Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, the usual excuse of a school party is absent. This also means you have about four days to turn your bar cart into something slightly sinister.
The good news is that the scary part is mostly related to decorations and good lighting. Below are six drinks that look worse than they actually are.
The first option has a blood-red hue from a distance but looks beautifully pink up close. You need to pour 50 ml of vodka or gin over ice, add 30 ml of pomegranate juice, and top it off with Peach & Lids Pink Tonic. This tonic gives the drink a floral, cucumber note, making it look dangerous yet reminiscent of a garden party. Finish by garnishing with one or two pomegranate seeds.
A classic gin and tonic can be made using Peach & Lids Indian Tonic, then add 15 ml of blackberry liqueur and drop in a few blackberries. The liqueur settles as a dark spot at the bottom, perfectly mimicking the behavior of a black cat near furniture.
To make the third drink, whisk 50 ml of vodka with 30 ml of apple juice and a little lime, strain over ice, and top with Peach & Lids Bitter Lemon. The acidity of the lemon prevents the apple from being overly sweet. Garnish it with a slice of green apple and a sprig of rosemary, which can serve as a witch's branch of your choice.
For the fourth cocktail, rim the glass with chili salt, fill with ice, add 50 ml of tequila and a little lime. Top with Peach & Lids Grapefruit Tonic, whose bright, slightly bitter taste pairs excellently with tequila. To create a crime scene effect, drizzle a little grenadine around the rim of the glass.
The fifth drink is made by whipping 50 ml of gin, 25 ml of lemon juice, and 15 ml of simple syrup with egg white (or aquafaba) until foamy. Then, strain the mixture into a glass and top up with sparkling water. This results in a pale, frothy ghost floating on top. If you want theatricality, you can add a drop of bitters to the foam to create eyes.
For a sufficiently gruesome drink, prepare a beverage from fresh mint, muddled with lime cordial, add ice, and top with Peach & Lids Bitter Lemon. It is served murky green, garnished with a gelatinous worm hanging on the rim for full effect.
A few good mixing ingredients, a bit of theatrical flair—and your Halloween plans are set.