Witchy Woman Cocktail

This is a drink that I’ve been making consistently for the past few Halloweens. I love the color that comes from the blackberry, the subtlety from the sage, and the hint of smoke from the mezcal (if using). It’s definitely been a fan-favorite with guests.

Ingredients

2 oz Mezcal or Tequila (if you like smoke, go mezcal! Or go half and half to tone it down)
2 oz Lime Juice
5 Blackberries (+ more for garnish)
1/2 oz Sage Simple Syrup

Instructions

In a shaker tin, combine Mezcal/Tequila, Lime Juice, Sage Simple Syrup, and Blackberries. Take a muddler, and crush the blackberries inside of the tin to really express their juices. Add ice, and shake until the tin is frosty.

With this drink, you can really use any glass you’d like! I’ve used juice glasses and martini glasses, but pick whatever suits your fancy.

Depending on your preference, you can double or single-strain this drink. If you hate blackberry seeds I’d double-strain it, but if you like the pulpy effect you can just pour the drink through your Hawthorn strainer. To double-strain, just hold a small strainer above your glass as you pour the drink over ice.

For garnish, my partner had the idea to pair a thinly sliced lime wheel with a blackberry, secured with half of a toothpick to create a sort of eyeball effect. I’ve also garnished this drink with a sage sprig. But most importantly, enjoy!

Sage Simple Syrup

1 cup Sugar
1 cup Water
1 Sage Sprig

To make the sage simple syrup (which should be done in advance), you’ll add equal parts sugar (I usually do a cup of each) and water in a saucepan, then add 8 sage leaves per each half cup of sugar to the water. You’ll want to give the leaves a nice slap against your hand to encourage the release of the oils. Simmer the water for 15 minutes or so and stir to dissolve the sugar. Let cool completely before use. Strain into a small bottle or jar and store in the fridge.