Spirits Lifted

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Cocktail History

The Spirits Lifted is a Marvel cocktail that was created by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, for the release of the WandaVision television show. It’s a boozy interpretation of paprikash, Wanda Maximoff’s favorite dish that Vision attempted to make in one of their first scenes together in the movie Captain America: Civil War. It’s made using the classic Martini formula with a split base of peppered gin, Russian vodka, and garlic vodka and is flavored with vermouth, a homemade paprika tincture, smoke and salt bitters, and cocktail onions.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Peppered Gin: This is a spirit made with pepper, juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Uncle Val’s Peppered Gin.

Russian Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. I used Russian Standard Gold Vodka.

Garlic Vodka: This is the third base spirit. It adds garlic flavor. I used Chippewa River Distillery Trumie’s Garlic Vodka.

Blanc Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambéry.

Paprika Tincture: This is a concentrated extract made with paprika and alcohol.

Smoke & Salt Bitters: This is a food product made with lapsang souchong tea, sea salt, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Crude Bitters “Pooter” Smoke & Salt Bitters.

Cocktail Onions: These are miniature onions that have been preserved in vinegar.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the Homestia Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Orange-red color

• Aroma: Paprika and onion

• Taste: Rich peppery juniper flavor accented with garlic, onion, and paprika

• Finish: Fortified wine and botanical notes

Kendall’s Take: “I’ve never tried paprikash, but judging from the list of ingredients, I don’t think it could get closer to creating a version of it in cocktail form than this recipe. It’s fairly dry and very savory, so I don’t know that I’d make it again over other Marvel cocktails, but I love how much this cocktail pays homage to the beginning of Vision’s and Wanda Maximoff’s relationship, of which we get to see even more in WandaVision. If you’re a fan of the show or paprikash in general, the Spirits Lifted is worth trying at least once!”

Recipe