Friends of Empress 1908
Six Halloween Cocktails to Create for the Witching Hour!
It’s time to get spooky with Empress 1908!
Scary movies, eclectic costumes, horrifying decorations, and most importantly – candy! Halloween is coming up quick, which also means ghoulish parties that need their own fun cocktails! Our creator friends have made some delightfully eerie sips for you to mix up for the occasion. Whether you’re having a grand masquerade with a crowd or keeping it low-key by turning off the lights and putting on a cheesy horror flick, we’ll have you covered for your spine-chilling sipping needs!
Ready to conjure up some cocktails? Jump to the recipes ahead…if you dare!
- Schwarzwald Martini
- Invasion of the Tini Snatchers
- Black Magic
- Midnight Bramble
- Midnight Club
- Pumpkin Flip
1. Schwarzwald Martini
We’ll start mysterious with this dark and spirit-forward delight by @gourmetglow! Inspired by the eponymous mountain range in Germany, this tipple features notes of chocolate and cherries and brings us right into the woods with a finish of herbal and sharp spruce and anise. It’s like an elegant black forest cake in a glass!
Ingredients
- 35 ml Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 20 ml Maraschino Liqueur
- 15 ml White Crème de Cacao
- 5 ml Spruce Syrup*
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
- Chocolate-Dipped Figs and Edible Glitter, for garnish
- 200g Caster Sugar
- 100g Spruce Tips
Method
Add the gin, crème de cacao, maraschino liqueur, spruce syrup and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30 seconds to chill and dilute then strain into a chilled martini glass. Serve garnished with a chocolate dipped half fig and edible glitter.
*To make the spruce syrup, add a small layer of sugar in the base of a jar, followed by a layer of spruce tips. Continue layering until all are used up. Seal and place on a sunny windowsill for 2 weeks until a syrup forms, invert the jar daily. Strain out the solids and store the syrup in the fridge.
2. Invasion of the Tini Snatchers
@cheerstohappyhour adds some sci-fi flair with this Halloween take on the freezer door martini! Tangy, zingy, and ice-cold; make this for a party to share and you just might be spared by the pod people.
Ingredients
- 420 ml Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 105 ml Limoncello
- ½ tsp Saline Solution (10%)
- 7 drops Citric Acid Solution (25%)
- 154 ml Water
Method
Add all ingredients to a bottle and freeze overnight. Pour the frozen mix into a glass and garnish with an expressed lime twist.
3. Black Magic
Our sorceress, @dawnofthedelicious has concocted this alluring, yet forbidden brew that’ll simply leave you enchanted! With deep sweetness and the enchanting effervescence of champagne, you’ll be beguiled by the effects of this potion’s spell.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 2 oz Concord Grape Juice
- 2 oz Champagne
- 1 oz Blue Curaçao
- Edible Glitter (optional)
Method
Stir all ingredients over ice and pour into a coupe or martini glass. Carefully add a one-inch chunk of dry ice* to make your brew bubble and smoke.
*Handle dry ice with extreme caution. Do not allow it to touch your skin. Use gloves and tongs to add it to your drink and be sure to let the ice melt completely before sipping. Absolutely no chunks should remain in the liquid.
4. Midnight Bramble
If you’re looking for dark flavours to match the blackness of the Halloween sky, look no further than this spooky Bramble twist by @maplechutney. Sharp lime, tangy blackberry, and warm vanilla with a smoky and herbal aroma, you’ll be kept cozy with this cocktail in hand.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- ½ oz Vanilla Syrup
- 1 oz Blackberry Syrup* or Crème de Mûre
- 2-3 Blackberries
- 1 sprig Rosemary, for garnish
Method
Crush the ice and stash it in an ice bag in the freezer while you create your cocktail. Now, grab a shaker and toss in the gin, lime juice, and vanilla syrup. Add ice cubes and give it a good shake for about 10 seconds. Fill a glass ¾ full with the crushed ice and pour the cocktail over the ice. Top up with some more ice and drizzle the blackberry syrup. Lastly, garnish with a blackberry and a smoky sprig of rosemary.
*To make the syrup, combine ⅓ cup Blackberries , ⅓ cup sugar, and zest of 1 lime and let it sit for about 10 minutes to macerate. Blend it until it’s a smooth puree. You can strain it if you want it super smooth.
5. Midnight Club
When gathering to tell scary stories in the dark, you’re gonna want an accompanying cocktail in hand. @sne_dc delivers all with this moody cocktail featuring tangy and earthy notes from a beet and hibiscus syrup balanced perfectly with light botanicals and sweetness from blanc vermouth.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¾ oz Beet-Hibiscus Syrup*
- ½ oz Blanc Vermouth
- Cherry Smoke Bubble & Lemon Twist, for garnish
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice and pour in a coupe. Garnish with a cherry smoke bubble and burst the bubble by expressing lemon oil onto the drink before serving.
*For the beet-hibiscus syrup, seep 2 tsp of hibiscus tea in 4 oz of organic beet juice for about an hour at room temperature. Then strain the liquid through a coffee filter and mix in 4 oz of sugar.
6. Pumpkin Flip
Let’s end off the night with dessert! @skillettoplate brings us this flip with classic fall flavours of rich pumpkin and maple, as well as warming spice to comfort you from any fright. After all, is it really autumn or Halloween without pumpkin?
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Pumpkin Purée
- ½ oz Maple Syrup
- ¼ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 Whole Egg
- Grated Nutmeg, for garnish
Method
In a shaker, combine Empress Indigo Gin, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and a whole egg. Dry shake (without ice) to emulsify the egg. Add ice and shake again vigorously. Strain into a glass and garnish with grated nutmeg.
From ghostly spirit-forward sips to frighteningly vibrant, at least one of these haunted concoctions is calling for your name. If you need some more cocktail ideas for Halloween festivities, check out our article from last year and the one from the year before!
For more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
