Witches Brew: A Hauntingly Good Cocktail for Your Halloween Party
Conjure up a cocktail that’s enchantingly delicious
Halloween isn’t just about costumes, haunted houses, and candy—it’s also the perfect occasion to showcase some bewitchingly boozy cocktails. If you’re searching for a drink that’s as eerie as it is delightful, look no further than the Witches Brew. This bright green potion is a spooky twist on a classic party punch, ideal for serving at your Halloween gathering. A word of caution, though: with its vibrant color and magical kick, Midori melon liqueur by itself tastes like the expired NyQuil you found in your grandmother’s medicine cabinet. HOWEVER, get these ratios right and you’ll end up serving your guests a wickedly delicious potion.
The Recipe
What’s in a Witches Brew?
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur: Provides the signature green hue and a “melon” flavor.
- 1 oz Vodka or Gin: Adds a smooth kick; choose gin for botanical notes or vodka for a cleaner taste.
- 1 oz Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed for optimal flavor.
- 1 oz Simple Syrup: Balances the tartness with a touch of sweet; it is Halloween after all.
- ½ oz Lemon Juice: Adds some sour citrus.
- Soda Water: Top it off with soda water.
- Ice: For serving.
- Garnish: Lime slice, lemon twist, or Halloween-themed candies like gummy worms. Everyone loves gummy worms
- Alternative: Swap Sprite for the lime juice lemon juice, and simple syrup if you're looking for a quicker mix.
Instructions
- Prepare Your glass: Fill a glass, mason jar, or Solo Cup with ice.
- Combine your Ingredients: Pour all the ingredients with the exception of the soda water into your glass. Give it a stir.
- Add the Fizz: Top off with soda water for a light fizz.
- Garnish: Garnish with a slice of lime or a lemon twist. Or get really creative and throw in gummy worms and gummy spiders, or a few candy eyeballs.
Notes
- Midori Melon Liqueur: 1 ½ cups
- Vodka or Gin: 1 ½ cups
- Lime Juice: 1 ½ cups
- Lemon Juice: ¾ cup
- Simple Syrup: 1 ½ cups
- Soda Water or Lemon-Lime Soda: 1 liter
- Optional: If you’d like, use one liter of Sprite rather than the simple syrup, lemon and lime.
- Ice: Consider freezing with gummy worms or spiders for sh*ts and giggles.
- Garnish: Slices of citrus and gummy candies
What Is Midori Melon Liqueur?
Before we stir our cauldron, let’s talk about the star ingredient—Midori. This vibrant green melon liqueur originates from Japan and was introduced by the Suntory company in 1978, making its debut in the United States at the iconic Studio 54 nightclub in New York City. The name “Midori” means “green” in Japanese, aptly reflecting its striking color. And they introduced it at Studio54 because everyone had to be coked out of their minds to drink it straight.
Midori is crafted using two types of Japanese melons:
- Yubari Melon: Often referred to as the “King of Melons,” it’s prized for its rich sweetness.
- Musk Melon: Known for its delicate flavor and aromatic qualities.
At 20% ABV, Midori is a bright liqueur that adds a burst of high-octane melon flavor to your cocktail. Its flavor profile and eye-catching color make it a popular choice for creative cocktails, especially those aiming for the neon green look.
Looking for more wickedly good drink ideas? Check out our recipes for:
A Brief History of Halloween Cocktails
The tradition of festive drinks dates back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, where communal brews were shared to honor the harvest and ward off evil spirits, which is pretty damn cool. Today, instead of drinking fermented goat’s milk, we’d much rather throw back some large-batch pitchers of Halloween cocktails like the Witches Brew, which does a terrible job of warding off evil spirits but does a fantastic job of keeping lame parties at bay.
A Potion Worth Brewing
No kidding, this is your final warning. Don’t do a shot of Midori! Just kidding, we double-dare you to drink it. Go ahead, it’ll be awesome. BUT, if the flavor of old NyQuil is not your bag, and you’re still looking for a neon green cocktail, the Witches Brew is your go-to. With Midori bringing the neon melon magic and gin adding just the right amount of bite, this punch is sure to cast a spell over your Halloween party.
Tried the Witches Brew? Hit us up and let us know #BarWarriors and #WitchesBrew.
Happy Halloween!
ok, I thought the seltzer/sprite ratios were off, but then I made a batch and realized why I hadn’t drank a midori sour since college black out days. Defnitely needs to be diluted.