Hi friends of Metropolis –

Hope you’ve seen, or plan to see, our spectacular production of Into The Woods! I’m Kim Buck, one of the understudies, so you won’t see me – unless Cinderella’s mother or stepmother gets sick (don’t want that) or gets a too-great- to-pass- up audition (that’d be OK).

Waiting to be called to understudy gives you lots of time to focus on other pursuits. One of mine is mixology! I especially love to customize cocktails for people and events. This Into The Woods cocktail practically created itself – as if by magic! It’s called “Last Midnight,” and it’s based on a potion that you will recognize if you’ve seen the show:

1. A base as white as milk
(Baileys® Almande almond-milk liqueur)

2. Cherries, red as blood
(Cherry simple syrup)

3. Whiskey, made from corn
(Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey)

4. A brew as pure as gold
(Cold Brew coffee with almond milk)

Shake the ingredients (in a shaker over ice for a single drink; in a pitcher/bottle/container for a bigger batch) and pour – straight or on the rocks. Serve right away, or prepare and refrigerate a few days ahead of time (the flavor blend gets even better over time). It tastes like a cross between an Irish coffee and a chocolate martini – definitely desserty, but not overly heavy or sweet. It makes a nice post-show nightcap, and it’s easy to make enough to share with friends!

                                         1 drink–Sm.batch (4 drinks)–Lg. batch (8 drinks)
Baileys Almande                 2 oz–8 oz (1 cup)–16 oz (2 cups)
Cherry simple syrup*        1 oz–4 oz–8 oz
Bourbon                            1 oz–4 oz–8 oz
Gold brew                         3 oz–12 oz–24 oz

* Equal parts black cherry juice (black cherry, not tart cherry), and simple syrup or sugar.
** Equal parts cold brew coffee and original sweetened almond milk (sweetened, not flavored – no vanilla, etc.). You can buy the brew pre-mixed (e.g. Califia Farms® Black & White Cold Brew Coffee) or mix it yourself.

Play with the balance of ingredients to suit your taste.

Cheers! Enjoy! Hope to see you in the woods!