Black Martini

Why you Need a Black Martini at your Next Halloween Celebration

This Black Martini is the perfect cocktail for Halloween because not only is it easy to make, but it's also a balanced sweet-and-sour cocktail with the best garnish decoration. The meringue webs make this drink and you can use the meringue webs for a sweet treat as well along with my Ghost Cake Pops.

If you are looking for more Halloween cocktails, check out my Green Halloween Lychee Gin Cocktail for more inspiration or my complete list of Halloween Cocktail Recipes By Spirit. These cocktails don't just have to be for Halloween, but the colors and decorations sure make them a perfect fit.

Ingredients Needed to Make a Black Martini

• vodka of choice
• red food coloring
• blue food coloring
• green food coloring
• raspberry liqueur (I used Chambord)
• simple syrup
• freshly squeezed lime juice
• meringue spider webs
• plastic spider or candy spider for garnish (optional)

How to Make Black Vodka for a Black Martini

Pour 8 ounces of vodka into a sealable bottle or jar. Add 10 drops of red food coloring, 10 drops of blue food coloring, and 8 drops of green food coloring. Secure the lid and shake to combine. Store sealed and shake before using.

What Type of Food Coloring to Use

I find that water-based food coloring works best for making black vodka. It dissolves quickly and the drops are easy to count to get just the right color combination to achieve a black color. The color is actually more of a deep greenish-purple color, which works fine for Halloween.

How to Make a Black Widow Cocktail

Add the vodka, raspberry liqueur, simple syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Shake for 20-30 seconds until nice and cold.

Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a pre-made meringue spider web. Add a plastic toy spider or a candy spider if desired and enjoy immediately!

How to Make Meringue Spider Webs

• Preheat the oven to 200º F and prepare a baking sheet(s) with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
• Place the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt into a medium mixing bowl and beat on medium-high speed until foamy.
• Turn the mixer to high and add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, to the mixture incorporating each tablespoon each time. Continue beating until the meringue is glossy and stiff peaks form.
• Put the meringue into a piping bag with a small round piping tip. Begin to pipe spider webs onto the silicone mat. Start with a plus sign, then an x to make a 6-pointed star. Connect the points with a rounded line and then make a second row. Make sure none of the spider webs are touching
• Bake the spider webs for 25 minutes. Turn the oven off and allow the meringues to cool in the oven with the door closed for an hour. Carefully remove the spider webs from the baking sheet and place them on a plate until ready to use.

What Vodka To Use For This Cocktail

As with most cocktails, the better quality alcohol you use, the better your cocktail is going to taste. That being said, you can use your favorite vodka, and if it's inexpensive but you love it, go for it!

I used Tito's Vodka for this cocktail. I like Tito's because it's moderately priced and it has a smooth taste that works well in craft cocktails.

Expert Tips For This Recipe

• You can make the black vodka ahead of time. Store the vodka in a sealable container in a cool place. 
• This cocktail can be made as a large batch cocktail. 
• You will have a lot of meringue to make spider webs or other shapes. You can serve the extra meringues as a treat or make plenty of spider webs for a cocktail party. Store any leftover meringues in a sealed container for 1 day. 
• If you don't have a piping bag and/or a piping tip, you can use a plastic sandwich bag with the tip cut off of a corner (make it small!). 
• Candy spiders are a fun decoration, please don't eat them! You could also use gummy spider candy for an edible garnish. 

More Halloween Recipes to Check Out