What To Drink For The Mayan Apocalypse

The 12.21.12 Mayan apocalypse is rapidly approaching; and that could mean one of two things: drink to avoid the pain of impending doom, or drink because you don't believe the world as we know it is coming to an end. And while many may think that the world is in fact ending, scholars are actually encouraging people to celebrate. The end of the Mayan calendar, many say, has been twisted into an apocalyptic circumstance when it actually means rebirth. Whether you're a doomsday believer or not, either way — it's time to drink. 

Good thing there are more than enough apocalypse-themed drinks for the occassion (and not of the zombie apocalypse kind). Check out these beers and cocktails that will make any Mayan celebration a party to remember — until the world actually ends, that is. 

Dogfish Head Theobroma: The hard-to-pronounce beer from a favorite craft brewery takes ancient traditions to a whole new level. If you want to drink as the Mayans once did, the Theobrama brew is based on a drink recipe dating back to 1200 B.C. "This Ancient Ale is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras that revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions," the Dogfish Head website reads. The beer is brewed with cocoa nibs, Aztec cocoa powder, honey, chiles and annatto for a surprisingly light chocolate beer. We can totally toast our impending death with the comfort of chocolate. 

Great Basin Brewing Co. Mayan Maybe?: We have to appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor in naming a Mayan apocalypse beer "Mayan Maybe." From the Nevada brewery, the Maybe old-style ale is made with smoked malts ("a sign of cosmic uncertainty"), cocoa nibs, whole vanilla beans, chile peppers, honey, and corn — "your typical Mayan cuisine," the brewery states. While the brew is only available in select locations in Nevada, according to a release, we'd sure like to get our hands on it before it's too late. 

The Mayan: Eater shares the extravagant $100 cocktail, called the Mayan. Served at Iron Cactus in Texas, the Mayan is made with DeLeón reposado tequila, Grand Marnier 100-year, agave nectar, and real gold flakes. Because when the world is going to end, you should go out in style. 

Tequila and Mezcal: Needing something stronger to bear the pain? Better drink as the Mayans did in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica — or, what we now know as Mexico. You can mix up a classic tequila or mezcal cocktail; check out the recipes for the Habanero & Cucumber Margarita, a Merry Mezcal Punch, or the Mayan Sacrifice Champagne cocktail. 

Or if you simply don't have time to mix up a cocktail, you can go straight for the tequila flights, like our friends at Calaca Feliz do. Our favorite tequila flights at Calaca Feliz? The Anejo flight with Don Julio, El Tesoro, Tres Generaciones tequilas; the Neftali Feliz Flight with Cabo Wabo blanco, Partida Reposado,Casa Noble Anejo; or the Feliz Flight with El Tesoro Paradiso, Reserva De La Familia, and Don Julio 1942.