“Throw Them Overboard: An Unofficial Abney Park Drinking, I Mean Listening Party”


An Official (Unofficial) Abney Park Drinking Game

Gear up, airship crew! Pour your rum, mead, or absinthe, and let’s set sail with Captain Robert.

What You’ll Need:

  • Abney Park music (albums like Æther Shanties, Lost Horizons, or The End of Days work best).
  • A drink of choice—bonus points for steampunk vibes (e.g., rum, whiskey, or something green and mysterious).
    (bonus points if you’re drinking a Captain Robert.*
  • Friends (optional, but airship crews are merrier in numbers).
  • A playlist or live performance video (e.g., DragonCon 2008–2015 footage).

Rules:

Take a sip when…

  1. “Airship” or “Sky” is Mentioned: Any lyric about airships, flying, or the sky (e.g., “Airship Pirate” or “The Secret Life of Dr. Calgori”). Double sip if it’s in the song title.
  2. Victorian Vibes Drop: A song references corsets, goggles, gears, or anything steampunk-specific (e.g., “Herr Drosselmeyer’s Doll”).
  3. Captain Robert Appears: Any mention of Captain Robert or a pirate captain (e.g., “The Ballad of Captain Robert”). Toast the captain with a hearty “To the skies!”
  4. Instrument Switcheroo: In a live set, a band member swaps instruments mid-song (common in their eclectic performances). Sip for each switch.
  5. “Ohh” or “Ahh” Chants: The song has a dramatic group vocal chant or piratey “ohh/ahh” (e.g., “Sleep Isabella”). Join in, then sip.
  6. Mechanical Sounds: You hear a clock ticking, steam hissing, or other industrial sound effects (looking at you, The End of Days).
  7. Nautical Nonsense: Lyrics mention ships, sea, storms, or drowning (e.g., “Throw Them Overboard”). Sip and sway like you’re on deck.

Take a bigger gulp when… 8. Genre Shift Hits: A song blends genres wildly—like folk to industrial or cabaret to rock (e.g., “Neobedouin”). Cheers to their chaos! 9. Audience Interaction: In live footage, Captain Robert (or another member) banters with the crowd or tells a story. Gulp for charisma. 10. Plot Twist Lyric: A song tells a mini-story with a dark or unexpected turn (e.g., “The Derelict” or “Herr Drosselmeyer’s Doll”). Gulp for the drama.

Finish your drink when… 11. “Airship Pirate” Plays: Their anthem kicks in. Stand, salute the captain, and drain your glass. 12. Set Ends: If watching a live performance, finish your drink when the band takes their final bow or the video fades out.

Optional Hard Mode (The Kraken’s Challenge):

  • Shot Rule: Take a shot (instead of a sip) if a song mentions death, ghosts, or the undead (e.g., “The Wake” or “Dead Silence”). Beware the body count!
  • Costume Bonus: If you’re dressed in steampunk gear (goggles, top hat, etc.), take an extra victory sip whenever you catch your reflection.

Safety Protocol:

  • Hydrate between rounds—water’s the real treasure on long voyages.
  • Know your limits; even airship pirates need to dock eventually.

* A “Captain Robert” is:

A rum-heavy elixir for the airship’s helm.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Dark Rum (e.g., Gosling’s Black Seal or Kraken for that pirate vibe—Captain Robert demands the good stuff).
  • 1 oz Spiced Rum (e.g., Captain Morgan or Sailor Jerry, for extra swagger and spice).
  • 0.5 oz Overproof Rum (e.g., Bacardi 151 or Plantation OFTD—151 proof or higher, because the Captain scoffs at weak spirits).
  • 1 oz Lime Juice (freshly squeezed, to cut through the rum and nod to scurvy-fighting sailors).
  • 0.75 oz Cinnamon Syrup (homemade or store-bought—warmth for the airship’s engine room).
  • 0.5 oz Falernum (a spiced, almondy liqueur from the Caribbean, evoking trade routes and steampunk exoticism).
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters (for depth and a nod to old-world apothecaries).
  • Ginger Beer (a splash, for fizz and a stormy kick).
  • Garnish: Cinnamon stick (set ablaze briefly for drama), lime wheel, and a charred orange peel (for that smoky, airship flare).

Equipment:

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Jigger
  • Matches or a lighter (for the flaming garnish)
  • Rocks glass or a tarnished brass mug (steampunk aesthetic optional but encouraged)

Instructions:

  1. Prep the Cinnamon Syrup (if making your own):
    • Simmer 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 2 crushed cinnamon sticks over medium heat until sugar dissolves (5–10 minutes). Cool, strain, and store. Takes 15 minutes, lasts weeks.
  2. Build the Base:
    • Fill a shaker with ice. Pour in the dark rum, spiced rum, overproof rum, lime juice, cinnamon syrup, falernum, and bitters. This is the Captain’s hearty core—rum-soaked and unapologetic.
  3. Shake Like an Airship in a Storm:
    • Shake hard for 15 seconds until chilled. Imagine you’re dodging cannon fire over the Atlantic.
  4. Serve:
    • Strain into a rocks glass over a big ice cube (keeps it cold without diluting too fast—Captain Robert doesn’t water down his orders). Top with a splash of ginger beer for a fizzy lift, like clouds parting for the airship.
  5. Garnish with Flair:
    • Light the cinnamon stick briefly with a match until it smokes (10 seconds max—don’t burn your ship down), then drop it in. Add a lime wheel and squeeze an orange peel over a flame to char it lightly, releasing oils, then tuck it in. The aroma should scream adventure.

Tasting Notes:

  • Flavor: Rich, boozy rum hits first, layered with warm cinnamon, clove from the falernum, and a smoky, citrus bite. The ginger beer adds a sharp, stormy finish.
  • Strength: Potent—around 3 oz of rum total, pushing 30% ABV or more with the overproof kick. Sip it slow, like plotting a raid.
  • Vibe: Dark, spicy, and theatrical—perfect for a steampunk pirate captain.

Offering to Captain Robert:

  • Present it with a salute: “To the skies, Captain!” If you’re meeting Robert Nathaniel Finn (or a proxy at an Abney Park gig), hand it over in a brass mug with a grin and a lyric quote—maybe “We’ll storm the skies together” from “Airship Pirate.” He’ll appreciate the effort, even if he’s more used to stage props than sipping mid-set.

Pro Tips:

  • Scale It: Double the batch for a crew—serve in a pitcher with extra ice.
  • Non-Alcoholic Nod: Swap rum for spiced tea and ginger syrup if the Captain’s off-duty.
  • Safety: That overproof rum’s flammable—keep the flame brief and away from your face.

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