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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    Published: Aug 30, 2023 · Modified: Aug 30, 2023 by Pate Giltner 1 Comment

    Black Flame Candle Hocus Pocus Drink

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    This Black Flame Candle cocktail is the perfect Hocus Pocus drink for celebrating the spooky season! It's made with blackberries, spices, Mezcal, and sparkling water for the spookest Halloween Cocktail ever! It is a smokey, sweet, and spicey crowd-pleasing treat perfect for the Sanderson Sisters!

    Mezcal is tequila's smokey cousin is perfect for a smokey, spooky, and bewitched cocktail! The blackberries and activated charcoal give this drink a mysterious 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, Haunted Halloween Punch, or this Adams Family Cocktail - The Gomez and Morticia! This one is based on the Black Flame Candle in the Disney classic Hocus Pocus.

    Why You Will Love This Recipe:

    1. Dark & Spooky: This drink captures the essence of the iconic black flame candle from "Hocus Pocus," adding a touch of movie magic to your gathering.
    2. Spellbinding Flavors: The combination of dark berry juices and smokey mezcal creates a mysterious and refreshing drink.
    3. Movie-Night Magic: Whether you're a fan of the movie or love all things mystical, this elixir is the perfect companion to your Hocus Pocus viewing.
    Ingredients for the cocktail on a red stone table.

    Key Ingredients:

    Mezcal: Mezcal shares similarities with tequila because it is also made from agave, but it distinguishes itself by being cooked in subterranean pits, lending it a distinctive smoky essence. For this recipe, I opted for Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, which is known for its smokey flavor and being decently priced. 

    Activated Charcoal: This is the ingredient responsible for giving a deep black hue to the cocktail. It is a tasteless supplement with detoxifying properties, a small quantity can be blended into the drink to achieve the desired coloration. However, feel free to exclude it if preferred. It's conveniently available in either powder or capsule form; in this instance, I used the version offered by Spiceology. 

    Blackberries: Gently muddle the blackberries with the Mezcal to facilitate the infusion of flavors. If more convenient, frozen blackberries can be utilized—simply thaw them before muddling to ensure easy breakdown.

    Agave Nectar: Incorporate a modest amount of agave nectar or simple syrup to harmonize and sweeten the combination of blackberries and Mezcal.

    Spices: The addition of allspice and cinnamon provides the cocktail with a gentle warmth and an invigorating zing.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to make this recipe:

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

    2. Then muddle the ingredients using a muddler.

    Add the lemon juice and mezcal to the cocktail shaker.

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

    The mixed cocktail in a skeleton cocktail glass.

    4. Then 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. Lastly, top with sparkling water or club soda and garnish with a burnt cinnamon stick.

    Substitutions:

    This recipe is undeniably delightful, yet there's flexibility to adapt based on personal preferences and ingredient availability.

    • Consider substituting tequila for Mezcal, which offers an alternative flavor profile.
    • Furthermore, if you desire a lighter and slightly purple-hued beverage, feel free to exclude the activated charcoal.
    • In lieu of agave, both simple syrup and honey present themselves as suitable replacements, allowing for a tailored sweetness level.

    .

    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 medications and birth control if ingested close to taking said medication. For more information, click here: Should you be eating activated charcoal?

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    Print
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    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 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
    • 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
    Pin Recipe

    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. Mix the blackberries, spices, activated charcoal, and agave in a cocktail shaker. 
    2. Then, muddle the ingredients using a muddler. 
    3. Next, add the Mezcal, lemon juice, and ice.
    4. Then shake to thoroughly mix the ingredients and pour into a cocktail glass with ice. 
    5. Lastley, 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 medications 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!

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    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, the blogger, recipe developer, and photographer behind The G&M Kitchen!

    Raised in the heart of Kentucky, I come from a long line of passionate cooks and bakers. The kitchen was always the heart of our home, where we transformed vegetables into delightful dishes and crafted pies and cakes that emerged from the oven. This tradition of coming together through food and cooking inspired the name of my blog, The G&M Kitchen – 'G' for my father's family, the Giltners, and 'M' for my mother's family, the Millers.

    I also believe if a recipe is missing something, it's probably bourbon.

    Learn more about me →

    Hello and welcome!

    Here at The G&M Kitchen, you will find southern-inspired baking recipes with a modern twist that are easy, elegant, and fun! Everything is made from scratch, designed for the home kitchen, and is simply delicious!

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    As featured in: thefeedfeed, Sur La Table, Bake From Scratch, Foodtography School, The Bourbon Review, Bringing it Home

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