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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    Published: Sep 14, 2022 · Modified: Oct 6, 2022 by Pate Giltner 1 Comment

    Hocus Pocus Drink - The Black Flame Candle

    19 shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This Hocus Pocus-inspired drink, The Black Flame candle, is the perfect Halloween cocktail to celebrate the spooky season! It's made with blackberries, spices, Mezcal, and sparking water for a smokey, sweet, and spicey crowd-pleasing cocktail that the Sanderson Sisters would love!

    Mezcal is tequila's smokey cousin and is the perfect spirit for a cocktail that tastes like a bewitched candle! Blackberries and activated charcoal are what give this drink its spooky black color!

    The Black Flame Candle in a glass with a skeleton hand on a sliver plate with blackberries and small pumpkins.

    Why this recipe works:

    I love Halloween and Halloween-themed cocktails; just check out my Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas! This one is based on the Black Flame Candle in the Disney classic Hocus Pocus, which is the candle that brings the sister witches back from the dead. This cocktail was made to be a delicious iteration of that, and because it is black and bubbly, it perfect for any Halloween party!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works:
    • Key Ingredients:
    • How to make this recipe:
    • Substitutions:
    • Equipment:
    • Activated Charcoal Note
    • Looking for more Cocktails?! Check these out!
    • Hocus Pocus Drink - The Black Flame Candle
    Ingredients for the cocktail on a red stone table.

    Key Ingredients:

    Mezcal: Mezcal is a spirit similar to tequila. It is also made from agave, but it is cooked in pits in the ground, which gives it its signature smokey flavor. For this recipe, I used Del Maguey Vida Mezcal which is known for its smokey flavor and for being pretty decently priced. 

    Activated Charcoal: this is what turns the cocktail really black. It is a tasteless supplement that some use as a detoxifier. Just a little is added to this cocktail to turn it black, but if you can't find any, this can easily be skipped. You can buy it in powder or capsule form, and I used this version from Spiceology. 

    Blackberries: ripe blackberries are muddled so that they infuse with the Mezcal. You can use frozen blackberries; just thaw them so they are easily smashed.

    Agave Nectar: this cocktail has just a bit of sweetener to perfectly balance and complement the blackberries and Mezcal. You can use agave, simple syrup, or even honey, whatever you have on hand. 

    Spices: Allspice and cinnamon are added to the blackberries to give the drink a little warm spice.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to make this recipe:

    The blackberries, spices, and agave in a cocktail shaker.
    1. Start by combining the blackberries, spices, activated charcoal, and agave in a cocktail shaker.
    A muddler sitting on top of the ingredients in the cocktail shaker.

    2. Next, muddle the ingredients using a muddler.

    Add the lemon juice and mezcal to the cocktail shaker.

    3. Then add the Mezcal, lemon juice, and ice.

    The mixed cocktail in a skeleton cocktail glass.

    4. After that, shake to thoroughly mix the ingredients and pour into a cocktail glass with ice.

    Black flame candle cocktail garnished with a lit cinnamon stick.

    5. Top with sparkling water or club soda and garnish with a burnt cinnamon stick.

    Substitutions:

    This recipe is completely delicious, but there are a few things that could be switched out based on taste and availability.

    • Mezcal can easily be switched out for tequila.
    • Activated charcoal can also be omitted; the color will just be lighter and more purple from the blackberries. 
    • Agave can be switched out for simple syrup or honey, whatever you prefer or have on hand.
    straight on view of the cocktail in a skeleton hand glass and on a sliver plate.

    Equipment:

    • Cocktail Shaker
    • Jigger
    • Muddler (the end of a wooden spoon can be used in a pinch)
    • Spooky cocktail glasses (the ones pictured are from Pottery Barn)

    Activated Charcoal Note

    Activated charcoal is made from activated carbon or coconut ash and is safe to consume in small quantities. It is often used as a detoxifier and remedy for ingesting poison and for hangovers. However, since it absorbs everything, it can neutralize the effects of some medication and birth control if ingested close to taking said medication. For more information, click here: Should you be eating activated charcoal?

    Looking for more Cocktails?! Check these out!

    • Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider Mimosa
    • Bourbon Apple Cider Old Fashioned
    • Burned and Bloody Spritz
    • Curse Breaking Cromwell Cider - Halloweentown Cocktail 
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    The Black Flame Candle in a glass with a skeleton hand on a sliver plate with blackberries and small pumpkins.

    Hocus Pocus Drink - The Black Flame Candle

    ★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
    • Author: Pate Giltner
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
    • Category: Cocktail
    • Method: Shaken
    • Cuisine: Halloween
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This Hocus Pocus-inspired drink, The Black Flame candle, is the perfect Halloween cocktail to celebrate the spooky season!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 fresh blackberries, plus more for topping
    • ¼ tsp of cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp allspice
    • ½ tsp activated charcoal (optional)
    • 1 oz agave
    • ½ oz lemon juice
    • 1 ½ Mezcal
    • Top with club soda / sparking water
    • Garnish with cinnamon

    Instructions

    1. Start by combining the blackberries, spices, activated charcoal, and agave in a cocktail shaker. 
    2. Muddle the ingredients using a muddler. 
    3. Add the Mezcal, lemon juice, and ice.
    4. Shake to thoroughly mix the ingredients and pour into a cocktail glass with ice. 
    5. Top with sparkling water or club soda and garnish with burnt cinnamon sticks.

    Notes

    Activated charcoal is made from activated carbon or coconut ash and is safe to consume in small quantities. It is often used as a detoxifier and remedy for ingesting poison and for hangovers. However, since it absorbs everything, it can neutralize the effects of some medication and birth control if ingested close to taking said medication. For more information, click here: Should you be eating activated charcoal?

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @thegandmkitchen — I can't wait to see what you've made!

    More Cocktails

    • Haunted Halloween Punch
    • Sparkling Fall Thanksgiving Margarita
    • Adams Family Cocktail - The Gomez and Morticia
    • Hocus Pocus Inspired Cocktail - I Put A Spell On You

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. elizabeth says

      September 14, 2022 at 4:48 pm

      This was such a fun cocktail and perfect for halloween!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Pate Giltner holding a cupcake
    Pate Giltner holding a cupcake

    About Pate

    Hi, I'm Pate, and welcome to The G&M Kitchen!

    The G&M Kitchen is a recipe blog that specializes in southern baked goods. Here you will find classics like buttermilk and honey biscuits and beautiful show stoppers like strawberry basil cupcakes. While all recipes are inspired by traditional southern classics, they all have a twist or adjustment that elevates them and brings them into the modern age.

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