Potent Potter Potions (i.e. HP-themed Cocktails!)

I'm going to borrow heavily from the internet, because there are people out there with much better stocked cabinets than me and they have made some AMAZING Harry Potter-themed cocktails. I will not post other blogger's recipes here, but I will like out like crazy and give descriptions where appropriate.

ACCIO COCKTAILS!

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As this is by far the most ample selection of cocktails I have seen, we'll start with the drink stylings of one "Little Pink Blog," where there are whole themed posts on the subject.

The pictures alone are worth following one of all of the links below. I'm impressed, amazed, and will likely be having a Bellatrix Lestrange in honor of the movie this week:

from Little Pink Blog

DEATH EATERS COCKTAILS:

• Death Eater Cocktail - a caffeinated shot with an ominous red hue; sounds tasty
• The Bellatrix Lestrange - think creamy, chocolately vodka martini (see picture)
• The Lucius Malfoy - this is that rare combination of slightly manly but girl-drink friendly: it uses a mildly masculine liquor at its base, but a sweet citrus for mixer ... mmm...
• The Peter Pettigrew - rich, mouse-colored dessert-in-a-glass

THE GOBLET OF FIRE - CHAMPIONS COCKTAILS:

• The Goblet of Fire - FIRE DRINK! What more do you want?
• The Fleur Delacour - dainty and refreshing-looking
• The Viktor Krum - Beer-based and simple, yet intriguing 
• The Cedric Diggory - This is a must-try for me: kind of like a margarita, but without the tequila. Very tempting to see if it would layer with Blavod and call it a "Hufflepuff"

WIZARDING WORLD COCKTAILS:

• Butterbeer - an adult version of the popular Hogsmeade brew
• Firewhiskey - FIRE DRINK! And almost exactly what you'd expect from the name
• Pureblood - clear, sweet, bloody-looking drink that sounds delicious
• Mudblood - muddy, creamy, and (I can tell without even trying it) delightful

MY FAVORITES (not what the blog-author calls this page, but since that's exactly what we have here... my favorite characters minus Severus and Bellatrix... let's go with it!):

• Fred and George Weasley - look, if you are a fan of the brothers this is just brilliant -- the rimming "sugar" is inspired. 
• Luna Lovegood -- lovely, and includes Elderberry
• Neville Longbottom -- oh how I had hoped that Neville would be the one to kill Voldie! But he does well in this final installment, and he definitely deserves his own drink. Herbology-focused, just like my man Neville!
• Draco Malfoy - dirty martini -- very fitting, but I'm wondering if there is a way to work green in there... maybe some absinthe (yuck, but.. .you know?)

That girl is brilliant. That takes us to the end of our first stop on the Harry Potter Cocktail tour (and what a stop it was!).

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Next up is the Backyard Bartender, who puts a lot of thought behind the drinks created for the Potter cast of characters named in the post. I like that. It's lovingly thorough.

The Backyard Bartender Main Character Themed Drinks:

• Hermione Granger - I'm very Hermione-esque, so I guess it makes sense I would drool over a cocktail named in her honor; gin-based and  fruit-filled
• Ron Weasley - the poster describes this one as 'potent' and 'manly,' but a hit with the guys. It is red, and it sounds pretty intense... 
• The Harry Potter  - the one we've all been waiting for (and seriously, how did it take me this long to find someone blogging a drink with this name?), and it sounds well considered: like candy in a glass, but with just "a hint of something sinister" (to borrow the poster's phrase)

HISTORICAL BUTTERBEER

• Butterbeer - and not just any butterbeer, but a 400 year old butterbeer recipe; desribed in the blog as "hot, buttered heaven. Like liquid french toast..." Well, don't mind if I do, then!

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If you like theme parks (Disney/Universal) and drinking, Party Through the Parks wants to be your guide. As someone who enjoys those things, I am happy to let them walk me through some Harry Potter drinks that don't yet exist, but I can make at home.

Party Through the Parks Suggestions:

• Golden Pumpkin - warm and pumpkiny
• Pumpkin Cobbler - requires you to have/make pumpkin juice (a recipe is at the site linked above), but could be quite good!
• Potterpolitan - I'm noticing a Pumpkin theme developing here, and that makes me happy...
• Potterita - Margarita with Pumpkin juice? I could get into this!
• Hot Buttered Pumpkin - A drink that involves melting butter and will happily blow my diet
• Spiced Butterbeer - adding spiced rum to butterbeer isn't my personal cup of tea, but then I don't like cream soda

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And finally, some general witch-and-wizard appropriate fare:

Merlin's Love Potion

2 oz watermelon schnapps
1/2 oz lemon vodka
1/4 oz strawberry brandy
Read more: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink5511.html#ixzz1Rj2P0mJd

Polyjuice Potion

1 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 splash Coca-Cola®
Read more... the directions are important: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkrq15460.html#ixzz1Rj2wMnDa

Frisky Witch:

1 part black sambuca
1 part vodka

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Well, I hope you've all enjoyed this educational mixed drink journey as much as I have. Now, if you'll excuse me ... it's getting close to celebration time!

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UPDATE (7/15/2011) : For those who don't know that I sometimes post my blogs in advance... surprise! I do! Which, in this case, led to already being out-of-date. Little Pink Blog added some more niceties to enjoy...

THE HOUSES:

• Gryffindor House - sweet and rightly colored
• Hufflepuff House - sugary sweet, kind of like Hufflepuff... I still think we need a layered drink with some Blavod for them
• Ravenclaw House - Simple, clean, and full of blueberries!
• Slytherin House - a champagne drink with a little bit of a green tinge

THE TEACHERS:

• Albus Dumbledore  - I just wish this had a lemon drop in it somewhere...
• The Remus Lupin - Luxurious coffee drink; maybe a little rich for Remus, but it would surely delight me
• Minerva McGonagall - It uses tea! So nice for one of my favorite Hogwarts teachers
• The Severus Snape - hahaha. Bitters

OUR HEROES:

• The Rubeus Hagrid - Very fitting bit of beer and mixer for this big, lovable guy
• The Hermione Granger - Very ladylike drink with a touch of toughness
• The Ronald Weasley - A little too girly for Ron, if you ask me, but the drink sounds delicous
• The Sirius Black - Beautiful. Will have to give this one a try (while toasting my dearly departed Sirius)

THE BOY WHO LIVED, THE WIZARD WHO WOULD KILL HIM, AND SOME RELATED DRINKS:

• The Lord Voldemort - He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named must have his own cocktails; and this one sounds like pure, delightful basilisk poison
• The Horcrux - 7 ingredient drink that sounds just dark enough to try 
• The Harry Potter - Apparently, the Boy-Who-Lived just begs for a sweet and creamy drink; sounds like something you'd enjoy on a trip to Hogsmeade
• The Golden Snitch - quick shot; maybe not my favorite, but see what you think?