Looking for an impressively spooky cocktail? Try the Witches Brew drink! Its neon green color might look menacing. But take a sip and it’s bright and sweet tart, with flavors of melon and citrus. Adding dry ice makes the brew bubble and boil, with a magic smoke that wisps into the air! The dry ice is optional, but absolutely worth it for the spectacle (we think). Here’s how to make it and more about how to work with dry ice.
What’s a Witches Brew drink?
The Witches Brew drink is a Halloween cocktail with no standardized definition. It’s often bright green, blue, or purple in color, and it can be served as a punch or shaken as a cocktail. This spin on the Witches Brew uses bright green melon liqueur and lemon juice to make a classic-style cocktail with a deliciously sweet tart flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
Midori, a Japanese melon liqueur Cointreau or Triple Sec, an orange liqueur Fresh lemon juice Dry ice, optional (read all the safety information below first!)
All you’ll do for this drink? Stir the ingredients with ice cubes, strain it into a lowball glass, and garnish with chunk of dry ice. It will bubble and boil…just like you’d imagine from a Witches Brew. It’s a fun and impressive trick!
Why to grab a bottle of Midori
Midori is a unique bright green liqueur that you may not have heard of: but it’s easy to find at most liquor stores! Here’s why we love it and why it’s worth adding to your collection for the Witches Brew drink:
Midori is a bright green, honeydew melon flavored Japanese liqueur. It was first released in 1964 as Hermes Melon Liqueur. When released in the US in 1978, the name was changed to “Midori,” the Japanese word for green. What does Midori taste like? It’s very sweet, with a candy-like honeydew melon flavor. Midori is typically mixed into cocktails instead of drinking it straight. How much does it cost? A small bottle (375 ml) costs around $15, and a large bottle (750 ml) is about $25-30. Can you make other cocktails with it? Yes, several great ones! The most famous Midori cocktail is the Midori Sour. You can also try Tokyo Tea or the Japanese Slipper, which was our template for this Witches Brew drink!
Working with dry ice: safety tips!
Is dry ice in cocktails safe? Yes, with safe handling tips! Make sure to read these tips before working with dry ice in drinks (or read more in our Dry Ice Handling article):
DO NOT touch dry ice! Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, which forms at temperatures below 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It can give you frostbite because it is so cold. Use gloves when handling it, and use tongs for dropping it into drinks. Holding it for more than 10 seconds is considered very dangerous. DO NOT drink dry ice! Tell your guests not to drink the dry ice! The ice cube settles to the bottom of the drink and should disappear in about 5 minutes. You can technically take sips of the drink since the dry ice is in the bottom: just make sure not to let it slide to the top of the glass.
How to break dry ice into chunks
OK, so if you can’t touch the ice: how do you break it into chunks? Here are some notes on logistics for using dry ice in the Witches Brew drink:
Dry ice is available at most grocery stores. It’s sold in large blocks. Here’s a store finder. Buy the dry ice 1 to 2 hours before you plan to serve. Dry ice does not last in the freezer, so you’ll need to use it as quick as possible. Once you get it home, place the plastic bag of dry ice in a cooler with the top off. Keep away from children and pets. Right before serving, drop the plastic bag on the ground to make large chunks. This is an easy way to break it up without touching it. With goggles and gloves, break it into small chunks with a screwdriver or ice pick. The ideal size is 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks: heavy enough to sink in the drink but small enough to disappear after a few minutes. Wrap the chunks in a towel and place in a cooler with the top off until serving. Remember not to place it into the freezer!
And that’s it! It might sound tricky, but it’s easy once you’ve tried it once. All your guests will be impressed by the bubbling, boiling Witches Brew drink!
More spooky drinks
Looking for more Halloween drinks or spooky ideas for cocktails? We’ve got them! Here are a few fun Halloween cocktails to experiment with that are classic cocktails with ghoulish names:
Try a Halloween Margarita or Halloween Sangria Go for a spooky Vampire’s Kiss Make a big bowl of Halloween Punch (and spike it!) Channel wizards and witches with Butterbeer Try a Death in the Afternoon Cocktail with absinthe and champagne Go for a Corpse Reviver, a classic 1930’s drink Opt for the rum-based Zombie Cocktail
5 from 2 reviews **Dry ice is available at many grocery stores and comes in a large block. Buy it a few hours before you plan to serve the drinks (it does not store in the freezer). Read more about Dry Ice Safety here.
