkest corners of Tamriel
This cocktail is not for the faint of heart, it’s a potent explosion of sweet and bitter that’ll knock you for six. It’s absolutely an acquired taste, so consider diluting it heavily with your favourite mixer if it’s a bit too much.
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1.5 oz white rum
0.75 oz absinthe
0.5 oz lime juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
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1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.
2. Strain into a small glass or two shot glasses to share with a fellow criminal.
7 Megalixir
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is filled to the brim with restoratives, but nothing beats the Megalixir; it’s the ultimate reset button, a miraculous, full-spectrum restorative for HP and MP across the board.
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For this drink, I went with some classic, refreshing tastes (elderflower, lemon!) and added some zesty twists (grapefruit, lavender) to create something emboldening, interesting, and elegant. Scale things up and make it a pitcher if you want to heal the entire party at once.
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1 oz gin
0.75 oz elderflower liqueur
0.5 oz grapefruit juice (pineapple if you hate grapefruit)
0.25 oz lemon juice
1 tsp lavender syrup/flavouring
2 oz sparkling white wine or soda water if preferred
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1. Combine all ingredients bar the wine in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.
2. Strain into a wine glass or champagne flute.
3. Top with the sparkling wine/soda water.
6 Lon Lon Milk
The Legend Of Zelda
The wholesome, heart-restoring staple from Hyrule, straight from the gentle cows of Lon Lon Ranch. It’s the taste of childhood, simple comforts, and endless adventure.
I wasn’t really a Zelda kid, but I do have a few favourites when it comes to dairy-based cocktails, and this is a sweet one that I reckon Link would consume by the tankard.
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2 oz Baileys or other cream liqueur
1 oz horchata
0.5 oz honey syrup
0.25 oz vanilla extract
a dusting of cinnamon
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1. Combine Baileys, horchata, honey syrup, and vanilla extract in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until well-chilled and frothy.
3. Strain into a chilled small milk bottle or a regular glass if you’re a normal person who buys milk in cartons.
4. Dust with cinnamon – optional, but it looks fab!
5 Grog
Monkey Island
You know a drink is legendary when it’s described as “the most volatile substance known to man” and can dissolve metal. Obviously I couldn’t replicate the recipe from the game – that would literally kill people.
Instead, I’ve taken some classically ‘pirate of the Caribbean’ tastes and added a favourite in blackcurrant liqueur. Ginger beer mellows things out without being too overpowering, and the result is something utterly unique.
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1.5 oz dark rum
0.75 oz blackcurrant liqueur
0.5 oz lime juice
0.5 oz coffee liqueur
2 dashes aromatic bitters
ginger beer
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1. Combine dark rum, blackcurrant liqueur, lime juice, coffee liqueur, and aromatic bitters in a glass filled with ice.
2. Stir well until chilled.
3. Top with a splash of ginger beer.
4 KitKat
Theme Hospital
I know, I know. KitKats aren’t drinks. Well, usually, they’re not! But in Theme Hospital, the iconic vending machines have this rather odd branding that puts one in mind of those rather sickly ‘chocolate bar-turned-hot chocolate sachets’ that never live up to the taste of the actual bars.
The solution is an indulgent chocolatey drink that manages deliciousness without feeling like you’ve just poured a glass of chocolate milk and called it a day.
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4 oz chilled chocolate milk or cocoa
1 oz hazelnut syrup (or hazelnut liqueur to un-mock this mocktail!)
0.5 oz vanilla syrup
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1. Combine chocolate milk, hazelnut syrup, and vanilla syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously to combine the syrups with the chocolate milk and froth things up.
Strain into a tall glass or a large mug.
3. Add ice and garnish with whipped cream, if you like.
3 Speed Cola
Call Of Duty Zombies
When the zombies are closing in and every second counts, there’s nothing quite like a gulp of Speed Cola. This isn’t just a fizzy drink; it’s a rapid-fire reload, a lightning-fast response, and a bright, zesty burst of pure momentum.
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This is a sweet, tart drink with emphasis on the tart. It puts the ‘tart’ in ‘headstart’, and it’s the perfect vibe for lemon lovers.
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1.5 oz lemon or orange-flavoured vodka or gin
0.75 oz limoncello
0.5 oz lemon juice
0.5 oz simple syrup
lemon-lime soda
yellow or green food colouring optional
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1. Combine citrus-flavoured vodka/gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Food colouring too, if using!
2. Shake until well-chilled.
3. Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
4. Top with your soda of choice.
2 Chug Jug
Fortnite
A massive, glowing blue jug that completely restores both your health and shield, turning you from near-defeat to full-throttle battle readiness in mere seconds? Well, that’s ripe for cocktail-ification.
I love a blue drink, and blue curacao is a wonderful shelf staple for any budding mixologist. What we have here is a heavy-on-the-blue delight that’s both refreshing and surprisingly hearty, designed to make you feel ready for anything
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1.5 oz white rum
0.75 oz blue curacao
1 oz coconut cream or coconut milk
0.75 oz pineapple juice
0.5 oz lime juice
soda water
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1. Combine rum, blue curacao, coconut cream/milk, pineapple juice, and lime juice in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until well-chilled and frothy.
3. Strain into a large glass (like a highball or even a jar used for storage).
4. Add ice and top with soda water.
1 Max Potion
Pokemon
In the world of Pokemon, a trainer is only as good as their healing items. And when a beloved ‘mon is on the brink, only the Max Potion will do. What better fodder for a mocktail that can strip even the foggiest fatigue away?
It’s sweet, revitalising, and boasts that unmistakable blue hue, designed to give you a sense of complete rejuvenation of the bluest Oran Berries. Consider it a super effective way to recover after a long day of battles (or, you know, just existing in this stressful world).
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3 oz clear apple juice
1.5 oz blue raspberry syrup (or blue curacao to un-mock this mocktail!)
0.5 oz lime juice
0.25 oz vanilla syrup
lemonade
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1. Combine apple juice, blue raspberry syrup, lime juice, and vanilla syrup in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well until thoroughly chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled glass (mayhaps a potion-like goblet or a short tumbler).
4. Top with lemonade.
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