This Bloody Blackberry Spritz Is the Perfect Halloween Cocktail

Hosting a Halloween party in Delaware? Impress your guests with a festive Halloween cocktail that is a far cry from the typical batched witch’s brew. Featuring Dogfish Head roasted peanut vodka, a homemade blackberry thyme simple syrup and a spooky bloody garnish, this spritz is sure to wow your guests.

Once you’ve prepped a few simple elements, it’s easy to shake up and serve while entertaining. You can also batch this Halloween cocktail ahead of time if you prefer—just garnish the glass and pour!

Dogfish Head’s roasted peanut vodka is the perfect spirit for this fun Halloween cocktail. With warm and cozy roasted notes, a touch of honey and a subtle peanut flavor, the spirit is the star of this cocktail. Mixing with a homemade blackberry thyme simple syrup provides the nostalgic flavor of peanut butter and jelly—but refined for the adult palate.

The Bloody Blackberry Spritz all starts with the homemade simple syrup. If you’ve never made syrup at home, don’t worry! It’s much easier than you may think. Just throw some blackberries, sugar, water and a few thyme sprigs into a sauce pan and turn on the heat. For the appearance of blood, you’ll want to reduce the syrup by about half so it thickens up a bit. Simply bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let it work its magic for about 20-30 minutes. The resulting thick and gooey syrup tastes amazing—and your house will smell heavenly!

Now that your syrup is done, it’s time to mix your cocktail. Add 2 oz of syrup for every 1.5 oz of roasted peanut vodka and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake. Pour over fresh ice and top with sparkling water. We’re using blackberry lemonade Waterloo for a little extra blackberry flavor. The resulting spritz is light, sparkly and so refreshing. We’re garnishing ours with some of our homemade “bloody” syrup on the rim and a sprig of thyme.

This fun Halloween cocktail is so customizable. If you want to go a little boozier and add an extra peanut butter punch, add Skrewball peanut butter whiskey. Or, take it the other direction with a splash of blackberry or cranberry juice. You can also add a lemon twist or a candied lemon wheel as garnish for a sweeter touch. The best thing about a home cocktail is the opportunity to really make it your own! When all is said and done, you’ll be left with an impressive Halloween cocktail perfect for even beginner home mixologists.

Bloody Blackberry Spritz

Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Total time

35

minutes

Ingredients

• Blackberry-Thyme Simple Syrup

• 6 oz (1 pack) fresh blackberries

• 1/2 cup cane sugar

• A few sprigs of fresh thyme

• 1/2 cup water

• Bloody Blackberry Spritz

• 2 oz homemade blackberry-thyme simple syrup

• 1.5 oz Dogfish Head roasted peanut vodka

• 1 sprig of fresh thyme

• Blackberry lemonade Waterloo sparkling water to fill

Directions

• Blackberry-Thyme Simple Syrup
• In a small saucepan, add blackberries and sugar. Pour water over.
• Add a couple of sprigs of fresh thyme, and turn the heat to medium-high.
• Bring the syrup to a rolling boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
• Let it simmer 20-30 minutes, or until reduced by about half. (If you prefer a thinner syrup consistency, skip this step. It’s important for a “bloody” appearance for garnish.)
• Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the syrup into a container for storage. Use a spoon to press down the blackberries and make sure you’re not missing out on any of that fresh berry flavor!
• Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
• Bloody Blackberry Spritz
• Prepare your cocktail glass. Pour a small amount of your homemade blackberry-thyme simple syrup onto a plate, and dip the rim of the glass. Shake off any excess syrup. Turn the glass upright and let the syrup drip down. Fill with ice.
• To a cocktail shaker, add ice, your homemade syrup, a sprig of thyme, and Dogfish Head roasted peanut vodka.
• Shake for about 30 seconds.
• Strain into your garnished glass. Top with blackberry lemonade Waterloo or seltzer and a sprig of thyme and enjoy.

Notes

• For extra peanut butter flavor, add .5 oz of peanut butter whiskey.
• For a fruitier and lighter take on the cocktail, add .5 oz of blackberry or cranberry juice.

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