Ghostbuster

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Cocktail History

The Ghostbuster is a Halloween cocktail that was created by Colleen Graham, a food writer and recipe developer at The Spruce Eats.

The original was made with two liqueurs, but this version of the fruity recipe, dreamed up by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of the retired Instagram account Sips From Scripts, adds more complexity by upping it to four ingredients—gin, melon liqueur, peach liqueur, and lime. It also drops in a bit of Irish cream liqueur to resemble a ghost floating in the drink.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made by redistilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals to develop a distinctive, aromatic flavor.

Melon Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with melons, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, fruity flavor.

Peach Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with peaches, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, stone fruit flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Irish Cream Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with Irish whiskey, cream, vanilla, cocoa, and sugar, which are blended to develop a spiced, creamy flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Castle & Key Distillery Roots of Ruin Gin
• 🔗 Midori Melon Liqueur
• 🔗 Mathilde Pêche Liqueur
• 🔗 Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Martini Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a wide, V-shaped bowl that’s used for serving stirred, or sometimes shaken, cocktails without ice.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 Libbey Capone Martini Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright lime green color

• Aroma: Strong melon

• Taste: Sweet peach and melon

• Finish: More melon and citrus

Kendall’s Take
“Naturally, the first thing everyone will notice about this drink is that neon green glow—it’s a total showstopper after all. Midori adds the bright, melon-forward pop, and the overall flavor is surprisingly smooth for such a visually bold cocktail. Whether you’re leaning into the playful ‘college-bar’ energy or just want something that’ll wow your Halloween crowd, the Ghostbuster is a fun, festive addition to any spooky season party.”

Recipe