Spooky Season is upon us! The days are getting longer & darker, and there’s a sense of mystery in the air. I love listening to the sound of the crackling leaves, the snuggly feeling of cold nights under warm covers, and the scent of hardwood smoke hovering outside. Autumn has truly arrived here in New England! It’s time to celebrate Halloween with a delicious Dark Magic Margarita!
With COVID19 restrictions and smaller gatherings the new norm, why not make holiday entertaining as easy & elegant as possible! I prefer little nibbles in the form of Charcuterie Boards and a Signature Cocktail to simplify my bar needs. Serving a signature ‘bespoke’ cocktail and offering an array of wines & beers, makes home entertaining a real breeze! There’s also something really special about whipping up a drink for a special small gathering, or in this case, a lovely friend!
I have had the pleasure of knowing the ultra chic Jaimie Tucker (one of New England’s most in-demand Fashion & Lifestyle creators) for years. She is a dear friend of mine and her West Coast style with an East Coast edge, makes her one of the most popular specialists in the genre. Jaimie’s fresh looks & helpful lifestyle hints can be found over on her gorgeous blog, JaimieTucker.com! We have joined up on several occasions to bring the best home entertaining tips & tricks to our readers. But, really… it’s just a great excuse to get-together over a cocktail!
It’s always a delight collaborating with Jaimie! This time, we brainstormed & decided to create a very special cocktail in honor of the fall season! To capture Jaimie’s fun spirit, I’ve whipped up a delicious dark-fruit-forward Plum & Pomengranate Margarita!
But first…Want to join the party?!
As a special highlight for our followers, Jaimie & I will be teaming up again and going LIVE on Instagram this Sunday, October 25th, at 11am, with a helpful holiday flower arranging class! Join us on Instagram Live on either one of our accounts; @straighttothehipsbaby or @Jaimie_Tucker.
We will be working with some gorgeous blooms, and I’ll share my best secrets for creating a gorgeous, yet budget friendly, holiday centerpiece!
Be sure to follow both accounts, as we have another super special collaboration coming up, just in time for Thanksgiving!
Let’s get cocktail making!
Sweet, sophisticated, and a little bit earthy, this Dark Magic Margarita is the perfect Halloween cocktail recipe and dives head first into the deepest autumn fruit flavors. We start with an intense black plum reduction – one of the easiest special cocktail ingredients I’ve ever made! I combined the juicy plum flavor with cherry-pomegranate juice, fresh lime, and a smooth anejo tequila. Add a splash of Cointreau, and this special original cocktail will have your guests raving for years to come!
Jaimie’s Dark Magic Margarita
makes 2 cocktails
2 tablespoons of plum reduction (see below for the recipe)
2 ounces Cointreau
2 ounces of anejo tequila
4 ounces of pomegranate cherry juice
juice of 1 fresh lime
ice
plum slices for garnish
splash of soda water (optional)
Prepare two highball glasses with ice and reserve
In the cup of a cocktail shaker, add the plum reduction, Cointreau, tequila, pomegranate cherry juice, and lime.
Next, add a generous handful of ice to your shaker and close the lid.
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker becomes frosted.
Place a small fine mesh sieve over your serving glass and strain the drink into two glasses.
Top with soda water if desired. Garnish with a half round of plum or cocktail stirrer with blackberries.
Plum Reduction
3 black plums, washed and pitted
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Chop your plums roughly and add them to a medium sized saucepan.
Add the sugar & lemon juice, and give the mixture a quick stir.
Place the saucepan over medium heat.
While stirring occasionally, bring the fruit mixture to a boil.
Boil for about 10 minutes, while stirring periodically, until soft and jammy.
Once cooked, remove from the heat. Using a potato masher, mash the remaining fruit pieces.
Next, take a fine mesh sieve and place over a a medium sized mixing bowl. Pour the cooked fruit into the sieve. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the fruit through the sieve, releasing the juices and keeping the pulp.
Discard the pulp (or eat over yogurt, like I like to do!).
Let the reduction cool, and place into an airtight storage container. Refrigerate.
Use within 3-5 days.
Dark Magic Margarita
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of plum reduction see below for the recipe
- 2 ounces Cointreau
- 2 ounces of anejo tequila
- 4 ounces of pomegranate cherry juice
- juice of 1 fresh lime
- ice
- plum slices for garnish
- splash of soda water optional
Instructions
- Prepare two highball glasses with ice and reserve
- In the cup of a cocktail shaker, add the plum reduction, Cointreau, tequila, pomegranate cherry juice, and lime.
- Next, add a generous handful of ice to your shaker and close the lid.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker becomes frosted.
- Place a small fine mesh sieve over your serving glass and strain the drink into two glasses.
- Top with soda water if desired. Garnish with a half round of plum or cocktail stirrer with blackberries.
Plum Reduction
Ingredients
- 3 black plums washed and pitted
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Chop your plums roughly and add them to a medium sized saucepan.
- Add the sugar & lemon juice, and give the mixture a quick stir.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat.
- While stirring occasionally, bring the fruit mixture to a boil.
- Boil for about 10 minutes, while stirring periodically, until soft and jammy.
- Once cooked, remove from the heat. Using a potato masher, mash the remaining fruit pieces.
- Next, take a fine mesh sieve and place over a a medium sized mixing bowl. Pour the cooked fruit into the sieve. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the fruit through the sieve, releasing the juices and keeping the pulp.
- Discard the pulp (or eat over yogurt, like I like to do!).
- Let the reduction cool, and place into an airtight storage container. Refrigerate.
- Use within 3-5 days.
Originally published October 2019, Last Updated October 2020
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