Witch’s Heart

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Cocktail History

The Witch’s Heart is a popular Halloween cocktail that was created in 2015 by Dini Kodippili, the recipe developer behind The Flavor Bender.

The original recipe used a homemade shimmery blackberry liqueur that was meant to mimic the now discontinued Viniq Liqueurs. Rather than wait for an ingredient to infuse for a week, this version’s creator, Alex Sukopp, former bartender of the retired Instagram account Sips From Scripts, chose to use raspberry and blackcurrant liqueurs, and I aimed to make it a little more balanced and sophisticated by going with apple brandy in place of vodka and adding citrus.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Raspberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with raspberries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet-tart, berry flavor.

Apple Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with fermented apple juice and yeast, which is distilled and aged to develop a smooth, fruity flavor.

Crème De Cassis: This is a liqueur made with blackcurrants, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a dark, tart berry flavor.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

Purple Luster Dust: This is an edible decorating powder that adds sparkle.

Blackberries: This is a type of aggregate berry made of small drupelets that have a deep purple color and sweet-tart flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 🔗 Laird’s Blended Applejack
• 🔗 LEJAY ORIGINAL Crème De Cassis Liqueur
• 🔗 Oh! Sweet Art 100% Edible Violet Luster Dust

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.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender skewer made from metal, wood, or bamboo that’s used for holding cocktail garnishes in place.

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
• 🔗 I-MART Silver Metal Cocktail Pick Set
• 🔗 Libbey Embassy Martini Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark sparkly purple color

• Aroma: Mixed berries

• Taste: Candy-sweet flavor balanced with lemon

• Finish: Slightly tart apple

Kendall’s Take
“This Halloween cocktail shines with a mix of berry flavors and a touch of citrus, giving it a vibrant, balanced profile that elevates it above the usual candy-sweet seasonal drinks. The tweaks to its spirit and liqueur lineup make this version of the Witch’s Heart lively and well suited for serving friends during spooky season. I’d call it playful, approachable, and full of flavor—nice for mixing a little sophistication into your Halloween cocktail menu.”

Recipe