With Halloween creeping ever closer, it's a great time to start getting into the spirit of things, starting with a tasty tipple (or two).
The spooky celebration, dedicated to remembering the dead, saints, hallows and martyrs, has also become an excuse for adults to dress up, drink and commit all kinds of debauchery - why should the kids have all the fun? Plus, what better way to celebrate our dearly departed than to raise a glass in their honour?
Frankie Walker, the founder of local cocktail company Black Pineapple, has shared with Newshub his top tips for crafting a dangerously good punch at home, perfect for a party, get-together or festive Friday night-in with the flatties. It's also very easy to customise for any occasion.
He reckons punch is a great go-to for entertaining as it can be made in advance and requires minimal effort, taking the hassle out of hosting. He recommends getting the prep done ahead of time so you can dedicate more energy to your creepy costume.
"Making a punch in advance also ensures you have control over the consistency and strength of the cocktails," he added.
To help, Walker has also shared his three principles of punch, so listen up.
"Throwing together a punch is easy when you know and understand the punch principles! Try to commit this mantra to memory and you'll never be stuck for a recipe again," he said.
"To make a fantastically balanced punch, just think about the recipe in parts. That way no matter how many drinks you're catering, you'll always get it right."
The punch principles are simple: one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak and five is spice. For example, the sour could be fresh-pressed lemon, lime or grapefruit juice, the sweet could be cordials, liqueurs, or sugar syrups, and for the strong, simply add your spirit of choice. The weak will be a juice, soda or other mixer, and five is what adds some extra punch to your punch; think fresh herbs, and a few dashes of bitters per drink for depth of flavour.
"The great news is that one plus two plus three plus four equals 10, so if one part is 100ml, then 10 parts is 1 litre - I told you it was easy," Walker added.
For Frankie Walker's party punch, you'll need:
- 1 part lemon juice (or lime)
- 2 parts passionfruit syrup (Shott is available at most supermarkets)
- 3 parts rum - whatever colour you have - it could also be a blend if you've got a few bottles open
- 4 parts pineapple juice
- Lemon wheels, star anise, pink peppercorns and nutmeg to garnish - take a trip to your local Asian supermarket if your spices need replenishing.
Method:
- Juice your citrus (fresh is always best).
- Combine all the liquid ingredients in your punch bowl and chill.
- Add plenty of ice before your guests arrive (the more ice, the slower it will melt, giving you better flavours in the punch).
- Time to garnish: a tip is to decorate the surface of the punch like a cake (we drink with our eyes!) and don't forget to prepare some extra garnish for your guests to finish off their own individual cocktail.
- Then, Halloween-ify it! A trip to your local LookSharp or $2 Shop is your friend here; think plastic insects, edible silly string and fake eyeballs.
Alternatively, Black Pineapple also offers a freakishly delish Halloween-themed cocktail kit for Kiwis celebrating at home. The 'Braindead' Cocktail Kit, Black Pineapple's twist on the classic zombie cocktail, is packed with premium rums and the tropical fruit flavours of the Caribbean, spiked with bitters and a touch of anise. The standard kit comes complete with garnish and grapefruit soda, containing all the ingredients you need to make your desired number of drinks. Entertaining made easy!
If you're looking for other Halloween-themed offerings, National Distillery Co has a Halloween edition London dry gin which could make the perfect spooky centrepiece for your drinks table. The limited release is naturally coloured using blue tea blossoms, giving this dry gin a fun neon colour that will give your G&Ts a suitably spooky glow. Add your favourite citrus or tonic and watch the colour-changing magic happen.