When World of Warcraft players are not running dungeons or gearing up for the next big esports tournament, they are showing their love for the game through fan-created content. Fanmixology is a perfect example, with Sasha Becke and R Synan using their love of the game to invent unique craft cocktails.
"Sometimes the hand of fate must be forced!"#WorldofWarcraft #alcohol pic.twitter.com/WyJFwOEzwS
— FANMIXOLOGY (@fanmixology) December 26, 2020
Made by two World of Warcraft players for World of Warcraft enthusiasts, many of Fanmixology’s drink recipes bring well-known characters from the beloved universe to the living room table or kitchen counter. Fans of Wrathion, Anduin Wrynn, Illidan Stormrage, Sylvanas Windrunner or even Garrosh Hellscream can follow their recipes and enjoy a drink that represents these characters.
Fanmixology isn’t just simply any thrown together cocktail, either. Each recipe has its own high attention to detail. Those who intimately know World of Warcraft lore can appreciate the thought put into each drink and how each set design is in accordance with its respective character’s story.
A drink worthy of Wrathion
For the Wrathion cocktail, the Fanmixology team began with a liquor for drink’s base. Scotch suited Wrathion because of its deep and complex notes. After the base, Synan added flavors that blended well and represented other aspects of Wrathion, like spicy notes of amaro de montenegro.
“Wrathion is witty, bold, mercurial, a little self-important,” Synan said about the dragon character. “He also cares deeply about Azeroth under all the bluster and has matured since his first appearance in Mists of Pandaria.”
"Know that from this day forth, the black dragonflight will honor its ancient charge and stand in defense of our world… along with its champions."#WorldofWarcraft #Wrathion #alcohol pic.twitter.com/SDsodHc3qz
— FANMIXOLOGY (@fanmixology) February 13, 2021
The addition of shiraz then created depth and dryness. Meanwhile, lime juice provided a sharp and acerbic flavor. A splash of butterscotch rounded out all the edges of the drink with a layer of sweetness.
“Adding smoke to the glass made sense for a dragon, and the acrid flavor was a way of highlighting the aloofness Wrathion holds himself with,” Synan said.
After a tasting process, the Fanmixology team chooses a cocktail glass and a garnish to complete the tone.
A photoshoot fit for a king
Creating a drink worthy of a character is only half the battle. The Fanmixology team also puts a lot of thought into each drink’s photograph. Shooting locations, props and overall aesthetics are discussed before any photoshoot begins.
“For Anduin, we definitely wanted to shoot outside on a sunny day with a nice blue sky and a view,” Becke said.
In Austin, Texas, there are locations in the hills that Becke said reminded them of the Alliance city, Stormwind. When the Fanmixology team found the perfect spot, they hunted down a blue and gold table runner. This added more class and drew out the blue in the environment.
"A just cause is always worth fighting for."#WorldofWarcraft #Anduin #alcohol pic.twitter.com/GT5jmkZ9UA
— FANMIXOLOGY (@fanmixology) February 13, 2021
The touch-up process also takes a lot of time, according to Becke.
“Salt and sugar rims are especially tricky,” Becke explained. “If absolutely anything happens to them, I find myself zoomed in 500% putting little specks back in order.”
Synan agreed and said getting the right shot can be difficult.
“If I’m shooting a drink outdoors, I’m usually sprawled across an odd surface, praying that the wind doesn’t pick up and scatter whatever props I have assembled,” they said.
Lore and characters are everything
The Fanmixology team has a deep love for the World of Warcraft universe the characters who populate it. Becke has been playing the game since World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. If a source book exists, they have it. If there’s a novel, they’ve read it. However, Becke also acknowledged how every fan can have a bias when it comes to their favorite characters. To check their own biases, they are very thorough when preparing a drink.
“Even for our favorite characters, we will re-watch cutscenes, search up old questlines, pull novels down and reference scenes,” Becke said. “So the goal is to capture the true essence of a character without letting those biases come into play with drink creation.”
The World of Warcraft universe has a massive and iconic cast, so the Fanmixology team thinks about the past, present and possible future of the game and fanbase when deciding which character to create a cocktail for next.
"Find me a foe to face and defeat, and you will see how proudly I will continue to serve the Horde."#WorldofWarcraft #Garrosh #alcohol pic.twitter.com/QtHqGsGXFu
— FANMIXOLOGY (@fanmixology) March 6, 2021
For example, if a drink for a Horde character was released one week, Becke said a neutral faction or Alliance character would be celebrated next time.
“Keeping things fresh and distinct from week to week is definitely important,” Becke said. “There are a lot of recipes already created for some of our personal favorite characters, but we rein ourselves in and keep them on the back burner for when the time is right.”
In terms of what inspired Fanmixology in the first place, Synan said they’ve always loved digging into the characters and lore. Exploring how to translate that love World of Warcraft into a drink has always been a fun challenge.
“In the months leading up to Shadowlands and especially after seeing the breathtaking cinematics that were released for the four covenants, we knew that we had a perfect opportunity to start creating and releasing drinks,” Synan said. “The timing couldn’t have been better, and we’re honored by the response we’ve received so far.”
World of Warcraft players and fans can visit Fanmixology’s official Twitter page for more character-inspired craft cocktail recipes.
Published: Apr 30, 2021 03:00 pm