Get ready for shorter days and longer, spookier nights with the creepy and delicious Witches’ Brew.
My walks through the local woods in the early evenings were always pleasant, leisurely affairs during the summer. The sun was still high enough that beams of golden light shone through the full, lush foliage. The late days were warm, with a cool evening breeze racing gently past. These daily excursions after an early dinner became my favorite part of the day. Even when it rained, the drops were so light, sparse and refreshing that they couldn’t dissuade me.
But now, the summer is over. The leaves have fallen off the trees, making their limbs appear bare, gnarled and monstrous. The sun is fleeing earlier and faster with each passing day, almost as if it fears the oncoming night. The wind is now cold, with a bite that cuts through the comfiest of sweaters. And the rain is no longer warm and gentle, but a freezing patter that brings with it a thick, weighty fog. Not even the bravest souls traverse these woods when the summer months bid farewell and the spooky season begins. They know who lives in them, and speak of this “witch” in hushed tones.
One afternoon, while the weather was still clement, I had decided to take one of my constitutionals. It was a nice day for a light sweater, or a cardigan, so I donned one and took to the woods. This particular day felt odd, as my normal path was suddenly too winding and overgrown. Had I taken a wrong turn? Maybe I wasn’t paying attention. I’ve walked this route so many times I was running on autopilot. Before I realized what had happened, I was completely and utterly lost. And it was getting dark, fast.
My pace had quickened, as did my pulse. Wolves howled in the distance, owls hooted overhead… and I swore I heard footsteps behind my own, with a heavy breathing that followed. Not wanting to panic, and not really being able to see through the moonlit mist, my gait had doubled to a quick, hip-swaying sashay. I kept one eye down on the path and the other on the lookout for thorny branches that would thwack me in the face. I was getting thwacked a lot.
Suddenly, I burst into a clearing. The moon was bright above me, illuminating a rustic little cabin with slightly askew architecture sitting at its center. My blood froze… Here was the dreaded “Witch’s House” of local legend. Soft orange light came from its tiny windows. A curl of smoke rose out of the crooked chimney, filling the cold night with the welcoming scent of a toasty fire. The door creaked open slowly, dramatically. And out she stepped.
She was indeed spooky… but of an otherworldly, and beautiful variety. Her blonde hair and shadowy smile were brightened by her crystal-clear eyes. No pointy hat, no green skin or evil cackle. She looked like Veronica Lake. I was smitten.
We spent that magical night together, after she offered me a Witches’ Brew… not an insidious or poisonous potion, but a delectable cocktail made from vodka, blue curaçao, grenadine, lime juice and tonic. We imbibed through the evening, talking quietly by a crackling fireplace. She spoke of how her desire for space from the small-minded and fearful townspeople drove her to live in this unpopulated part of the forest.
She was no evil witch from a fairy tale, but a mysterious beauty who forged her own path through life. And once I (figuratively) drank deep from the pools of her eyes, and her Witches’ Brew cocktail, the spell of love was cast over me.
Edit: It’s been four weeks since I stumbled upon this beautiful lady’s cabin in the woods and wouldn’t you know it… she’s a witch. She keeps trying to get me drunk on these Witches’ Brew drinks, then when she thinks I’m not looking tries to thwack me with her broom and push me in the oven. The woods surrounding her home are enchanted, so I wind up back on her doorstep, no matter how straight I run. I keep playing dumb, but pretty soon she’ll figure out I’m on to her. And when that happens, things should start to get interesting…
What is the Best Vodka to Use in a Witches’ Brew Drink?
Since the Witches’ Brew is one of those fun, seasonal drinks, we can play around with the spirit used in it. I would normally advocate or advise on choosing an unflavored vodka, which will take on some of the notes of the other ingredients. But you can try the different varieties that are out there and see how those flavored versions dance in your cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce grenadine
- 2 ounces tonic water
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, blue curaçao, lime juice, and grenadine with ice.
- Shake well until the mixture is well chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Top with tonic water to add a slight fizz.
- Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim of the glass.
Nutrition
What kind of glassware and garnish is used?
Chill a coupe or a cocktail glass in your freezer for roughly thirty minutes before preparing and serving your drink. Pop a lime wheel on the rim of the glass for garnish.
How else can you make this cocktail creepy and atmospheric?
To add some extra spookiness to your drink, throw a dry ice cube into it and watch it turn into a bubbly, misty concoction.
Similar Drinks to the Witches’ Brew
Summer beverages get all the love, it seems. But let’s not forget that the other seasons and holidays during the year have inspired some tasty tipples, too. If the Witches’ Brew has sparked an explorer’s interest and fired your imagination, Twist & Toast can get your next drink journey started with a few of these cocktail recipes below.
- Devil’s Margarita – The New York Sour gets a darkly mischievous twist in this tequila-based cocktail.
- Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned – Welcome the cooler months and changing of the leaves with this autumnal beverage.
- Grinch – You won’t turn into this drink’s namesake with the holiday cheer it provides.
- Christmas Martini – Like its name suggests, this festive cocktail is best enjoyed with family and friends on December 25th.
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