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The Boy and the Heron Drinking Game + Cocktail

Miyazaki's dreamscape calls for a drink as layered as the film.

The Rules

  • Sip — Mahito encounters the gray heron stalking him
  • Sip — A surreal transformation occurs in the fantasy world
  • Sip — Mahito's dead mother Hisako appears in a vision or memory
  • Sip — The warawara float upward toward the sky
  • Sip — Kiriko navigates through the tower's otherworldly realms
  • Drink Twice — Mahito enters the tower and crosses into the other world
  • Drink Twice — The heron reveals its true human-like form inside
  • Drink Twice — The Parakeet King threatens to take over the tower
  • Shot — Mahito discovers the Grand-Uncle maintaining the tower's balance
  • Shot — The tower collapses as the world inside crumbles
  • Chug — Mahito returns to the real world carrying only a stone

Themed Cocktail

The Gray Heron

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Japanese whisky
  • 0.75 oz yuzu juice
  • 0.5 oz lavender syrup
  • 1 oz sparkling water
  • 1 dash plum bitters

Instructions:

  1. 1Combine whisky, yuzu juice, and lavender syrup in a shaker with ice.
  2. 2Shake for 10 seconds.
  3. 3Strain into a coupe glass.
  4. 4Top with sparkling water and add plum bitters.

Fun Facts

  • Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.(Source)
  • Starring Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki.(Source)
  • Made $294M worldwide on a $50M budget.(Source)
  • Rated 7.4/10 on TMDB (2,549 votes).(Source)
  • Tagline: "Where death comes to an end, life finds a new beginning."(Source)

Disclaimer: Drink responsibly. This is intended for adults of legal drinking age. Never drink and drive. Always know your limits and drink in moderation.