SPIRITED!
Scare up some Halloween cocktails
This Halloween, area mixologists are putting the b-b-b-boo in boozy with positively “defrightful” cocktails. And they’re sharing those howl-raising recipes, so you too can get in the spirit — starting with a Blood Orange Margarita.
“It’s a really fresh-tasting drink. A lot of people like it,” said Perry “PJ” Dortone of PJ Bartending in Broomall. “The Blood Orange Margarita is popular not just for Halloween, but for fall in general.”
Other favorites include an Almond Joy Martini and Witches’ Brew, a wickedly good concoction of coconut rum, cranberry, pineapple and 7-Up.
“It’s a spin on a Malibu Bay Breeze,” he described. “The 7-Up helps enhance the taste” and lends some sparkle to the cauldron.
Hang around for a spell at The Butcher & Barkeep in Harleysville, serving a bewitching, cloudy-topped drink dubbed The Second Sip.
“The flavor profile will slightly change as you are enjoying it while remaining clean and crisp,” explained bartender Jessie Minnick. “It features a fantastic local gin from Boardroom Sprits, located in Lansdale, and would make a great conversation piece at anyone’s Halloween party!”
So will a Spider’s Den, starring probiotic-packed kombucha, pumpkin puree, shaved chocolate and star anise “spiders.”
“Halloween is all about garnishes. You can really do anything and give it a creepy name,” said Olga Sorzano of Baba’s Brew and A Culture Factory in Phoenixville. “The glass itself can make a huge difference, or you can drink out of a pumpkin.”
Skip the shot of dark rum or bourbon, and it’s a monstrously healthy mocktail for non-drinkers and pint-sized spooks alike.
“My kids will be super-duper delighted about that,” she added.
After all, even little ghouls just want to have fun.