The Fiona Drink: Inspired by Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

After seeing an early screening of Tim Burton’s newest movie Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children we were inspired to create a drink that Tim Burton fans could enjoy! Be sure to check out our review of this awesome and peculiar movie here out in theaters September 30th. Following is a delicious and awe-inspiring drink our friend and talented bartender, Kevin Feldman, created after Fiona, the feisty peculiar child with wild red head that can control and grow plants quickly.

Here is what he has to say about his inspiration in creating The Fiona:

As the watermelon/sage ice cube melts in this herbal smoky cocktail, the powers (ability to control plants) of a red headed young girl come to life as the (watermelon) and the (sage) begin to come to life changing the complexity of the cocktail.

Tequila is derived from a plant which fits perfect for Fiona’s special power and is accompanied by the sweetness of watermelon, the herbal notes of sage and hibiscus all balanced off by spiced bitters and fruit.

~ Kevin Feldman

The Fiona:

Mezcal 1oz
Tequila .5oz
Aperol .25oz
Hibiscus
Lime .5 fresh squeezed lime
Sage or mint
2 dashes Berry and spiced pepper Bitters
Frozen watermelon cube

How to make watermelon cubes:

The night before, fill a large ice cube tray with water, small watermelon chunks and torn basil leaves. Enjoy watching your drink turn red and the basil plants grow as the ice cubes dissolves. This makes for a rather unique drink you can serve at your next cocktail party!

Add ingredients into cocktail shaker

Shake and strain into highball glass

Add watermelon cubes (prepared the night before)

Garnish with a raspberry

The Photo Shoot

We decided to do the photo shoot at Victoria Beach located in South Laguna which known for its medieval-looking tower rising from the sand that was built in 1926. If you hike out onto the rocks and around the point near the stairway access you will be able to see the Victorian La Tour Tower. This 60-foot castle inspired stair tower is commonly referred to as a lighthouse structure and known as “La Tour” (french for tower). It was built at the same time as the house at the top of the bluff, in 1926, and was used as a way to get from the house down to the beach below. Many locals and tourists have enjoyed this tower throughout the years.

A Tim Burton Vibe:

We thought it was the perfect place to feature The Fiona since the beach has a Tim Burton vibe to it. There is a scene in the movie where the peculiar children come out of the cave and you can see where we got our inspiration from!

We fought the waves… and won (sort of):

Kevin, Beatta Bosworth (our talented photographer friend), and I headed down late afternoon hoping that we would encounter low tide, but we had no such luck. We battled the waves to catch a few photographs. It was pretty funny having to run in and grab the table before the tide swept it out to sea!

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is based on the book series by Ransom Riggs and published by Quirk Books. Just this week, they published The Art of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children coffee table style book. You will find an Introduction by none other than Tim Burton, Foreward By Ransom Riggs and Written By Leah Gallo. You will find behind-the-scenes photographs, interviews and images from the film. For all you Tim Burton fans I am sure you will want to pick up a copy of this fun and quirky book.