Between The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina from Archie, Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott’s Black Magick, Marvel’s Scarlet Witch, and a wealth of other witch comics, I couldn’t really choose just one inspiration for this month’s Drink Your Comics. Instead, I opted for a broad interpretation for October, the month of Halloween: the four elements.
Pear Manhattan
Up first is Earth. Earth is associated with the material. We went with a Manhattan, because what booze lover doesn’t enjoy sitting in a fancy joint, sipping on a Manhattan, even if that fancy joint is your own apartment? Be warned, this is potent one!
Ingredients
- 1/2 of a pear, chopped
- 3 oz. sweet vermouth
- 3/4 oz. Grand Marnier
- Splash of orange bitters
- 6 oz. bourbon (Right now, my partner and I are really into Prohibition 1920 from North Texas Distillers. It’s an affordable and tasty bourbon that is perfect for mixing.)
Directions
Muddle the ingredients in a cocktail mixer. Let sit for about 10 minutes or so to let the flavors mingle. When ready, strain into tumblers, and serve with a sliced pear on the side.
Apple-Pear Hot Toddy
Representing Fire, we bring you a warming apple toddy, perfect for those swiftly approaching cold nights.
Ingredients
- 2 c. pressed apple juice (not from concentrate)
- 1/2 tbsp. butter
- 1/2 tsp. allspice
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, ground
- 1/2 tsp. cloves, ground
- 1/8 c. of orange juice
- 1/4 of a fresh pear (We used a Bartlett pear.)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Dash of salt
- Bourbon
Directions
Prepare the apple juice mixture by combining all of the ingredients, with the exception of the bourbon, in a pot and simmering until the butter is completely melted and the mixture is thoroughly combined. Once done, combine 1 ounce of bourbon with 3 ounces of mixture in glass of choice.
Blueberry Gin Fizz
For Air, we went with a gin fizz, and this may be my favorite of all! Fizzes involve egg whites, which end up on top of the glass like a little cloud, hence the air association.
Ingredients
- 3 oz. blueberry juice (We made ours from scratch, which made for a thicker cocktail with bits of blueberry in it!)
- 3 oz. gin (We are really into Waterloo from a distillery in Austin, Texas.)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3/4 oz. agave nectar
- 1 egg white
Directions
Combine ingredients in cocktail mixer and shake vigorously. When done, add some cubes of ice and shake some more. Using strainer, divide between two cocktail glasses until about 3/4 full. Remove strainer, and top each glass with the remaining fluff (the egg white cloud).
Herby Moscow Mule
Finally, for water, we bring you these crystal clear and refreshing variations on a Moscow mule, with some sprucing from the witch’s garden.
Ingredients
- Fresh sage, about 5 smallish leaves
- Fresh basil, about 4 leaves
- 4 1/2 oz. vodka (We recently tried 3 Howls, because it seemed appropriate for the season.)
- Ginger beer
Directions
Combine first three ingredients in cocktail mixer and stir. Divide between two tumblers. Top off with ginger beer.
Now go hang out with your familiar, grab a witchy comic, and curl up with said familiar and a cocktail!
