This Sparkling Blackberry Smash is dark and mysterious with Blavod black vodka, Crème de Mûre (blackberry liqueur), and Rosé Prosecco but it’s the skull glass that really brings the Halloween spirit. This cocktail is also delicious and would be great all year round!
I won’t mention this year that I’m not a huge fan of Halloween…ooops, nevermind. No big reason, just not my thing. I cannot stand scary movies and maybe the worst part of it is that I find orange offensive and especially hate it with black…what is wrong with me? That’s why for this year I decided to make this Sparkling Blackberry Smash Cocktail for Halloween.
I’ve made some cupcakes and cookies that work but you will NEVER find me eating foods that look like fingers or worms or bugs…I grimace just writing that! And yes, I’ll probably say the same thing next year, I’m redundant that way. So of course without the requisite orange business I have to go the path of red and that’s easier with a cocktail. And the best thing about a cocktail is that even though I’ve found this fabulous glass with a skull, the drink actually works all year round.
It’s vodka and Crème de Mûre (blackberry liqueur) with some sparkling wine…a lovely drink really, with or without a skull! If you want to give it a try and find the Crème de Mûre difficult to source, substitute with Crème de Cassis made from blackcurrants which is close and a standard substitution for blackberry liqueur. I wish I had completed it before I posted this but I’m also making my own Blackberry Liqueur that I’ll share soon. It is SO good and worthy of gifts for the holiday season. Soon…very soon.
Ghost in the Graveyard: Vodka, Kahlua and Vanilla Ice Cream
I’ve made other cocktails using dry ice including the Ghost in the Graveyard from last year and the effect is fun; as a matter fact I’m working on another one that is a Halloween margarita that I’ll publish next week. Like I said, not big on Halloween food but love fiddling with spooky cloud enveloped cocktails!
I could have included the instructions for dry ice in the recipe but I did not. Here’s the deal. Dry ice can create a fun look for photos but it’s also impractical for cocktails like this. Smashing the ice into particles that are small enough to work in a cocktail means it melts more quickly too so trying to make several cocktails and serve them with the smoky effect is next to impossible. Heck keeping enough of the look for a good photo was hard!
Notes on Dry Ice
- Dry ice is solid CO2 gas and it goes straight from solid to gas without a liquid phase in the middle (this is called sublimation).
- The smoke effect you see here is the solid dry ice evaporating.
- If you do choose to use it for individual servings, you have to wait until the smoke effect stops, because then you know the dry ice has completely evaporated, and the drink is now completely safe to imbibe; even then it may be TOO cold so test carefully.
- Try to buy the smallest pieces available and then cover the bag with a dish towel and crush it with the flat side of a meat mallet. ALWAYS wear gloves when handling dry ice.
- ALWAYS use gloves when handling dry ice. Never touch it with bare hands. Make sure dry ice is used in a ventilated space. In a party setting, make sure the cocktails are used in an open setting to avoid CO2 build up.
If I were doing this for a party? I would combine the ingredients into a punch bowl with a large piece of the dry ice and have the same effect, but not for individual portions. Win-win.
Sparkling Blackberry Smash Cocktail for Halloween
Blackberries, Vodka, Creme de Muir, and Prosecco are muddled to create a dark and mysterious cocktail for Halloween that you can actually enjoy all year round!
Ingredients
- 12 Fresh blackberries
- 4 oz Vodka (See Notes)
- 2 ozs Crème de Mûre Blackberry Liqueur (Substitute Crème de Cassis if desired)
- 1.5 tablespoons agave nectar (taste for sweetness which will be dependent on your blackberries)
- Juice of 1 lime
- Prosecco (or any sparkling wine), chilled (I used an inexpensive bottle of Rosè sparkling Wine from Costco)
For Garnish
- Blackberries and Raspberries
Instructions
- Muddle the blackberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and add vodka, Creme de Muir, agave nectar and lime juice.
- Add the top to the shaker, and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds until ice cold.
- Add ice to a low-ball glass, pour mixture over ice and top with Prosecco.
- Garnish with blackberries and raspberries.
Notes
I used Blavod Vodka which is considered 'black vodka' but is really more a deep burgundy. Yes it makes the drink darker and no, I don't think it's necessary. It's a novelty for Halloween but also a bit pricey for a mediocre vodka used more for effect.
Nutrition Information
Yield
2Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 321Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 6mgCarbohydrates 28gFiber 2gSugar 22gProtein 1g
I have to admit I’m with you about halloween, to me, I just don’t care and also not really into orange, scary movies are tedious too, but I love your cocktail, even the glass since I don’t mind skull and crossbones! The others too!
So good to know! When someone tells me it’s their favorite holiday I’m like what??? Give me Christmas, I go nuts enough for Christmas to make up for all the others!
Good drink. Great photos. That was a tough shoot — you had a lot going on. I’ve never played with dry ice — and if I ever do, I think I’d do the punch bowl route. MUCH easier and safer! 🙂 Fun post — thanks.
I’m going to try another one this weekend; a different technique I guess to see if I can get it to billow more and need me less. 🙂
Sharing on the Weekend Edit at Everyday Edits dot co.
I live outside of Denver too! laura
Thanks…and good to meet you Laura!