Drink What You Desire: Halloween Eyeball Punch

Welcome back to Drink What You Desire, the monthly column where we explore the art and science of mixing drinks via the lens of innate human desires. Last month we celebrated workers. This month, in honor of Halloween, we’re indulging in our desire for fun and social contact by making a disturbingly delicious Halloween cocktail party punch. 

Maybe it’s because I’m queer, or maybe it’s because my birthday is three days before it, but Halloween is my favorite holiday. One of my earliest memories is of a Halloween birthday party where my dad dressed up in a scary costume and converted our basement into a haunted house—that I was certainly too scared to enter. 

I’ve always taken Halloween very seriously, sometimes planning costumes out months in advance. In 2020, when all our Halloween celebrations were online, I grew my hair out for a dyed-green Captain Planet mullet for one Instagram-based party. Then, I immediately shaved my head to become a Mad Max: Fury Road war boy for another online appearance. 

Costumes and Identity

For me, there is something about dramatically—and intentionally—altering my appearance that relates to me as a queer person. Since we’re not born with the luxury of our identities aligning with the “default,” it’s up to us to construct an identity for ourselves that’s an expression of our true selves. For many queer people, it’s not always safe to live authentically, which is why I think Halloween resonates so well. It’s a “safe” time to try out looking a completely different way without those around us asking too many questions. I wonder what the statistics are on drag performers who’s first time in drag was at a Halloween party…

Photo: Dave Soto via Unsplash

Scary Season Halloween Cocktail Fun

No scary season party would be complete without a properly spooky Halloween cocktail. This punch is a thoroughly autumnal mix of fresh apple cider, overproof apple brandy, rich port, and flammable rum. What brings this into the realm of ghouls and ghosts is the inclusion of fruity viscera. We’ll take peeled grapes (it’s not as hard as it sounds!) and apple ribbons and soak them in deep red bitters overnight. These then float around to simulate eyeballs and other disembodied tissue. Gross, but tasty!

To make chucks of ice, my preferred method is to fill deli containers with water and freeze them. If you have large ice molds, go ahead and use those. 

And an entirely optional step in the final moments of preparation is the flaming 151 rum. “151” means its alcohol concentration is 75.5% and will ignite if exposed to flame. Normal 40% spirits contain too much water to be flammable at room temperature. Only do this if you are feeling confident in your ability to pour searing hot liquid without spilling. Keep in mind that the flames from alcohol vapor are hard to spot and can often splash in surprising directions. But what’s a Halloween cocktail party without a little danger? 

Halloween Eyeball Punch: The Recipe

Makes about six servings.

The Punch

The Viscera

First, make the viscera. Combine the grapes, apple ribbons, and bitters into a sealable baggie. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can before sealing and let the fruit infuse with the bitters in the refrigerator for about 12 hours. To use, drain the solids from the bitters and add to the punch. 

For the punch, combine the cider, port, apple brandy, viscera, and ice in a large bowl (bonus points if it is Halloween-themed). Stir gently for a few moments to chill and mix the ingredients. If you’re using the flaming rum, make sure the lights are dimmed and then pour the rum into a flame-proof ladle, set aflame, and gently pour over the punch, making sure your hands (or cape) are not directly above any flaming liquid. 

To serve, ladle into your most festive glassware making sure that everyone gets a few pieces of viscera.