As October comes to a close, we’re thinking of dark, brooding cocktails to pair with the night. Black cocktails often make an appearance around Halloween, but their allure extends far into the winter. Achieving that deep, dark hue is easy with ingredients like activated charcoal, chocolate bitters, black sesame, and even squid ink. With the right recipe, almost any cocktail can transform into a black cocktail, just in time for Halloween and beyond.
Note: Some of these black cocktail recipes incorporate activated charcoal, which may interact with certain medications.
Black Pumpkin
Purely Halloweeney, this black cocktail incorporates both the colors and flavors of the season.
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 oz water
- 2 oz pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp activated charcoal
- Dash of salt
- 4 oz Joseph Magnus Bourbon Whiskey
- 2 oz apple cider
- Ginger ale to top
Combine the maple syrup, water, pumpkin, spices, salt, and activated charcoal in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until it begins to boil. In two old fashioned glasses, add the cooled pumpkin syrup, Joseph Magnus Bourbon Whiskey, and apple cider. Top with ginger ale.
Black Bowtie Gimlet
This squid ink gimlet perfectly balances the juniper of the gin against the brine of the squid ink.
- 1.5 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin
- .75 oz lime juice
- .75 oz simple syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- 4 drops squid ink
- 2 spritz salt solution
Shake Joseph Magnus District Dry Gin, lime, simple, bitters and ink. Double strain into a chilled coupe, and spritz twice with salt solution.
Find full recipe from Kindred Cocktails and instructions here.
Seven Sisters
Named after the star constellation, this black cocktail is light and elegant–despite its dark shade.
- 1.5 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin
- 1 oz Mathilde Cassis
- .5 Thatcher’s Organic Elderflower Liqueur
- .5 lemon juice
- Egg white
- .5 tsp activated charcoal
In a shaker tin, add Joseph Magnus District Dry Gin, Creme de Cassis, Thatcher’s Organic Elderflower Liqueur, lemon juice, activated charcoal, silver dust powder and egg white and dry shake until well incorporated. Add ice to the shaker and combine until chilled. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass and serve.
Dark Chocolate Manhattan
A rich and sweet cocktail that can be served year round.
- 1 oz Joseph Magnus Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 oz averna amaro
- .5 oz chocolate liqueur
- 3 drops Angostura bitters
Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add all the ingredients and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Black Walnut Old Fashioned
The classic Old Fashioned, made a little bit richer and darker.
- 3 oz Joseph Magnus Bourbon Whiskey
- .5 oz Montenegro Amaro
- .5 oz blood orange juice
- 2 dashes black walnut bitters
- 1 dash cherry bitters
Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes, add all ingredients, cover and shake vigorously for thirty seconds. Fill the Old Fashioned glass almost to the rim with cocktail mixture. Garnish with cherry and blood orange wedge.
Find full recipe from Lila Ruth Grain Free and instructions here.
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