We’re always looking for reasons to enjoy new and weird cocktails. October gives us more than enough reason to indulge in spooktacular drinks. Today I am sharing with you my suggestions for some Halloween-inspired drinks to try over the weekend. Even though South-Africans do not participate in the American “holiday”, in recent years we’ve taken a liking to dressing up and grabbing the latest in American-consumerism merchandise that celebrate the weird, freaky and spooky.
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Let me know how your cocktails turned out, and which haunting visit you enjoyed most.
DEATH BY ROSE
Ingredients:
30ml Rosé wine
30ml Gin
30ml Thyme Simple Syrup
Top up with Rose Tonic Water
For the Thyme Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup Sugar
4-5 sprigs Thyme
Method:
Combine rosé, gin & simple syrup, in an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds.
Strain in to an ice filled cocktail glass and up with tonic. Garnish with fresh thyme and skewered cranberries.
For the thyme simple syrup:
Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Swirl pan until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add thyme. Allow to steep at least 20 minutes. Strain and store in refrigerator.
FLAMING DRAGON’S BREATH
Ingredients:
30ml Lime Juice
60ml Gin
100ml Pineapple Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Activated Charcoal
30ml Soda Water
Method:
Combine your gin of choice, lime juice, pineapple juice and activated charcoal in an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds.
Strain in to an ice filled cocktail glass and up with soda water.
Garnish with dried pineapple slice.
For the flame:
In a tot measure, add a shot of vodka and set alight.
Pour the Flaming shot into the glass, as the flame burns. Sprinkle powdered Cinnamon on top of flame for sparks.
SWAMP THANG
Ingredients:
60ml Vodka
15ml Lime Juice
1 barspoon Creme de Mente
*Foam
15ml Basil Simple Syrup
1 Egg White
Juice from 1 Lime
Method:
Combine the Vodka, lime juice and Crème de Menthe in a shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and strain into chilled glass.
Top with foam and enjoy.
*Basil Foam
Simple syrup: Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan and boil until halfway reduced. Add handful of basil to warm liquid and let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain the leaves from the liquid and set aside to cool.
For the foam: Combine the foam ingredients and mix with immersion blender until egg is completely incorporated. Pour into ISI charger (spuma gun), charge twice and allow 45 minutes to set in fridge. The foam has a 24-hour shelf life.
POISONED ORCHARD
Ingredients:
30ml Dark Rum
200ml Ginger Beer
50ml Apple/Orange Juice
Ice cubes
Grenadine
Garnish: Oven-dried orange/apple slice
Method:
Chill glass and pour rum, juice and ginger beer over ice cubes.
Garnish with drizzle of grenadine and fruit crisp.
ohmyfeastSA 