The Enchanting Witching Hour Smash Recipe for Spooky Sips

When midnight strikes, this witching hour smash becomes a magical elixir that sparkles with unexpected charm.

Dark spirits converge to create something deliciously mysterious.

Unexpected ingredients dance together in a glass that feels like a secret potion.

Mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts will appreciate the intricate balance of flavors.

Smooth liquors blend with subtle hints of intrigue, creating a drink that whispers midnight secrets.

Bartenders love crafting this provocative concoction that defies traditional cocktail boundaries.

You’ll want to mix this spell-binding libation for your next gathering of adventurous friends.

What Makes Witching Hour Smash So Unique

• Quick Cocktail Crafting: Perfect for home bartenders looking to impress without complex techniques.
• Flavor Explosion: Combines bold mezcal with sweet-tart blackberries and spicy chile liqueur for a unique taste experience.
• Seasonal Sophistication: Rosemary garnish and pomegranate juice elevate this drink from ordinary to extraordinary, making it ideal for autumn gatherings or elegant evening parties.
• Speedy Preparation: Takes just minutes to create, allowing you to mix a gourmet cocktail faster than waiting for delivery or running to a bar.

Witching Hour Smash Cocktail Ingredients

• Blackberries: Sweet and tangy berries that add depth and fruity flavor to the cocktail.

• Mezcal, Chile Liqueur: Smoky and spicy spirits that provide complex and bold flavor profile.

• Lime Juice, Pomegranate Juice: Bright, tart juices that balance the cocktail's sweetness and add vibrant color.
• Agave Syrup: Natural sweetener that softens the strong alcohol taste and provides smooth texture.

• Fresh Rosemary: Aromatic herb that adds a sophisticated herbal note and decorative touch to the cocktail.

Witching Hour Smash Cocktail Mix Method

Step 1: Crush Blackberries

Grab your cocktail shaker and gently crush the fresh blackberries using a muddler or the back of a spoon.

Press and twist to extract their deep, rich juices and release their vibrant flavor.

Step 2: Combine Liquid Ingredients

• Mezcal
• Lime juice
• Pomegranate juice
• Agave syrup
• Chile liqueur (optional)

Step 3: Shake and Chill

Fill the shaker with ice cubes and seal tightly.

Shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to blend the flavors and create a frosty, well-chilled mixture.

Step 4: Strain and Serve

Grab a glass and fill it with fresh ice.

Strain the cocktail through a fine-mesh strainer, ensuring a smooth pour that captures all the delicious flavors.

Step 5: Final Flourish

Pluck a fragrant rosemary sprig and delicately place it on top of the drink.

This herbal garnish adds an aromatic touch that elevates the entire cocktail experience.

Witching Hour Smash Cocktail Hacks

• Select deep purple, soft blackberries for maximum juice and sweetness when muddling.
• Adjust chile liqueur amount to personalize heat intensity without overwhelming the cocktail's delicate flavors.
• Opt for a smoky, medium-bodied mezcal that complements the fruity blackberry and pomegranate profile.
• Briefly refrigerate your cocktail shaker and glass to maintain optimal drink temperature and enhance overall drinking experience.
• Gently slap the rosemary sprig before garnishing to release essential oils and boost aromatic complexity.

Witching Hour Smash: Can You Save a Sip?

• Store any leftover cocktail in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Keep it chilled to maintain the fresh flavors and prevent ingredient separation.
• Don't freeze this cocktail, as the texture and taste will change dramatically. Mezcal and fresh juices don't preserve well in frozen state.
• If storing, give the cocktail a quick stir before serving to remix the settled ingredients. Fresh ingredients might slightly alter the original taste, so prepare a new batch for best results.
• Discard any leftover muddled blackberries, as they will lose flavor and texture quickly. Fresh ingredients are key to maintaining the cocktail's vibrant profile.

Cocktail Pairings for Witching Hour Smash

• Blackberry Blast Pairing: Complement the cocktail's bold blackberry flavor with a rich, creamy blue cheese and walnut salad that echoes the drink's complex, smoky undertones.
• Spicy Protein Match: Serve grilled lamb skewers marinated in chipotle and herbs to mirror the cocktail's mezcal and chile liqueur heat, creating a harmonious flavor experience.
• Sweet and Savory Balance: Offer dark chocolate truffles with a hint of sea salt to contrast the cocktail's fruity and spicy notes, providing a luxurious palate-cleansing dessert.
• Mezcal Munchies: Prepare crispy chicharrones topped with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime to complement the drink's smoky and tangy profile, enhancing the overall tasting journey.

Witching Hour Smash – Flavor Switches

• Mocktail Version: Replace mezcal with non-alcoholic smoky tea and omit chile liqueur, using sparkling water for added complexity.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Swap agave syrup with stevia or monk fruit sweetener, reducing overall sugar content while maintaining flavor profile.
• Herbal Remix: Substitute blackberries with muddled raspberries and add a dash of lavender bitters for an aromatic herbal variation.
• Spicy Tropical Spin: Replace pomegranate juice with passion fruit juice and add a small slice of jalapeño for extra heat and tropical notes.

FAQs

• What is mezcal and how does it differ from tequila?

Mezcal is a traditional Mexican spirit made from agave, but unlike tequila, it can be produced from multiple agave varieties and uses a unique smoking process during production, giving it a distinct smoky flavor.

• Can I make this cocktail without chile liqueur?

Yes, you can omit the chile liqueur. The cocktail will still have a complex flavor profile from the blackberries, mezcal, and pomegranate juice, though it will lose some of the spicy undertones.

• What type of blackberries work best for this cocktail?

Fresh, ripe blackberries are ideal. Look for berries that are deep purple, plump, and have a slight give when gently pressed. Avoid berries that are mushy or have visible mold.

• Is rosemary just a decorative garnish?

Rosemary adds more than visual appeal. Its aromatic herb notes complement the smoky mezcal and fruity blackberries, enhancing the overall sensory experience of the cocktail.

Witching Hour Smash Recipe

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4.9 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 1x

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Description

Midnight magic meets mixology in this enticing Witching Hour Smash cocktail, blending dark spirits with haunting herbal notes. Mysterious and alluring, this craft drink promises to enchant you with its complex layers of flavor and sophisticated spirit.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Base Spirits:

• 2 ounces (60 milliliters) mezcal

Fruit Juices:

• 1 ounce (30 milliliters) fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce (30 milliliters) pomegranate juice

Sweeteners and Spices:

• 0.5 ounces (15 milliliters) agave syrup
• 0.25 ounces (7 milliliters) chile liqueur (optional, for added heat)

Garnish and Fruit:

• 2 fresh blackberries
• Ice cubes
• 1 fresh rosemary sprig (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Gently crush ripe blackberries in a cocktail shaker, pressing them to extract their deep, vibrant essence and releasing their rich purple hue.
2. Pour the smoky mezcal, tangy lime juice, crimson pomegranate nectar, silky agave syrup, and spicy chile liqueur into the shaker, creating a complex flavor profile.
3. Load the shaker with a generous handful of ice cubes, then vigorously shake the mixture for approximately 15 seconds to ensure thorough chilling and perfect integration of ingredients.
4. Position a fine-mesh strainer over a glass filled with fresh ice, allowing the liquid to cascade smoothly and capture any berry pulp or small fragments.
5. Delicately crown the cocktail with a fragrant rosemary sprig, positioning it artfully to enhance both visual appeal and aromatic experience, then present immediately for maximum sensory impact.

Notes

• Select ripe, juicy blackberries for maximum flavor and vibrant color in the cocktail.
• Use a gentle muddling technique to avoid crushing seeds, which can introduce bitter notes.
• Experiment with different mezcal brands to find your preferred smoky profile for the drink.
• Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of agave syrup, catering to personal taste preferences.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Cocktails, Mocktails
• Method: Shaking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 190
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 5 mg
• Fat: 0 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg