Witches' Brew Lemonade

In my book, no Halloween bash is complete without a proper (and spooky!) cocktail. One of my go-to Halloween cocktail recipes? This easy and reliable witches’ brew lemonade. To create this drink, I thought it only made sense to channel the Sanderson Sisters from the cult classic Hocus Pocus. To get the eerie glow from their cauldron, I layered sparkling lemonade with Blue Curaçao and purple gin for a chilling effect. The results are just as refreshing and delicious as they are gorgeous to look at—and they go perfectly with a Hocus Pocus Binx cookie. Best of all, you only need three ingredients to make this cocktail—and no, you don't need to procure any eye of newt or toe of frog for it either.

To get that signature color, don’t skip using Empress 1908 Indigo Gin and Blue Curaçao; the look won’t be the same without them. The Empress 1908 Indigo Gin (which gets its hue from butterfly pea flower) changes colors when lemonade is added, turning from a deep purple to a bright lilac color. The Blue Curaçao then sinks to the bottom of our lemonade, resulting in a layered drink that is truly jaw-dropping.

How To Make Witches’ Brew Lemonade

INGREDIENTS

• Sparkling Lemonade: Store-bought sparkling lemonade will work just fine in this recipe, but if you’d like to take things over the top, you can make your own, just like we did in our spiked sparkling basil lemonade.
• Blue Curaçao: A tangy orange liqueur you’ve likely encountered in a Blue Hawaiian, Blue Curaçao is a key to achieving that bewitchingly blue layer in this cocktail. If you’re not a Blue Curaçao fan and could do without the layered look, feel free to leave it out for a simple spiked lemonade.
• Empress 1908 Indigo Gin: Typical of the herbaceous spirit, the Empress 1908 Indigo Gin is composed of a garden variety of botanical elements. But to get that ultra-rich purple-blue hue, Empress adds an important, and particularly colorful, butterfly pea flower extract.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

After you fill a tall glass with ice, pour in the Empress 1908 Indigo Gin and top with sparkling lemonade. Then pour the Blue Curaçao very slowly and carefully down the side and into the glass, letting it settle on the bottom.

A totally optional (but festive!) finishing touch, I like to place a fresh rosemary sprig in the cocktail to give it a witches’ broom flourish, while also adding a refreshing, herby note to this sweet cocktail.

Recipe Tips

• To ensure your Blue Curaçao sinks to the bottom, make sure you're pouring very slowly and carefully into your glass. Too fast, and you risk mixing it with your gin and lemonade.