An Old Fashioned Standoff: Three Cocktails Inspired by ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’

 

Bassel Shihab runs the @cinemixologist Instagram account, which showcases his movie-inspired cocktails. For Westerns Month, we asked him to think up a recipe inspired by a western of his choice.

Here’s Bassel on the movie and the three different cocktails it inspired.

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who recognize The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly as cinema’s unsurpassed exhilarating western epic, and those who are wrong. Eastwood’s taciturn, cigarillo-chomping bounty hunter (the good) forms an uneasy alliance with Wallach’s garrulous yet evasive bandit (the ugly) to uncover a stash of Confederate gold buried in a cemetery, a prize that’s also sought out by ruthless mercenary Van Cleef (the bad).

The music for this film remains Ennio Morricone’s trademark score. Its strange opening theme is arguably the most famous piece of film music ever recorded. The music joins with the action in this film, becoming its own character, distinctive and full of melody. Each separate theme is an integral part of its specific scene, prompting some observers to remark that watching a Leone film is much like watching opera.

When the film was released, a lot of critics panned it simply because it was a Spaghetti Western. However, with time, the reviews have turned positive and a lot of scholars have rated it as one of the best movies of all time.

The Cocktails

I created three different cocktails to reflect the three characters (in color and taste), but I’d rather call it THE BOURBON, THE RUM, AND THE MEZCAL. It’s three variations of the classic Old Fashioned:

The Good, The Bourbon

  • 2 Ounces / 60 ml bourbon

  • 0.5 Ounce / 15 ml simple syrup

  • A few dashes of Walnut Torte Bitters via Remedy Cocktail Company

The Bad, The Rum

  • 2 Ounces / 60 ml rum

  • 0.5 Ounce / 15 ml maple syrup

  • A few dashes of aztec chocolate bitters

The Ugly, The Mezcal

  • 1.5 Ounces / 45 ml mezcal

  • 0.5 Ounce / 15 ml tequila

  • 0.5 Ounce / 15 ml Demerara simple syrup

  • A few dashes of Angostura bitters

 
Assorted FlavorsCinema Sugarhero, Westerns, The Good the Bad the Ugly, row 2