Let's Drink to Oscar's Dark Horses

As the Academy Awards ceremony approaches, beverage industry professionals offer humorous drink suggestions to toast the dark horse candidates.

(PRWEB) February 11, 2004 --In front of 40,000 screaming fans, with millions worldwide glued to their radios, with newsreel cameras capturing each stride from every angle, Seabiscuit valiantly overtakes War Admiral in the backstretch to beat his regal and highly favored rival. This bit of cinematic history about a come-from-behind horse deserves a toast. But what to drink? Horse and Jockey (rum, Southern Comfort, sweet vermouth, bitters)? Stirrup Cup (brandy, cherry liqueur, lemon juice, sugar)?

What are the proper libations to toast the dark horse nominees in this years Academy Awards competition? This question was posed to professionals in the beverage industry as well as to other professionals who just like to drink.

King Cocktail" Dale DeGroff, noted mixologist and author of The Craft of the Cocktail, is betting on Seabiscuit as Best Picture by a nose. Hes so confident that he created a cocktail as a tribute to Seabiscuit, Funny Cide and every other little horse that ever could." His racetrack drink is The Velvet Breeze:

1 oz. Stoli Ohranj Vodka
1 oz. Velvet Falernum
4 oz. Florida Grapefruit Juice
2 oz. Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Build ingredients in a highball glass over ice and stir. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wedge.

The Saucy Sisters, real-life siblings and authors of The Saucy Sisters Guide To Wine, are casting their ballots in stemware. Sofia Coppola to sweep the Oscars!" says Beverly Wichman, exuding confidence and enthusiasm. And the beverage? One of her famous fathers wines, of course. Ill be drinking the Francis Coppola Diamond Series Zinfandel for the Original Screenplay announcement. And then Ill move on to an aptly named bubbly for Best Director -- the Sofia Blanc de Blancs."

Barbara Nowak, the slightly older half of The Saucy Sisters, is voting for maturity in the Best Actress category. Ill toast Diane Keaton with a glass of Menage à Trois Blanc from Folie à Deux Winery. The name couldnt be better suited to her role."

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow heads the dark horse list for Best Actor, according to Cheryl Charming. She has written Miss Charmings Book of Bar Amusements and Miss Charmings Book of Crazy Cocktails. She pays homage to Captain Jacks ship, the Black Pearl, with her Curse of the Black Pearl Cocktail:

2 oz. Private Stock Captain Morgan Rum over ice.
Drop a large pitted black olive on top.

I drooled over Tom Cruise in his Samurai warrior outfit," admits Mary Rau-Foster, author of Motivating Moments and an international speaker on communication and conflict resolution issues. But just when I thought hed get a nod for another cutting edge performance, the movie critics kicked him and his movie out of the Oscar lineup. So If I cant have Tom, Im going for The Last Samurai for Best Costume Design. And heres the drink that will get Academy voters attention"...Kick in the Face:

3 oz. rum
5 oz. lemon juice
1 oz. club soda
Serve over ice.

Lets raise a toast to the obscure, the underappreciated and, despite the hype, the truly wonderful." That sentiment was expressed by Ralph Whiteway, Director of Education and Marketing for Best Brands, a Tennessee wine and spirits wholesaler. His pick for Best Actress: Keisha Castle -- Hughes in Whale Rider. His drink of choice: His own interpretation of Whale Rider:

1 oz. Cruzan Estate rum (the best rum no one has ever heard of)
Splash of tonic
Wedge of lime

Cheryl Corn, director of marketing and international sales for Wine Away, a red wine stain remover, had this to say, I saw Russell Crowe in Master and Commander drinking lots of red wine with his men on board his ship. I kept thinking, 'This is perfect. With all that rocking and rolling, there will be red wine stains all over the place. I dont have a particular wine to suggest...just as long as its red. Oh, yes...The fact that Russell Crowe was left out of the Best Actor category makes him the darkest horse of them all."
   

Contact Information:
Barbara Nowak
The Saucy Sisters
615-790-7240
http://www.saucysisters.com
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