Watching ‘Squid Game’? Have whisky and chill
Whisky is probably not the first drink that comes to mind when you camp on your couch and go binge-watching shows. But if it’s the second season of “Squid Game” you plan to put on, then you might be glad to have a glass of that smooth liquid amber within reach—and take a sip of two—when the ruthless survival game on your television becomes too thrillingly intense.
Sure, you can always take your whisky neat, and savor the liquor’s fruity and vibrant, at times woody and spicy, tasting notes. But if you’re worried that it will make you a tad too relaxed and knock you out before seeing Gong Yoo’s character [redacted], why not try whipping up a whisky cocktail instead?
In collaboration with “Squid Game,” the Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker came up with a highball cocktail inspired by the hit Korean series. Dubbed 456—a recurring and thematic number within the show—the concoction was created by the renowned Korean American bartender Ginn Choe, and boasts a unique toasty profile, thanks to the infusion of bori-cha or Korean barley tea.
Here’s how to make it:
456
45 ml bori-cha (Korean barley) syrup
45 ml lemon juice
45 ml whisky
soda water
honey
lemon peel (for garnish)
Bori-cha syrup
Steep 6 tea bags in 300 ml hot water for 20 minutes. Mix 2 parts honey with 1 part tea until it forms a thick syrup.
Cocktail
In a highball glass, mix bori-cha syrup and whisky. Add ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel and 15 ml lemon juice. Stir.
This cocktail was served at the recent unveiling of Johnnie Walker’s special “Squid Game”-themed bottle for its Black Label variant. The limited-edition bottles are numbered from 001 to 456, a nod to the number of players and their corresponding characters in the series. (456, or Seong Gi-hun, is the main character played by Lee Jung-jae.)
The bottles’ distinct 20-degree label gets a new look, designed with a custom fabric pattern varnish that intends to mimic the show players’ green tracksuits. And upon closer inspection, you will find out that the Striding Man logo is wearing not his usual traditional tailcoat, but the iconic “Squid Game” ensemble.
According to Jam Peñas of Diageo—the alcoholic beverage company that carries Johnnie Walker—the collaboration was inspired by the brand’s desire to stay “culturally relevant” and connect with “socially engaged consumers.”
“We tapped into ‘Squid Game’ for its global appeal and ability to resonate with a diverse audience,” he told Lifestyle.
Aside from the 456, the brand also tapped award-winning Filipino bartender Claude Delima of The Spirits Library to come up with two more bespoke and show-inspired cocktails for the Johnnie Walker x “Squid Game” event—the recipes for which were given to Lifestyle.
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s Red Light—our personal favorite—whose hero ingredient is, yes … watermelon kimchi syrup. While the pairing may seem strange, or off-putting even, the sweetness of watermelon tempers the pungent zap of kimchi, leaving you with a surprisingly refreshing tangy drink that could very well serve as a palate cleanser.
Red Light
45 ml whisky
45 ml watermelon kimchi syrup
20 ml lemon juice
60 ml soda water
3 g hibiscus tea
Combine whisky, watermelon kimchi syrup, and lemon juice in a glass. Add ice, top with soda water and stir. Garnish with hibiscus tea.
But if you’re in no mood to give your tastebuds a little rattle, then the tropical Green Light, with its familiar scents and flavors of aloe vera and pandan, is a safe and foolproof bet.
Green Light
45 ml whisky
15 ml honey syrup
15 ml lime juice
45 ml aloe vera juice
15 ml Monin pandan syrup
60 ml soda water
2 g pandan leaves
Mix whisky, honey syrup, lime juice, aloe vera juice, and pandan syrup in a glass.
Add ice, top with soda water, and stir. Garnish with a pandan leaf.
While some people see whisky as something typically reserved for special occasions, it can be a fitting companion, too, while enjoying simple activities like watching television. “It’s a versatile choice that can elevate a casual night in without feeling overdone,” Peñas said.
