We have an annual tradition in our house where we celebrate everything that’s great about American overindulgence on a single day — typically around some American football game. I think it’s the championship or something; I don’t really follow American football. The food is good though. This year, I decided we needed a special edition cocktail to go with it, introducing the Superb Owl Cocktail!

Yup.

I’m subtle like that.

Clearly, I was riffing on the name of said sporting event, but I still don’t care to name it outright. I did, however, take inspiration from Harry Potter and butterbeer. Yes!

My thoughts were twofold, if you’re like me and you don’t care if it’s the Arizona Thundarrs or the New York Battlecats in the game, but you immediately catch both of those references, you’ll probably appreciate a butterbeer influenced drink and you’ll enjoy that it resembles a very serious grown up drink, the Old Fashioned.

We’ll call this the Refreshment of Awesome Deception (RAD for short).

I started with what I knew was a requirement: butterscotch schnapps. The biggest problem with butterscotch schnapps is that it’s awfully powerful, so it was then a matter of balancing that sweetness and rounding out the flavors.

Through some pondering and consideration, after visiting potions class, I knew that a spiced rum would work very nicely with the rich flavors. Now we had a solid base of rum and butterscotch, which is pretty good alone, but still needed some friends.

To accent the good notes, tamper down the bad ones, and let everyone harmonize to manage some mischief, I added peach brandy (booyacasha) and ginger schnapps.

Like that my friends, we have a Superb Owl of splendid construction and deceptive appearances.

Garnish with cherries and you really have a perfect likeness to an Old Fashioned — except it’s an adult butterbeer.

Oh, yeah, I’m sure you can just get cream soda and pour in some butterscotch schnapps for a more “authentic” butterbeer, but that’s not as exciting. We wanted to go high class with this. It’s fancy enough to fool people at your own celebration of American overindulgence, but it’s still a RAD riff off a fantasy story drink that some might argue is for children (the story, not the drink).

No matter who you’re rooting for, the Thundarrs or the Battlecats, make sure the Superb Owl Cocktail is on your menu!

Superb Owl Cocktail: A Deceptive Butterbeer Cocktail Recipe type: Drinks Prep time: 3 mins Cook time: 3 mins Total time: 6 mins Serves: 1 Ingredients