Game Cocktails: The Colt-Fashioned

Rise and shine your guns (again), darling. You’re back on this washed-out shore (again), reeking of Sunday blues and just enough willpower residue left on you. Again. Are you even trying to break the loop? Or are you content to rinse and repeat (again), going through the motions (again), reliving the hazy fragments of mundanity (again), hoping the curve just changes? Oh no, darling. Today you’ll build a proper action plan, starting with a damn good cocktail (yet, again).

Having woken up from a creative slumber, I’ve finally decided to pursue my idea for a DEATHLOOP game cocktail. Developed by Arcane Lyon, the game’s a creative blend of FPS, immersive sim, and roguelite genres. This brew is dedicated to Colt Vahn, the unfortunate protagonist stuck in groundhog day. As I reckon, he could use other reliefs than kicking Eternalists off cliffs. Eliminating your enemies works, sure, but have you tried collaborating over a drink instead..?

Deathloop’s creative direction is a stimulating treat, so every layer of its worldbuilding inspired something new for me. After a painstaking and FOMOtastic process, I scoped my cocktail down to three limitations:

60’s Class: The Old-Fashioned template 

Though this spiritous cocktail dates back to the 19th century, it became the cool kid when showcased by James Bond, Mad Men’s Don Draper, and other non-committal gents in pop culture of the 60s. Granted, Deathloop features nods to these cult classics and the period’s aesthetics, so the boozy-sweet-bitter blueprint of a bourbon Old-Fashioned set the stage. As a bonus, its orange hues sync well with Deathloop’s branding! And… The wordplay of Colt-Fashioned… I just couldn’t pass it up.

60’s Kitsch: A pop of sweetness

Among Blackreef’s rugged landscape, there’s also a psychedelic mod-themed party happening. It’s a hedonistic sugar rush that’s just craving an invitation to my cocktail. So I’ve chosen the sweet maraschino cherry liqueur to satisfy, with just enough chocolate bitters to balance it out. Can’t just rob Colt of his bitterness now, can I.

Geometry: Loops and lines

The island’s architecture and interior accents guided my garnishes too. The slice of brûléed orange (plus cherry!) portrays the towering Stabilizer Core, the key structure that controls the time loop. I also froze a diagonal ice wedge to represent Blackreef’s subarctic landscape, steep cliffs, and glacial waters.

So, let’s run that loop and defeat that thirst!

∞ ∞ ∞

PHASE 1: THE LOADOUT

Here’s hoping your liquid cache is restocked. Or you could snatch some low-grade booze from Aleksis Dorsey’s party… Nah, don’t.

Cocktail Ingredients:

60 ml (2 oz) Bourbon
15 ml (0.5 oz) Maraschino Liqueur
5 dashes Chocolate Bitters
Garnish: Brûléed Orange, Maraschino Cherry

∞ ∞ ∞

PHASE 2: THE STRATEGY

The Colt-Fashioned requires some planned improvisation with fire and ice. Or you could allow Dr. Wenjie to run precise calculations for years… Nah, don’t.

Torching the brûlée oranges:

1. Cut some orange slices and set them between two paper towels. Let them absorb the extra juice for 5 mins or so, then dab to finish.
2. Ready your trusty not-at-all-a fire-hazard brûlée torch. Move the orange slices into a baking tray or onto another non-flammable surface.
3. Pour ½ teaspoon of demerara or brown sugar over a slice, and TORCH IT! Caramelise the sugar and get some combat burns on the orange, baby.

Freezing the ice wedge:

1. Fill a rocks glass about halfway with water. Using boiled or distilled water will result in clearer ice, but I won’t complain about tap water if you don’t.
2. Set the glass into any container that can hold it steadily at a 45° angle.
3. Place this genius contraption into the freezer. Adjust the glass so that the water is nearly overspilling in its diagonal position.
4. Leave it to freeze in peace for about 6 hours.
5. P.S. You can actually buy an ice wedge mould online, but isn’t DIY more fun?

∞ ∞ ∞

PHASE 3: THE HIT

Let’s get down to the classy mixing techniques. Or you could inspire Fia Zborowska to mix a conceptual psychedelic undrinkable mess… Nah, don’t.

Cocktail Instructions:

1. Reset whatever loop you’ve been stuck in today.
2. Pre-chill a mixing glass in the freezer.
3. Pour the cocktail ingredients into the mixing glass. Fill ⅔ of it with ice and stir for about 30 seconds until cold. Try stirring at a consistent pace, keeping the bar spoon near the inner edges of the mixing glass. This cocktail’s texture should be smooooth, not full of air bubbles due to some crazy temporal vortex storm mixing style.
4. Take the icy rocks glass out of the freezer.
5. Strain the cocktail into the rocks glass using a julep strainer.
6. Peel a coin-shaped (4-5 cm) orange peel. Squeeze it over the cocktail to express the peel’s oils, rub it along the glass’ rim, and discard.
7. Pierce a brûléed orange and a maraschino cherry with a cocktail stick. Set it carefully along the ice wedge.
8. Take a classy sip now, won’t you.
9. Infuse this memory with Residuum to cherish it forever.

∞ ∞ ∞

PHASE 4: THE AFTERMATH

No experience is truly complete without groovy songs to match. Or you could encourage Ramblin’ Frank to keep ramblin’ on his radio… Nah, don’t.

Suggested Sipping Soundtrack:

The most Bond-like tune from Deathloop’s OST:

Motown oldies for your groovy cocktail parties:

Uh-oh, I feel the loop resetting (again)… Whatever’s your playstyle, I hope you’ve enjoyed my boozy take on Deathloop. Till we meet (again)!

Have I distilled your TOP 5 games yet? Find out in my cocktail archive!

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