Witches Brew Cocktail Punch
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Let’s get spooky with this witches brew cocktail punch! This cocktail is made up of pomegranate, blueberry liqueur, tequila (or vodka), and lemon for a sweet, tart, and refreshing drink. Make it as a batch cocktail for a crowd or as an individual drink – it’s the best Halloween cocktail!
Spooky time is here! I’m v excited even though I’m actually like, a huge baby about anything scary. But when it comes to costumes and glittery decorations and themed cocktails? Yeah, I’m so in.
And since this year we’re actually being cool and going to a real life party, I’m going to make some black Halloween sangria, a Halloween charcuterie board, and boozy punch about it!
Grab some dry ice, a little witchy hat, and let’s get into it.
This smoky party punch is so cool
After throwing lots of get-togethers, cocktail punches are officially my favorite way to party. Seriously, they take like, 5 minutes to mix up! And, inspired by a very cool smoky punch I made for my capstone project when I was in culinary school, I decided to make this cocktail even spookier with dry ice!
- This cocktail is sweet, tart, and there’s fog! Oh, and booze, duh. Your friends are going to be into it, promise.
- It makes a large amount so it’s perfect for parties and get-togethers.
- The dry ice gives it smoky, spooky vibes. And it’s purple!
- You can make this recipe with tequila or vodka – your choice.
Ingredients + variations
- Tequila – you’ll want blanco (silver) tequila which will complement the fruitiness in this punch. I used Tequila Mi Campo. Mezcal would also be delicious for a smoky flavor. If you’re not a fan of tequila, try vodka.
- Blueberry liqueur – this can be found in the liqueurs and cordials section of the liquor store. The blueberry liqueur adds a tart, fruity flavor and makes this drink nice and purple! You can also use raspberry or blackberry liqueur.
- Pomegranate juice – make sure it’s unsweetened or the cocktail will be too sweet. If you can’t find pomegranate juice, cranberry works too.
- Lemon juice – use freshly-squeezed for the best flavor and tartness.
- Simple syrup – you can use store-bought or make your own by boiling equal parts of sugar and water.
- Club soda – a splash of unflavored club soda adds a little fizziness.
Chill the ingredients so they’re cold when you mix this witchy cocktail. I don’t recommend adding regular ice to the punch or it will water it down. Since dry ice is a gas (carbon dioxide) and not liquid, it will keep the punch cool without diluting it.
Mix it up
You can make this recipe either as a batch cocktail or an individual drink. If you’re serving a crowd, I’d definitely batch it to make serving easier! If you’re only making a couple of drinks, the individual version is super easy to whip up.
Batch cocktail (pitcher or punch bowl)
- In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the simple syrup, tequila, blueberry liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. Stir it well and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
- Right before serving, add the club soda and stir gently to combine.
- If you want that super cool smoky effect, add the dry ice right as your friends arrive!
Use a 3-inch chunk of dry ice for this punch. It will last about 10-15 minutes. Then, you can add more dry ice as the fog fades!
Individual drink (rocks glass)
- First, add the simple syrup, tequila, blueberry liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice.
- Shake until the outside is frosty, about 30 seconds. Then, strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top the cocktail with club soda and gently stir. Enjoy!
Garnishes
This purple Halloween cocktail makes for a lovely party drink. (It’s definitely one of my go-tos for a Halloween dessert table!) I usually serve this cocktail sans garnish but if you want to spruce things up, here are a few ideas!
- Sugar (or salt) rim – for a super cool look, you can use black, red, or purple sanding sugar. Or, if you want more of a ‘margarita’ feel, try a salt (or black salt) rim.
- Tajín – if you like a bit of spice. It goes so well with the tequila!
- Fruit – garnish the drink with pomegranate arils, blueberries, or lemon wedges.
Make-ahead
To make this witches brew drink in advance, just combine all of the ingredients except the club soda. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Then, right before serving, add the club soda and enjoy!
Even though you can refrigerate leftover punch for up to 2 days, I think it’s best when you drink it right away. The punch gets flat after a few hours!
Cocktail notes
- To make this cocktail more purple, you can always add a drop of purple food coloring. I recommend using natural food coloring so it doesn’t add a chemical taste!
- Ladle the cocktail. I know ‘scooping’ punch with cups is a thing but when it comes to this punch, you’ll want to use a ladle. We don’t want guests getting burnt on dry ice!
- For a less boozy cocktail, reduce the tequila or add more club soda (just don’t add too much or it will water down the drink).
Using dry ice
Obviously the coolest part of this purple Halloween cocktail is the dry ice! This was my first time using it and I seriously want my full time job to be playing with dry ice. But, you also need to use it safely cause it can be a bit of a mess if you don’t.
Dry ice safety tips
- Use glasses + tongs – any time you’re using dry ice, wear safety goggles or glasses and use tongs to place it in drinks (it may make a squealing noise, totally normal). Do not touch it! It can burn your skin or cause frostbite.
- Store it properly – buy the dry ice 1-2 hours before you plan to use it or it could melt. Then, place it in a cooler with the lid open. Don’t place it in the freezer or put the lid on the cooler or the pressure could cause it to explode a little. 😬
- Don’t let kids or pets near it – again, it can cause burns or frostbite! I store it in a cooler in my garage to keep it out of the way.
- Do not drink the dry ice – to prevent burning/freezing your throat. Wait for it to finish smoking before you enjoy the cocktails!
How to use dry ice in drinks
Keep in mind that you’ll need a 3-inch chunk for a punch bowl to make it smoke for 5 minutes. Get 1-2 pounds total to have it bubbling all night.
- Break the ice – don’t forget your safety goggles and gloves! Right before serving, grab the bag of ice and drop it on the ground a few times to break it up.
- Place the ice in the punch – using tongs, carefully pick up a 3-4 inch chunk of ice and place it in the punch bowl.
- Add more as-needed – if you just want to use dry ice as a cool party trick, add a couple 3-4 inch chunks and then let guests enjoy. If you want to keep the party going, add more as the fog evaporates.
Breaking the dry ice
Sometimes, dry ice comes in larger chunks. The easiest way to break it up is to drop the bag on the ground a few times. You can also place a towel over the bag and use a hammer to break it up.
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Witches Brew Cocktail Punch
Ingredients
Party Punch
- 6 oz blueberry liqueur (3/4 cup)
- 18 oz blanco tequila, or vodka (2 1/4 cup)
- 6 oz simple syrup (3/4 cup)
- 24 oz unsweetened pomegranate juice (3 cups)
- 6 oz fresh lemon juice (3/4 cup)
- 18 oz club soda (2 1/4 cup)
- 1-2 lbs dry ice, for serving (optional)
Individual Drink
- 1/2 oz blueberry liqueur
- 1 1/2 oz blanco tequila, or vodka
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2 oz unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 oz club soda
Equipment
- Punch bowl or pitcher
- Ladle
- Tongs and safety glasses (if you're using dry ice)
Instructions
Party Punch
- In a punch bowl, combine the blueberry liqueur, tequila, simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate.
- When you're ready to serve the punch, remove the bowl from the fridge. Give it another good stir and add the club soda. Stir gently.
- If you're using dry ice, carefully break the ice apart by dropping it on the ground a few times (don't forget to wear safety goggles!). Using tongs, grab a couple of chunks (2-3 inches) and place them in the punch bowl. Use a ladle to serve the punch. Enjoy!
Individual Drink
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the blueberry liqueur, tequila, simple syrup, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice. Fill with ice, top with the lid, and shake until frosty, about 30 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a rocks or highball glass. Top with club soda. Enjoy!
Notes
This recipe was originally posted on October 25, 2022.