It’s amazing what a little creative presentation can do, right? Case in point: check out how clever garnishes like licorice wheels, chili peppers, cherries, and pickled beets can turn rather innocent-looking cocktails into something truly SPOOKTACULAR for Halloween! Which concoction looks most tempting to you?

BLACK WIDOW

via Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate

You’ll need:

• 5 oz black vodka such as Blavod (or vodka + black food coloring)
• 1/2 oz Pernod
• Sugar Spiderweb (recipe at bottom)
• Licorice Spider (recipe at bottom – or just use a gummy spider!)

---

Instructions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
2. Add black vodka and Pernod.
3. Shake vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds.
4. Strain into a cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with Sugar Spiderweb and Licorice Spider, if desired. (P.S. Check out another Black Widow Martini recipe with a black raspberry kick right here!)

VAMPIRE’S PUNCH

by Alex Straus, Suite 700 at the Hotel Shangri-La

You’ll need:

• 18 oz. SKYY Infusions Cherry
• 8 oz. Lime Juice
• 6 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 2.5 oz. Grenadine
• lemon-lime soda
• Fresh cherries, pits removed

---

Instructions:

1. Wash and remove pits and stems from fresh cherries, and muddle in cocktail shaker.
2. Combine the rest of the ingredients except 7UP in bowl and stir.
3. Top with lemon-lime soda and muddled cherries. (Serves 12)

CANDY CORN COCKTAIL

by Alex Straus, Suite 700 at the Hotel Shangri-La

You’ll need:

• 2 oz. SKYY Infusions Pineapple
• 1.5 oz. Orange Sherbet, softened
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz. Milk
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup

---

Instructions:

1. Combine SKYY Infusions Pineapple and pineapple juice in cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Strain over fresh ice into a clear Collins glass.
3. Combine softened orange sherbet and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
4. Strain, and pour over bar spoon to layer in the rocks glass.
5. Then, combine simple syrup and milk in cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
6. Layer milk mixture on top of sorbet mixture.

Horny Devils

via Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate

You’ll need:

• 1 (64-oz) bottle tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp hot sauce
• 2 tsp celery salt
• 3 cups black vodka, divided
• garnish: serrano chili peppers

---

Instructions:

1. In a 2-quart pitcher, combine tomato vegetable juice cocktail, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and celery salt.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
3. Add 3/4 cup tomato juice mixture.
4. Shake vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds.
5. Strain into a cocktail glass.
6. Pour 1/4 cup black vodka over the back of a spoon so that vodka runs down side of glass and floats on top of tomato juice mixture.
7. Repeat procedure for each serving.
8. Garnish rim of glass with chili peppers. (Serves 12)

BLEEDING HEART, GRAPE PUNCH, & BLACK LAGOON

from Martha Stewart’s Spirited Celebrations (Halloween 2009)

• Black Lagoon: a lemony vodka libation garnished with black ice cubes and a licorice stick
• Spiked Concord Grape Punch: this one’s spiced AND spiked!
• Bleeding Heart: a martini with a pickled beet that “bleeds” from a wound caused by a cocktail spear.

PINA GHOULADAS WIT SPEARED EYEBALL GARNISH

via HWTM – full recipe right here

WITCH’S BREW MOCKTAIL

via Farenheit 350º – full recipe right here
(Just add vodka to turn this into an adult cocktail!)

SUGAR SPIDERWEB GARNISH

via Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate

You’ll need:

• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 1/3-cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup water

---

Instructions:

1. Spray 2 large sheets of parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water; cook over medium-high heat, occasionally brushing down sides with water to prevent crystallization. Continue until mixture reaches 320º on a candy thermometer.
3. Remove from heat. Working quickly, drizzle caramel with a spoon onto prepared parchment paper, forming spiderwebs. Cool completely or until set.
4. Using a small offset spatula, carefully remove web from parchment paper, and place on top of glass.

LICORICE SPIDER GARNISH

via Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate

You’ll need:

• 1 black licorice wheel

---

Instructions:

1. Unroll a 9-inch strip from licorice wheel*. Using kitchen shears, cut strip in half lengthwise along scored line. Cut each strip into 3 (3-inch) pieces, creating 6 legs. Reserve remaining part of licorice wheel for spider body.
2. On a flat surface, place licorice wheel. Using tweezers, insert 6 strips in center of reserved licorice wheel, bending strips to form spider legs. Carefully place Licorice Spider on top of Sugar Spiderweb. Serve immediately.

*Look for licorice wheels at Whole Foods Market.

*****