Spooky Cocktails to Celebrate Halloween

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 oz. Empress 1908 Gin
• .5 oz. Mezcal
• .75 oz. Pomegranate juice
• .5 oz. Agave
• .25 tsp. Edible glitter

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Jigger
• Boston Shaker
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Rocks Glass
• Glass Bottle

Shake all ingredients but the gin on ice with a touch of edible glitter. Strain into a small glass bottle. Add the gin into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Pour the bottled mixture over the gin, stir, and enjoy!

EL GATO NEGRO

Nothing says All Hallow’s Eve like a black cat. Whether you believe that black cats are bad luck or purr-fect familiars, there’s no denying their spooky black fur evokes a magical aura. As a black cat lover myself, I’m a big fan of Tanteo’s homage to the fluffy shadow of the night.

This cocktail is a spicy twist on the classic margarita. For an extra ghostly touch, add a small piece of dry ice* to create a foggy effect when serving.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 oz. Tanteo® Jalapeño Tequila
• .25 oz. Agave nectar
• 1 oz. Fresh lime juice
• 1 Tbsp. Activated Charcoal Powder or
• 2-3 drops Black food coloring

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Jigger
• Boston Shaker
• Hawthorn Strainer
• Coupe Glass

Add all the ingredients into a shaker. Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed, chilled coupe glass.

*For your health and safety, please do not drink the cocktail until the dry ice has completely evaporated and do not touch the dry ice with your bare hands.

**If you are currently taking medication, please consult your doctor before using activated charcoal as it may absorb the medicine.

THE RIPPER

Recently, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley’s live tasting with their new bourbon, Brother’s Bond, made me want to dive into a Vampire Diaries binge session. It took me approximately three episodes of the vampy drama to find my latest addiction. The brothers love whiskey, both on and off the show, so it was only time before they released their own bourbon label.

As a bourbon lover myself, I found this whiskey perfect for mixing up spins on traditional classics, like Old Fashioned’s and Boulevardiers. For those unfamiliar with the show, Paul’s character, Stefan, is known as a ripper when his humanity is turned off. This drink pays homage to the 1920s era Stefan, sans the actual blood. Watch out for any Originals as you imbibe this one!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 oz. Cappelletti
• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
• 1 oz. Brother's Bond Bourbon
• 2-3 dashes Blood orange bitters
• .25 tsp. Edible red glitter

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Jigger
• Barspoon
• Mixing Glass
• Julep Strainer
• Coupe Glass, chilled

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Express and garnish with orange peel.

GOTHIC MULE

Is your aesthetic along the lines of dark academia or witchcraft? If you would describe your humor as wickedly baroque, then this is the cocktail for you. While a mule may sound a little passé, the addition of a housemade dark cherry shrub only serves to elevate the drink. This mystical raven-black mule is perfect for batching cocktails for Halloween gatherings. Only want one? I’ve got you covered with a single-serve recipe below. You can easily create a pick-your-own-adventure tablescape with different garnishes, like lime wheels, various fruits, candy, and more for a party.

To rim the glasses with sprinkles, I have found the easiest method is to dip the glass in simple syrup and then into a large mound of sprinkles. I’m a big fan of the Fancy Sprinkles Midnight Fancy Sugar for this cocktail, but any black sugar sprinkles should do.

SINGLE SERVE INGREDIENTS

• .75 oz. Dark Cherry Shrub (or to taste)
• .75 oz. Lime juice
• 2 oz. Crystal Head Onyx
• .25 tsp. Black edible glitter or
• 2-3 drops Black food coloring
• 2-4 oz. Ginger Beer

SINGLE SERVE TOOLS

• Jigger
• Boston Shaker
• Hawthorn Strainer
• Highball Glass

Add everything but ginger beer to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled, about 1 minute. Strain into a sprinkle-rimmed highball filled with pebble ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel, cherry, and mint.

PUNCH INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz. (1 cup) Dark Cherry Shrub
• 8 oz. (1 cup) Lime juice
• Full bottle (750ml) Crystal Head Onyx
• 3 tsp. Black edible glitter or
• 24 drops Black food coloring
• 2-3 cans Ginger Beer

PUNCH TOOLS

• Food Safe Cauldron
• Cooking spoon
• Ladle
• Highball Glass

Add everything to a large pitcher (or food-safe cauldron) and stir well. To serve, pour into a sprinkle-rimmed highball filled with pebble ice. Let guests garnish as desired. Serves 12.

DARK CHERRY SHRUB INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Dark Cherries, pitted, de-stemmed, and muddled
• 1 cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 cup Turbinado Sugar
• 2-3 sprigs Fresh tarragon, de-stemmed
• 1 tsp. Black peppercorns, whole

SHRUB TOOLS

• Medium saucepan
• Cooking spoon
• Fine mesh strainer
• Glass jar

For a quick method, make a simple syrup by adding everything to a pot over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Let cool, strain into a glass jar, and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

For the slow (preferred) method, add everything into a glass jar and stir. Seal and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Place in the refrigerator, giving it a shake every so often, for two weeks. Let it refrigerate until the sugar is fully dissolved or at least 2-3 days. The cold method shrub can last up to 6 months refrigerated.

MORE WICKED DELIGHTS

Want more spellbinding cocktails? We have even more charming concoctions in our Recipe Collection! Try the BACARDÍ Blood Moon if you’re feeling vampy or the Harridan Vodka Dragon’s Blood if you want to breathe fire. The Catrina featuring Casa Dragones is the perfect transitional cocktail between Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations that start November 1. If you’re more of a fall festival kind of person, that’s quite alright too! Find all the fall cocktails you could want in our Fall Collection.

Whatever bewitching cocktail you craft for this ominous holiday, don’t forget to tag #ReserveBar in your social posts.