In Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel (and Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film), A Clockwork Orange, the Korova Milk Bar dispenses drinks—namely the Moloko Plus—to make one shiver. According the main character, Alex, a glass of Moloko Plus “would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence.” It’s the illicit additives— vellocet (opiate), sythemesc (mescaline), drencrom (adrenochrome) “or one or two other veshches [drugs]”—that put the “plus” in Moloko Plus. San Francisco bartender Morgan Schick interpreted this creepy cocktail with rum, mezcal (to sharpen one up, presumably) and aromatic cardamom milk.
Moloko Plus
Morgan Schick, Trick Dog | San Francisco, CA

Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 2 ounces rum (preferably Eldorado 12 year)
- 1/2 ounce Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal
- 1/2 ounce Bénédictine
- 3 ounces cardamom-infused milk (see Editor's note)
- 1 barspoon simple syrup (1:1, sugar:water)
- 2 dashes orange bitters, Angostura
- 2 ounces sparkling wine
Directions
- Add all ingredients (except sparkling wine) to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
- Strain into a highball glass.
- Add 2 ounces chilled sparkling wine.
Editor's Note
Crack 1/4 cup of cardamom pods. Add to 1 pint whole milk and 1 pint half and half in a saucepan. Keep over low heat for around 30 minutes. Strain. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.