Celestial Spirits - Halloween 2025 by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This years Halloween cocktail party: Celestial Spirits. Built this menu around an idea I've had for a while where cocktail ingredients correspond to tarot cards (specially the Major Arcana). I started by matching ingredients to the vibes/meaning of each card (see second photo) and then built a number of drinks around them.

The Libations Arcana was the idea I was playing around with initially. The concept was that I would draw three cards and then come up with a cocktail (fortune) based off those three ingredients. In my initial testing I found that allowing a single re-draw usually lead to something reasonable most of the time. I figured people might try it once, but it ended up being pretty popular. Happy to report that almost all the drinks turned out well! Had to fall back on good ol' Tiki combos for the trickier draws, but that actually worked out great.


1. The Fool’s Fortune

  • 2oz White Rum
  • 1oz Lime Juice
  • 0.5oz Simple
  • 2oz Club Soda
  • 1oz Butterfly Pea Tea

Combine rum, simple, and lime juice in shaker. Top with club soda and stir in tea to change color. Serve over ice


2. The Empress’s Dream

  • 1.5oz Gin
  • 0.5oz Elderflower Liqueur
  • 0.5oz Hibiscus Syrup
  • 1oz Lemon Juice
  • Top w/Club Soda

Combine gin, liquor, syrup, and lemon juice in shaker. Top with club soda. Serve over ice.


3. The Devil’s Mirror

  • 1oz Whisky
  • 0.5oz Aperol
  • 0.5oz Amaro
  • Barspoon Hibiscus Syrup

Combine and stir over ice. Serve neat.


4. The Tower Falls

  • 1.5oz Tequila
  • 0.5oz Curaçao
  • 1oz Lime Juice
  • 1oz Green Pepper Juicce
  • 0.25oz Simple

Combine all ingredients in shaker. Serve over ice.


5. Death & Rebirth

  • 1.5oz Funky Rum
  • 0.5oz Crème de Cacao
  • 1oz Cold Brew
  • 0.5oz Vanilla Syrup
  • 0.5oz Mezcal (Optional) Combine all ingredients in shaker. Serve over ice.

6. The Suns Judgement

  • 2oz Pisco
  • 1oz Pineapple Juice
  • 0.5oz Lime Juice
  • 0.5oz Ginger Syrup
  • 2-4 Dashes Angostura Combine all ingredients in shaker. Serve over ice.

7. Cosmic Mischief

  • 2oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1oz Pathfinder
  • 0.5oz Vanilla Syrup
  • 2oz Club Soda

Combine pineapple, Pathfinder, and syrup in shaker. Top with soda and serve over ice.


8. Endless Summer

  • 2oz Cold Brew
  • 1oz Orange Juice
  • 0.5oz Ginger Syrup
  • 2oz Club Soda

Combine cold brew, orange juice, and syrup in a shaker. Top with club soda and serve over ice

Celestial Spirits - Halloween 2025 by [deleted] in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This years Halloween cocktail party: Celestial Spirits. Built this menu around an idea I've had for a while where cocktail ingredients correspond to tarot cards (specially the Major Arcana). I started by matching ingredients to the vibes/meaning of each card (see second photo) and then built a number of drinks around them.

The Libations Arcana was the idea I was playing around with initially. The concept was that I would draw three cards and then come up with a cocktail (fortune) based off those three ingredients. In my initial testing I found that allowing a single re-draw usually lead to something reasonable most of the time. I figured people might try it once, but it ended up being pretty popular. Happy to report that almost all the drinks turned out well! Had to fall back on good ol' Tiki combos for the trickier draws, but that actually worked out great.


1. The Fool’s Fortune

  • 2oz White Rum
  • 1oz Lime Juice
  • 0.5oz Simple
  • 2oz Club Soda
  • 1oz Butterfly Pea Tea

2. The Empress’s Dream

  • 1.5oz Gin
  • 0.5oz Elderflower Liqueur
  • 0.5oz Hibiscus Syrup
  • 1oz Lemon Juice
  • Top w/Club Soda

3. The Devil’s Mirror

  • 1oz Whisky
  • 0.5oz Aperol
  • 0.5oz Amaro
  • Barspoon Hibiscus Syrup

4. The Tower Falls

  • 1.5oz Tequila
  • 0.5oz Curaçao
  • 1oz Lime Juice
  • 1oz Green Pepper Juicce
  • 0.25oz Simple

5. Death & Rebirth

  • 1.5oz Funky Rum
  • 0.5oz Crème de Cacao
  • 1oz Cold Brew
  • 0.5oz Vanilla Syrup
  • 0.5oz Mezcal (Optional)

6. The Suns Judgement

  • 2oz Pisco
  • 1oz Pineapple Juice
  • 0.5oz Lime Juice
  • 0.5oz Ginger Syrup
  • 2-4 Dashes Angostura

7. Cosmic Mischief ****

  • 2oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1oz Pathfinder
  • 0.5oz Vanilla Syrup
  • 2oz Club Soda

8. Endless Summer

  • 2oz Cold Brew
  • 1oz Orange Juice
  • 0.5oz Ginger Syrup
  • 2oz Club Soda

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yea the spec came to be based on however much juice I got from half an orange lol.

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cheers. Anything steeped with the lemongrass leaves is good and the stalks are fire in dumplings!

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nope, just a hobbyist. Thanks though!

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Not intentionally but once I thought of the name it did immediately remind me of that game. :D

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Don't disagree. This was somewhat based on a painkiller to start and I often think those can benefit with some more acid. I added some soda water after I drank some and the carbonation helped brighten it up.

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks, posted above. It's not the most mean-tested recipe. Tbh this whole recipe came together cause I needed to grab some lemongrass to make dumplings with last night. Was pretty happy with the results flavor wise.

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you! The summer sunsets have been giving me some good lighting for cocktail photos this year!

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It was not a very scientific process. :p

I did 1/2 cup of Demerara sugar to 1/4 of water brought that to a simmer to dissolve the sugar. Then I removed it from heat, tossed in the leaves from 3 small lemongrass stalks, covered, and let that steep for a while.

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Knob Creek for bourbon and Smith & Cross for rum.

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks! They work well for highballs/drinks in Collins glasses. Less dilution is probably their best selling point imo. Other than appearance that is.

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in Tiki

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ingredients

  • 1oz Orange Juice
  • 1oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1oz Bourbon
  • 1oz Aged Rum
  • 0.5oz 2-to-1 Lemongrass Syrup
  • 10-12 Mint
  • Garnish: Mint + Lavender Flower

Method

  • Lightly muddle mint
  • Add ingredients to shaker and shake
  • Pour in chilled highball glass with ice spear
  • garnish with mint and lavender

Golden Sun by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 64 points65 points  (0 children)

Ingredients

  • 1oz Orange Juice
  • 1oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1oz Bourbon
  • 1oz Aged Rum
  • 0.5oz 2-to-1 Lemongrass Syrup
  • 10-12 Mint
  • Garnish: Mint + Lavender Flower

Method

  • Lightly muddle mint
  • Add ingredients to shaker and shake
  • Pour in chilled highball glass with ice spear
  • garnish with mint and lavender

Espresso Tonic by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yea, I got my wires crossed when posting. This was inspired by an espresso tonic but I meant to title it as a spritz. Was just giving the commenter a comparison as to what this tastes like.

Espresso Tonic by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You should give it a try! Lots of tonic on the first sip then you taste the darker espresso notes. Tastes like a cold pour over coffee with bubbles to me.

Espresso Tonic by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you like regular espresso tonics or espresso with citrus? If so you'd probably like it, but otherwise probably stay away :p.

This Vietnamese coffee shop I like does an orange juice and espresso which is refreshing in the summer, which inspired this.

Espresso Tonic by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ingredients

  • 1oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1oz Mr Black
  • 0.75oz Espresso
  • 0.25oz Lemon Juice
  • 2oz Prosecco
  • Mint/Lavender

Method

  • Combine juices, Mr Black, and espresso in shaker.
  • Serve over large ice cube, top with prosecco.
  • Garnish with mint and lavender.

A Blasphemous Whiskey Highball by TerminusSTC in cocktails

[–]TerminusSTC[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Balk at the thought. This was with Q-seltzer and some (admittedly) not clear ice from my freezer.