Each of the audio files in this puzzle is a mashup representing an official drink used by the International Bartenders Association (as suggested by Ismene, Becca, and Akira in the flavor text) in the World Cocktail Competition. Each of the songs used in the mashups has lyrics or a title that reference an ingredient used in cocktails.
Here is the set of songs (in alphabetical order), and the ingredients that they reference:
Ingredient | Song | Artist |
---|---|---|
Absinthe | “S.E.X.” | Madonna |
Agave | “Lazy Eye” | Aesop Rock |
Angostura (bitters) | “9th & Hennepin” | Tom Waits |
Apricot brandy | “Apricot Brandy” | Rhinoceros |
Bourbon | “Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf” | The Killers |
Brown sugar | “Brown Sugar” | Rolling Stones |
Calvados | “Snot Love in Spain” | Golden Earring |
Campari | “Dirty Drowning Man” | Primus |
Coffee | “Coffee & TV” | Blur |
Cognac | “Buster” | moe. |
Cola | “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” | Coca-Cola |
Cream | “Cream” | Prince and the New Power Generation |
Creme de cacao (chocolate liqueur) | “Candy Cane Guy” | XSARA |
Espresso | “Word Crimes” | Weird Al |
Gin | “Gin House Blues” | Nina Simone |
Grenadine | “Bel Air” | Lana Del Rey |
Irish whiskey | “Irish Whiskey Pretty Girls” | Old 97s |
Kahlua | “E=Mc2” | J. Dilla, Common |
Lemon juice | “Little Secrets” | Passion Pit |
Lime juice | “Lee Majors Come Again” | Beastie Boys |
Orange juice | “It Never Entered My Mind” | Frank Sinatra |
Simple syrup | “Cups and Punches” | Fiery Furnaces |
Soda water | “Soda Water” | Jess Klein |
Sugar cube | “Sugarcube” | Yo La Tengo |
Tequila | “Tequila” | The Champs |
Triple sec | “Black and Brown Blues” | Silver Jews |
Vermouth (red) | “The Gospel Truth I” | from Hercules |
Vodka | “Are You Red..Y” | The Clash |
Water | “Cold Water” | Damien Rice |
White rum | “Soldering” | Hall & Oates |
Each audio clip is a combination of several ingredients (approximately) in proportion according to the IBA guidelines, creating a “sonic cocktail.” For example, 9 parts “Tequila” by The Clash, 18 parts “It Never Crossed My Mind” by Frank Sinatra, and 3 parts “Bel Air” by Lana Del Ray represents a Tequila Sunrise
Here are the sonic cocktails, in the order of appearance:
Songs/Ingredients | Cocktail |
---|---|
|
White Lady |
|
Espresso Martini |
|
Whiskey Sour |
|
Americano |
|
Negroni |
|
Tequila Sunrise |
|
Alexander |
|
Monkey Gland |
|
Old Fashioned |
|
Cuba Libre |
|
Kamikaze |
|
Tommy’s Margarita |
|
Angel Face |
|
Irish Coffee |
|
Lemon Drop Martini |
Reading the first letters of the cocktails in order yields the
cluephrase WE WANT A MOCKTAIL
. After creating a
mocktail and delivering it to Headquarters, teams would be given
the puzzle answer:
DIRTY MARTINI