October, it’s such a magical time of year. Pumpkins are out, horror movies are on.. it’s totally bewitching!
Two of my favorite holidays happen during this most wonderfully creepy season: Halloween on October 31st and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)– it’s like Halloween, but more prettier (lol) on November 2nd.
Some of you will be hosting parties for your ghastly ghouls and frightening fiends or maybe you just feel like having a hauntingly good cocktail and some creepy crawly treats while bingeing scary flicks, either way I have the perfect combination that will totally put a spell on you!
When the days grow shorter, the nights longer, and the air begins to cool I start to think of two things- candy (because who doesn’t?) and cocktails so I collaborated with Lindsay Lazar mix-master at Neiman Marcus Cafe in Fashion Show to create the perfect cocktail recipe to take you all the way through this creepiest of seasons: Ponche de las Brujas aka Witches Brew.
For me it’s really just one long perfectly spooky costume packed holiday- Hallo-los-Muertos- so when we started to discuss what spirit we would use there was only one real, logical choice: tequila. In this case, a clear, clean, slightly sweet, blanco tequila like Casamigos works perfectly.
To create the ultimate witches brew Lindsay added an easy-to-make homemade Blackberry Simple Syrup, “I like using Blackberries for the syrup because they give the cocktail a great mysterious hue which helps to keep things spooky plus it tastes AMAZING!”
The recipe is a one to one sugar and water combination which you bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and add in blackberries. Let the blackberries steep for about five minutes then muddle them, strain and pour into a jar to cool. (You can make the Simple Syrup up to 2 weeks before your event as long as you keep it in a jar and refrigerate it.)
Put a spell on them….when entertaining the glass you serve the drink in plays a huge role, just like with anything else it’s all about the presentation. This stunning Gothic style vintage inspired smoked glass goblet from Anthropologie creates the perfect “mood” for the drink.
Dust the rim with candied “fairy dust” from Lolli & Pops and then serve with vintage inspired Halloween Cocktail Napkins and Halloween Broomstick Picks from Sur la Table– so cute right!
To dust the rim:
Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of the sugared fairy dust onto a small serving plate.
Cut a lime into quarters.
Then cut a notch or 1/2 slice into one of the quarters
Set the notch on the rim of the glass and slide it until it has wet the rim the way around. By using the notch method you get a little further down the glass then just swiping a lime along the rim. This allows for the sugar to go a bit further down the glass and really make a statement.
Turn the glass upside down and set it onto the plate of sugared fairy dust. Swirl it around like you would a cookie cutter then turn your glass upright and you are ready to pour your drink!
Finally to make it extra creepy garnish with a giant gummy snake! Wrap the snake up the stem of the glass and then perch it’s head on the rim.
What is a Halloween party without some treats? End the night with a sweet touch by giving out adorable, themed goodie bags. These scary/cute sacks from Sur la Table are the perfect size to hold creepy crawly gummy worms, gummy frogs and gummy brains. Wrap them in a piece of parchment paper and then drop them inside. Send your guests home with one, pass them out to trick-r-treaters or bring them along for a ghouls night out!
Did I mention that everything you need to garnish this Spectral Spirit is Available at Fashion Show?
Goblet- Anthropologie
Fairy Dust for Rim- Lolli & Pops
Gummy Snake for Garnish and Gummy Frogs, Brains and Worms for Treat Bags- Lolli & Pops
Cocktail Napkins, Treat Sacks and Witches Broom Picks- Sur la Table
While you are there gathering the ingredients to spell your guests, stop in to Neiman Marcus Cafe to enjoy a custom blended cocktail from Lindsay!
This post was created in partnership with Fashion Show. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
