Ryncol | Mass Effect [VIDEO]

Square

Time to party like a Krogan with this specialised shot straight from the heart of Tuchanka’s best distilleries.

You’ll need

  • 1 part Pernod
  • 1 part Cointreau
  • 1 part vodka

Add all ingredients in equal parts to a cooled shot glass. Serve!

“He’s not joking. Ryncol hits aliens like ground glass.”

– Grunt, regarding the strength of Krogan hard liquor

It’s been a long day at the Citadel. Hell, it’s been a long year; human supremacist terrorist attacks, colonies falling to disease, famine and war left right and centre, not to mention those muttered rumours about an incoming AI-driven genocide of all life in the galaxy.

You need a drink.

Sliding past the gruff bouncers at the door at the Dark Star Lounge, around the gyrating Asaris on the dance floor and carefully avoiding eye contact with the grumpy-looking Turians in the corner, you stump up to the bar and signal to the barman.

But it looks like he is busy with the patron next to you. Your first glance doesn’t tell you much—only that they’re human, and more than a little worse for wear for drink. Your second glance, however, reveals something incredible: an N7 insignia. You aren’t just sitting next to some random drunk—you’re sitting next to THE Commander Shepherd; the hero of the galaxy.

But before you can blurt anything out, offer to buy them a drink, or something, Commander Shepherd knocks back their last drink, wobbles up from the bar and… promptly falls flat on their arse, out cold.

A chuckle from the bartender makes you look up. It looks like he is putting away some kind of strange, exotic liquor bottle. He notices your quizzical look, and taps it.

“Ryncol”, he says, and realisation dawns.


Looking for more shooters? Check out these Witcher-inspired potions for gulp-sized libations.


Ryncol is strong. Very strong. So strong, in fact, that even the great Commander Shepherd couldn’t handle a single shot of it.

When creating this drink (a fan request from Redditor Riothegod1), I knew it had to be potent—but I also wanted to ensure that it was still moderately enjoyable. I couldn’t just throw some absinthe in a shot and call it a day; I wanted it to be actually drinkable, but still have some serious heft to it.

As such, I came up with the above compromise: a drink that is still made up of 40% alcohol ingredients (and thus will hit you like a freight train) but is actually quite a good sipper too.

The primary flavour is that of anise; a licorice-y taste that comes from the Pernod, balanced out by the sweetness of the Cointreau. Interestingly, the anise in the Pernod has the secondary effect of making your mouth go numb for a few seconds (just enough time to rack up another shot)—a much better way to experience the potency of Ryncol without needing to pass out afterwards.

If you aren’t a fan of shots, you can instead add the ingredients to a champagne coup and top it off with some sparkling white wine. It’ll technically be even stronger (more alcohol, after all), but you’ll be drinking it over a longer period of time. A little more refined—even for a Krogan liquor.

I hope you guys like this recipe for Ryncol, and remember: definitely drink this in moderation!

Keep up with all the latest libations by signing up to our regular newsletter.