Friday Fright Nightcaps – Haunted Blue Vodka

Happy Friday! It’s the return of Friday Fright Nightcaps! It’s October and 100 degrees out west, not very Fall nor Halloween weather but what can we do.

I recently gave up soda and took up sparkling water as a go-to beverage. Of course it was only a matter time before I started experimenting like mad scientist mixing concoctions. Haunted Blue Vodka is this week’s freakish refreshment.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Blue Curacao
1.5 oz. Chilled vodka
4 oz. sparkling water (I choose coconut La Croix)
Splash of lime juice

Garnish: fresh fruit, flowers, tiny umbrella (opt)

Pour chilled ingredients into a glass and stir well.

Tastes like alcoholic soda water, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I’m gonna warn ya up front. But, you can play around with the recipe and add more sparkling water if it’s too strong or vice versa. Honestly, it’s probably a better summer drink than fall but it’s kinda perfect for a SoCal Halloween.

Have fun. Please don’t drink and drive. Be safe out there this season!

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Ghastly Spritzer

Happy Friday! It’s the return of Friday Fright Nightcaps! In honor of this month’s theme Haunted Halloween, I present the Ghastly Spritzer. Who doesn’t love a nice smooth fizzy cocktail!

Ingredients:
1 oz. Malibu coconut rum
2 oz. vodka
1.5 oz. pineapple juice
3 oz. sparkling water
ice

This drink wildly interchangeable. Too weak, add more vodka. Too strong, add more pineapple juice. Too sweet, add more sparkling water, I used a flavored La Croix but honestly the Malibu drowned out the flavor in sparkling water.

Also, I missed Random Acts of Poetry Day on October 1st, so I’m sliding in a suggestion to check out this great book from Everyman’s Library and edited by John Hollander entitled “Poems Bewitched and Haunted” a collection of classic spooky poems and short stories.

Gothic scares from literary greats like Dickinson, Goethe, Horace, and Poe. Must read for Halloween!

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Frankie’s Martini

Happy Frankenstein Friday! Today’s drink is a tribute to Universal’s classic monster movie Frankenstein, with my version of a melon martini.

Ingredients:

3-4 oz. Midori Liqueur
.05 oz tequila
.05 oz. vanilla vodka
.05 oz. triple sec
1 tsp. lime juice
Splash of cream of coconut

Mix ingredients well. Serve chilled.

Garnish rim with salt and cherries.

You can catch Universal’s Frankenstein on Amazon Prime this month.

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Pumpkin Wrap Martini

Happy Friday! Today’s drink is a tribute Universal’s classic monster movie The Mummy, with my version of a pumpkin pie martini.

Ingredients:

2 oz. Pumpkin Pie Cream Liqueur
2 oz. rum
1 oz. vanilla vodka
Dash of pumpkin pie spice

Garnish rim with cinnamon sugar

Opt garnish: whipped cream

You can catch Universal’s The Mummy on Amazon Prime this month.

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Lagoon de Menthe

Happy Friday! Today’s drink is a tribute Universal’s classic monster movie Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Ingredients:

2.5-3 oz. Bailey’s Vanilla Mint Shake
2-3 oz. vodka
.5 oz. creme de menthe liqueur
2 oz. chilled coffee

Garnish: Garnish with an umbrella or fresh fruit.

Mix ingredients well. Serve chilled.

This is one of those cocktails that can be personalized to preferences without losing taste. If you want a stronger vanilla flavor, add more Bailey’s. If you want more alcohol, add more vodka.

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Sweet Bite

Happy Friday! Hello from June Lake, where I’m loving these autumn trees and fresh air. Friday Fright Nightcaps is back with a new drink Sweet Bite, a tribute Universal’s classic monster Dracula.

Ingredients:
3 oz. Absolute Vanilla Vodka
4 oz. Cranberry Juice

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Revenge of Frankenstein Cocktail

Happy Frankenstein Friday! Time for another Friday Fright Nightcap! Tonight, we celebrate Universal monster Dr. Frankstein with a classy cocktail stitched together with a bunch of different ingredients, just like his creations!

Ingredients:
2 oz. Midori
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. white rum
1 1/2 oz. Sprite
.5 oz. St-Germain elderflower liqueur

Mix ingredients well. Garnish with Maraschino cherries or fresh fruit. Serve chilled.

You can stream Universal’s Frankenstein, 1931, on Peacock, with a paid subscription.

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Terror-misu Martini

Happy Friday! Time for another Friday Fright Nightcap! Tonight, we celebrate Universal monster The Wolfman with my kooky version of a tiramisu martini.

Ingredients:
.5 oz. crema de caco or chocolate liqueur
.5 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
.5 oz. ameretto
1 oz. shot of espresso or coffee
1 oz. Kahlua
1.5 oz. vodka

Pour ingredients into shaker and shake well. Pour into chocolate coated glass. Best when served chilled.

You can stream Universal’s The Wolfman 1941, on Prime Video, with a Prime subscription.

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Bloody Sangria

Happy Friday the 13th! Time for another Friday Fright Nightcap! Tonight, we celebrate Friday the 13th and Universal’s monster Dracula, with everyone’s favorite winetail, the Bloody Sangria!

Ingredients:
2 bottles of red wine (Red blends and Cabernets work best)
1/2 cup – spiced rum
1 can – Sprite (or Tangerine LaCroix)
1/2 cup – sugar
Assorted sliced fresh fruit

Mixing Instructions: Pour ingredients into a large jug and stir well. Refrigerate overnight.

If you’re trimming down or cutting out sugar, try switching out Sprite with Tangerine La Croix and only use 1/4 cup of sugar.

You can stream Universal’s Dracula, 1931, for free on Prime Video, with a Prime subscription.

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Mummy’s Revival

Happy Friday! It’s the return of Friday Fright Nightcaps! Every Friday in October, I post a drink recipe in honor of one of my favorite Universal classic monsters movies. This week is a little concoction called Mummy’s Revival.

I’ll be honest, this recipe is a little sweet. I’m not sure if it’s the coffee or the sugar that can wake the dead, but this is a nice drink to come home to.