CHEERS! Scare up some Halloween cocktails

A spooky mug adds drama to this Cachaça Zombie.
A spooky mug adds drama to this Cachaça Zombie. Photo courtesy of Novo Fogo Cachaça
Double, double toil and trouble! Serve Witches’ Brew in a glass, punch bowl or cauldron.
Double, double toil and trouble! Serve Witches’ Brew in a glass, punch bowl or cauldron. PHOTO BY EMILY RYAN

ALL YOU ZOMBIES…

Try two more “terror-ific” drinks from bartenders across the country: the Cachaça Zombie and the Amazombie… as in Amazon. It’s a cocktail in a box.

Amazombie

Ingredients

1 ounce Novo Fogo Tanager

¾ ounce Novo Fogo Silver

½ ounce Novo Fogo Chameleon

¾ ounce lime juice

¼ ounce grapefruit juice

¼ ounce cinnamon syrup

½ ounce falernum

6 dashes açai “grenadine”

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 dash absinthe

Instructions

Note: Açai grenadine is equal parts acai juice and sugar, simmered and well strained. Add ½ ounce Novo Fogo Chameleon Cachaça and a dash of orange flower water.

RECIPE COURTESY OF KATE PERRY FROM RUMBA IN SEATTLE

Cachaça Zombie

Ingredients

1 ounce Novo Fogo Chameleon Cachaça

1 ounce Novo Fogo Tanager Cachaça

¼ ounce Giffard triple sec

¾ ounce lime juice

½ ounce orange juice

½ ounce passionfruit syrup

1 dash Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters

1 dash absinthe

Instructions

Shake and pour over crushed ice into a mug.

RECIPE COURTESY OF JANE DANGER FROM MOTHER OF PEARL IN NYC

This Halloween, area mixologists are putting the b-b-b-boo in boozy with positively “defrightful” cocktails. And they’re sharing those howl-raising recipes, so you too can get in the spirit — starting with a Blood Orange Margarita.

“It’s a really fresh-tasting drink. A lot of people like it,” said Perry “PJ” Dortone of PJ Bartending in Broomall. “The Blood Orange Margarita is popular not just for Halloween, but for fall in general.”

Other favorites include an Almond Joy Martini and Witches’ Brew, a wickedly good concoction of coconut rum, cranberry, pineapple and 7-Up.

“It’s a spin on a Malibu Bay Breeze,” he described. “The 7-Up helps enhance the taste” and lends some sparkle to the cauldron.

Advertisement

Hang around for a spell at The Butcher & Barkeep in Harleysville, serving a bewitching, cloudy-topped drink dubbed The Second Sip.

“The flavor profile will slightly change as you are enjoying it while remaining clean and crisp,” explained bartender Jessie Minnick. “It features a fantastic local gin from Boardroom Sprits, located in Lansdale, and would make a great conversation piece at anyone’s Halloween party!”

So will a Spider’s Den, starring probiotic-packed kombucha, pumpkin puree, shaved chocolate and star anise “spiders.”

“Halloween is all about garnishes. You can really do anything and give it a creepy name,” said Olga Sorzano of Baba’s Brew and A Culture Factory in Phoenixville. “The glass itself can make a huge difference, or you can drink out of a pumpkin.”

Skip the shot of dark rum or bourbon, and it’s a monstrously healthy mocktail for non-drinkers and pint-sized spooks alike.

“My kids will be super-duper delighted about that,” she added.

After all, even little ghouls just want to have fun.

Almond Joy Martini

Ingredients

1 ounce Three Olives chocolate vodka

1 ounce Frangelico

1 ounce Malibu coconut rum

Instructions

Put ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an Almond Joy.

RECIPE COURTESY OF PJ BARTENDING

Blood Orange Margarita

Ingredients

3 ounces blood orange juice

½ ounce Cointreau or triple sec

¾ ounce lime juice

2 ounces tequila

½ ounce simple syrup

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake. De-lid the shaker and pour into margarita glass, including ice. Garnish with a slice of blood orange. Can rim glass with salt if desired.

RECIPE COURTESY OF PJ BARTENDING

Witches’ Brew

Ingredients

1½ ounces Malibu coconut rum

1 ounce cranberry juice

1 ounce pineapple juice

2 ounces 7-Up

Instructions

Combine rum and juices in a shaker with ice. Shake. De-lid the shaker and pour into a highball glass, including ice. Top with 2 ounces of 7-Up. Don’t shake with 7-Up!

RECIPE COURTESY OF PJ BARTENDING

The Second Sip

The cocktail will be layered with purple on the bottom and a cloudy mix toward the top. A very fun and festive cocktail for any Halloween party!

Ingredients

In a shaker add:

2 ounces Boardroom Gin

¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ ounce elderflower liqueur

½ ounce simple syrup

In a rocks or highball glass add:

½ ounce Crème Yvette or another violet liqueur

Large ice cube

Instructions

Shake first set of ingredients well with fresh ice. Double strain mix from shaker into glass. Top with a lime peel.

RECIPE COURTESY OF THE BUTCHER & BARKEEP

Spider’s Den

Ingredients

1 bottle Asian Pear Ginger, Spiced Apple or Rosy Apple Kombucha

½ cup pumpkin puree

3 tablespoon maple syrup or brown sugar

A pinch of cinnamon

Star anise for decoration

Shaved chocolate for decoration

Instructions

In the bowl, gently mix kombucha with pumpkin puree, sugar and cinnamon until well incorporated. Rim your glass with shaved chocolate and carefully pour pumpkin kombucha concoction in it.

Optional: Dark rum or bourbon (1 or 2 shots) would make a delicious, adult-friendly cocktail with subtle caramel notes.

RECIPE COURTESY OF BABA’S BREW

Subscribe to Home Delivery for only $2.50 per week!