Drink recipes for Halloween

October 15, 1:32 PMPhoenix Drinks ExaminerMark Nothaft

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I'm sure by now you've noticed that Halloween is on a Saturday this year. Yes! Now we can go bump in the night later than usual without worrying about work or getting the kids off to school the next day.

We have a fun tradition in our neighborhood of having the moms take the kids around trick-or-treating, while the dads hang out, pass out candy and sip a few dark and brooding wines or ghoulish cocktails. I usually alternate between wine and cocktails each year, and this year it's time for "evil potions."

Another neighbor inspired me to take the drinks a step further; she drops dry ice into punch bowls at different parties, and I'm thinking of placing some in a pitcher of some sort of flavored martinis. Something red or green to heighten the "spooky" effect.

Anyhow, I spent some time experimenting with different juices and elixirs to work up some potential potions for our Halloween shindig. It's time to release your inner child and bark at the moon.

GREEN GOBLIN
(large format)
16 ounces citrus vodka
8 ounces Midori melon liqueur
32 ounces white cranberry juice
Honeydew melon and maraschino cherries for garnish
Dry ice (optional)
Preparation (cocktail): Combine vodka, liqueur and juice into a glass pitcher, fill rest with ice and stir. Drop in small chunk of dry ice for foggy affect. Preparation (garnish): Using a melon-baller, scoop out balls of melon. Cut a hole in the center with the tip of a vegetable peeler and stuff with maraschino cherry.

WITCHES BREW
Brut champagne or sparkling wine
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce black raspberry liqueur such as Chambord
Blackberries for garnish
Preparation: Fill a double old fashioned glass with ice and add vodka and raspberry liqueur. Top with champagne and stir. Garnish with blackberry.

CASPER'S COCKTAIL
1 ounce white chocolate vodka such as Van Gogh
1 ounce espresso vodka
1 ounce vanilla vodka
5 ounces of milk
Plastic black spider for garnish
Preparation: Combine vodkas and milk into a shaker with ice and stir until very cold. Shaking will cause bubbles. Strain into martini glasses and garnish with spider or drop into bottom of glass for a real surprise for your guests.

VAMPIRE JUICE
3 ounces citrus vodka
5 ounces tomato juice
1/2 teaspoon fresh horseradish
Splash of Worcestershire sauce
Splash of Tabasco hot sauce
Radishes and green olives for eyeball garnishes
Preparation (cocktail): Combine other ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into highball or collins glass and drop in two eyeball ice cube garnishes.
Preparation (garnish): Wash and trim up some large radishes. Peel radishes but leave some red streaks for the appearance of blood vessels in an eye. Carve out a hole with the tip of a vegetable peeler large enough to hold an olive. Place in green olive, pimento-side out. Place in ice cube tray, cover with water and freeze overnight.

BLOOD ORANGE MARTINI
2 ounces citrus vodka vodka
1 ounce clear orange liqueur such as Cointreau
2 ounces fresh squeezed blood orange juice
1 ounce cranberry juice
Blood oranges for garnish
Preparation: Combine vodka, orange liqueur and juices into a shaker with ice and shake until very cold. Strain into martini glass and garnish with a blood orange slice.