This dramatic cocktail offers a sophisticated opportunity to celebrate Halloween (Samhain) or just show how a hint of magic can brighten any social occasion.
Ingredients[]
- 1 oz (30 ml) Vodka [1]
- 1 oz (30 ml) Triple Sec
- 1 oz (30 ml) Blue Curaçao
- Lime juice from one lime
- "Witch's Sugar" for rim (See below)
- Dry ice pellets (for garnish)
Directions[]
- Rim a chilled cocktail glass with "Witch's Sugar"
- Combine vodka, Triple Sec and Curacao in a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake well to chill
- Strain into rimmed cocktail glass
- Add a small pellet (or fraction thereof) of dry ice as garnish to produce a spooky fog [2]
- Serve immediately
Witch's Sugar[]
"Witch's sugar" is simply nothing more than black-colored granulated sugar with added flavoring. Its use is not only visual, but adds to the drama, as described below.
Making Witch's Sugar[]
Ingredients[]
- 1/2 cup (8 oz / 240 g) granulated white sugar
- 2-3 drops of black food coloring
- 2-3 drops of flavored extract (anise, mint, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, vanilla, almond, coffee, or banana are recommended, though any extract may be used)
Directions[]
- Combine the ingredients in a zip-lock bag
- Knead and shake bag to combine the ingredients and break up any lumps that form
- If not black enough, add 1-2 additional drops of food coloring and repeat the shake-and-knead
- Spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet and break up any remaining lumps
- Allow to dry thoroughly, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sift or press through sieve to return sugar to its original texture, if needed.
How to Use[]
The drama of this cocktail does not come from the fog, but from this trick: Prepare more than one batch of "witch's sugar", each with a different and contrasting extract (for example, anise, coffee and pumpkin spice).
When preparing several with's brew cocktails at the same time, rim each cocktail glass with a different-flavored sugar without being seen by the guests! (Under the bar, on the back bar, or even ahead of time.) Then prepare all the cocktails at one time from a single shaker in full view of the guests.
If the sugars are correct in their proportions, each drink will have subtle undertones of the sugars, with each guest having a different-flavored drink, yet they all saw the drinks prepared the same!
Uttering magical-sounding nonsense while shaking and pouring adds to the drama.