Prodigious Potation Part Of Professor’s Potions
The Alaskan Polar Bear Heater is a fictional cocktail ordered by Buddy Love in the 1963 film The Nutty Professor.* Except for the vinegar, its five different liquors plus vermouth might remind you of a Long Island Iced Tea with its 4 liquors and a liqueur in its recipe.
It truly is one of those signature drinks in the movies that you automatically associate with the film. And that’s where the Alaskan Polar Bear Heater should stay too. There’s no place at your home bar for this bucket of booze. Besides, you’re probably still trying to get the vinegar taste out of your mouth from the Pickle Back you had on St. Patrick’s Day anyway.
Jerry Lewis Is Nutty In Dr. Jekyl And Mr. Hyde Parody
The Nutty Professor is a pretty funny movie though, so you can always play this clip at your party for a few laughs. Jerry Lewis plays nerdy, nutty Professor Julius Kelp (Dr. Jekyl) whose failure to bulk up in the gym inspires him to create a potent potion which turns him into the nonchalant, nightclub singer Buddy Love (Mr. Hyde).
His transformation bears an uncanny resemblance, although unintentional, to real life comedy partner, actual ladies man and member of the rat pack, Dean Martin. Pretty good bet that Frank would have grilled Deano if he ever wore a royal blue polyester suit though.
This temporary tonic wears off at the worst possible times causing the handsome, hipster to revert back to being a clumsy clown and out of character in several awkward situations. The plot parodies Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 short novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.
Buddy Love Orders An Alaskan Polar Bear Heater At The Purple Pit
In between sets singing at a campus area nightclub called the Purple Pit, Buddy Love orders a drink at the bar. “Make me an Alaskan Polar Bear Heater on the double. Come on, come on.”
As the bartender walks away to round up the ingredients, a man walks over and says, “Say, why don’t you pick on somebody your own disposition?”
Buddy responds, “Oh please mister barroom brawler, don’t hurt me or anything like that.”† While putting out his cigarette in the ashtray, he turns around and throws the guy up against the back wall giving him a couple fake punches and wins the made for movie slapstick comedy fight.
Pleased with his performance he pulls up a stool and sits back down at the bar. The bartender comes over with an armload full of liquor bottles and asks, “Did you say a polar bear heater?”
Indignant, Buddy belts out, “No, you said it. I said an Alaskan Polar Bear Heater.” The bartender has never heard of this drink so Buddy tells him to pay attention. One by one, he calls out how much of each ingredient to add as the bartender echoes his recipe instructions until something strange is required.
Alaskan Polar Bear Heater Cocktail:
- 2 shots of vodka
- A little rum
- Some bitters
- Smidgen of vinegar
Are you going to drink this here, or are you going to take it home and rub it on your chest?
Buddy mocks him, “Hey, that was terrific. Did you hear that folks? A regular George Bernard Shaw. Good boy and he did it all by himself. You did all by yourself and nobody helped you. That’s terrific, and with your very own big mouth. Now if you don’t want this cocktail shaker to become a part of your gums, mix the drink, shut your mouth and pay attention. Is that clear? Repeat after me. I’ll pay attention .. alright, let’s continue.”
- Shot of vermouth
- Shot of gin
- A little brandy
- Lemon peel
- Orange peel
- Cherry
- Some more scotch
Now, mix it nice. Then pour it into a tall glass.
“Hey, I’ve never tried an Alaskan Polar Bear Heater. Do you mind if I take a sip?” ~ bartender.
Buddy tells him to go ahead. After he takes a sip, the bar tender pours the drink and then freezes still like a statue just as he finishes. Buddy drinks up. Then as the last ice cube in the Boston Shaker
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