If you are looking for something to sip while the ghouls and goblins, witches and princesses, and dozens of kids like my nephew dressing as a fox, singing “What does the fox say?” visit your front porches this evening looking for treats, consider mixing up one of these tasty combinations, guaranteed to create a spooktacular night. A few spirit selections these were sent for editorial consideration.
Cointreau Apple Crisp
2 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
3 oz. Fresh Apple Cider
Pinch of nutmeg
Directions: Build all ingredients over ice in a highball glass. Stir well and garnish with apple slices.
Trick or Treat-ini
1.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
1 oz Fresh lemon juice
1 oz Pineapple syrup
2 bar spoons Benedictine
2 dashes Peychaud Bitters
Directions: Add ingredients to an ice filled shaker. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Autumn Delight
2 oz. Wild Turkey Spiced
6 oz. Fresh Apple Cider
Directions: Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into glass. Dust rim with cinnamon. Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick. You can also make a hot apple cider version if you prefer.
CRUZ Spook-tini
2 oz Cruz Tequila (this smooth, floral and spice filled, 100% blue agave tequila, a part of the Trinchero family better known for their wines, has recently become available in Texas)
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz agave nectar
2 oz fresh squeezed blood orange juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
Directions: Add all ingredients to an ice filled shaker with a splash of water and shake until chilled. Serve over ice in a martini glass.
Bleeding Berry
2 oz. SKYY Infusions Blood Orange
1 oz. Lime Juice
1 oz. Peach Puree
1/2 oz. Hibiscus Juice
1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
3 Raspberries
Raspberries for garnish
Directions: Muddle Raspberries on the bottom of a rocks glass then add ice. Shake all ingredients, except hibiscus, together in a shaker. Pour over ice and raspberries. Add hibiscus juice to “bleed” through cocktail.
Kilbeggan Masquerade Mixer
2 parts Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
1/2 part DeKuyper Mixologist Series Ginger Liqueur (or Domaine de Canton)
1 part Fresh Apple Juice
1 part Fresh Lemon Sour
Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a red and orange sugar rimmed cocktail glass.
Spider Venom
1 oz Tarantula 100 Plata tequila
0.5 oz Raspberry puree
0.5 oz Fresh lime juice
1 oz Tarantula Azul
Shake all ingredients except the Tarantula Azul with ice and serve in shot glass; then layer the Tarantula Azul on top.
JacKu-Lantern
3 ounces TY KU Coconut Sake
.5 ounces Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
Ground cinnamon and a cinnamon stick garnish
Directions: Shake the sake, liqueur and a dash of cinnamon together in an ice filled shaker; strain into a martini glass and serve with a cinnamon stick.
Ruffino Elisir Magico
6 oz Ruffino Moscato d’Asti
.5 oz Nux Alpina Black Walnut Liqueur
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Directions: Add Black Walnut Liqueur and bitters into a wine glass over ice. Top with 6 oz of Ruffino Moscato d’Asti. Serve in a wine glass with an orange twist.
