(Orothon) A branch snaps and birds flee from the treetops. Something big lurches through the brush. The group, still tending to their wounds from the last melee, pick up their weapons and peer into the shadows of the forest. With guttural growls, two owlbears emerge from the darkness.
Fuck yeah, it’s finally fall. I’m an odd Southern Californian in that I suffer the summer to get to autumn and winter. Not that SoCal really has seasons, but I unabashedly enjoy an occasional crunchy leaf on the ground and crispness to the air.
The Owlbear seems like such a perfect autumn monster. If the name didn’t give it away, this formidable predator is an owl-bear hybrid with sharp claws and a sharper beak. But in my head it’s also kind of cute, like you want to pet its fluffy, feathery fur but you can’t because it’ll tear your face off. The Friendly Owlbear is a spiced apple and bourbon cocktail to start the season off right. It’s much sweeter than the ferocious Owlbear but I was trying to persuade the DM to make this encounter more amicable. My efforts failed, but the PCs did successfully slay the beasts and the cocktail was thoroughly enjoyed.
The Friendly Owlbear
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 0.5 oz Apple Cider (preferably unfiltered or raw)
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz oz Sweet Vermouth
- 0.25 oz Maple Syrup
- A light sprinkle of cinnamon (I also recommend cardamom and clove, if you happen to have them on hand)
- Fresh sage for garnish
Instructions:
- Add everything except the sage to your shaker, shaker over ice and strain into a cocktail glass with ice. Garnish with a sage sprig.
The Bourbon Dragon 