Lady Death Scotch Cocktail
Lady Death is a honey, pomegranate, smoked citrus scotch cocktail recipe for the harvest, honoring the dead (& death). Inspired by Samhain, this is a perfect halloween scotch whiskey cocktail to celebrate the occasion and remember loved ones.
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At Samhain, we celebrate the dead, remember those that have passed, and connect with spirits. With the harvest scythe’s connection with barley (and death), and it’s approachable smokey flavor, Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scotch Whisky was the perfect base for this death cocktail.
This recipe was crafted in part due to an instagram sponsorship with Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scotch Whisky, and I’m excited to share it here. I’ve been wanting to do a death cocktail for a while (especially with Rio being revealed as Death in Agatha All Along) and believe it or not—I don’t have a scotch drink recipe on my site yet! Honestly, this scotch is SUPER approachable and sippable on it’s own–I was very impressed and think its a good choice for scotch beginners.
You can grab a bottle here:
Ingredient Inspiration for a Lady Death Cocktail
For this scotch cocktail, I took inspiration from death and harvest goddesses, as well as remembering those that have passed. Here is the meaning of each ingredient, as it pertains to this recipe:
- Pomegranate seeds ~ for the 6 seeds Persephone (Greek goddess of the Underworld) swallows, that binds her to the Underworld 6 months of the year.
- Smoked rosemary ~ as both a garnish and ingredient, for remembrance of those that have passed & mental powers (for spirit communication)
- Rose honey syrup* ~ for harvest, spirituality, love (fond memories/feelings)
- Lemon, freshly juiced ~ for the harvest moon
- Apple juice ~ for the harvest, life & death
- Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scotch ~ for the harvest, scythe & ancestors
- Optional absinthe rinse of glass ~ for the unseen realm
- Red wine float ~ for the body, blood, & sacrifice
Non-Alcoholic Substitutes
For a nonalcoholic substitute of Ardbeg, I recommend Lyre’s American Malt – it has a similar smokiness, and then dealcoholized red wine. I absolutely love dealcoholized red wine, and have personally tried Fre and loved it.
Lady Death Cocktail
Ingredients
- 6 arils pomegranate
- 1 sprig rosemary lightly smoked tip
- 3/4 ounce rose honey syrup or traditional honey syrup sans rose (instructions below)
- 1/2 ounce lemon freshly squeezed
- 1/2 ounce apple juice
- 1.5 ounce Ardbeg Wee Beastie Scotch
- 1/2 ounce red wine for float
- 1-2 skull ice cubes for finished drink display, optional
Non-Alcoholic Mocktail Subsitutions
- 1.5 ounce Lyre's American Malt I would lessen honey syrup to 1/2 and add more to taste, if needed. The American Malt has a sublet carmel component that lessens the needs for more sweetness.
- 1/2 ounce Dealcoholized Red Wine
Rose-Honey Syrup
- 1 tbsp dried rose petals food grade
- 1/3 cup hot water
- 1/3 cup honey added after steeping rose in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
Instructions
- Lightly smoked rosemary with match. Drop into shaker and add pomegranate and honey syrup.
- Muddle pomegranate seeds and rosemary in syrup in shaker. Add in lemon, apple juice, scotch, and ice.
- Shake and strain into desired glass over large skull cubes (ideally). Gently pour red wine atop large cubes to lessen the force, allowing the red wine to float at the top.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig, smoking the tip to burn in remembrance.
Rose-Honey Syrup
- Steep rose petals in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Stir in honey after until mixed. Infuse longer in the fridge, if desired.
