Poison Blackberry Martini - Halloween Cocktail

Poison Blackberry Martini is a Halloween-inspired classic martini. The purple tones of the blackberry and gel color really give this an eerie and dark look. It can be done in less than 5 minutes, and in 10 minutes if you make the blackberry syrup now.

 

 

It’s an elegant, dark martini for your elegant Halloween party. This Poison Blackberry Martini can easily be multiplied and you can continue the party until dawn - when you need to go back to your cave, coffin, or dungeon.

 

If this sounds like your thing, I can also recommend this Black Swan's Cranberry Sangria. If you came here for the blackberry, and not necessarily for Halloween, I can also redirect you to my new favorite - the blackberry bourbon smash.

 

Why you’ll love this recipe

 

You will love this recipe if you love elegant Halloween parties and cocktails. You will also love it if you love berry cocktails, it is not necessarily just a Halloween cocktail.

 

It is an easy drink to make with minimal ingredients - but fresh ingredients, so it has a more vibrant color and more pungent, yes, fresh flavors. Definitely my kind of martini!

 

 

Ingredients

 

The ingredients in a classic martini include

 

• Gin
• Dry vermouth

 

That's it! Sounds a bit boring, right? Well, I agree.

 

To make it more interesting, we can build on these ingredients with my homemade blackberry syrup. This blackberry syrup includes only fresh (or frozen) blackberries, water, sugar, and some lemon juice. Truly easy peasy. 

 

This will make a bright, bright red cocktail. Which is completely fine most of the time. If you want a darker, more eerie cocktail for Halloween (or just because) - activated charcoal or black gel food coloring is the way to go. 

 

 

Step-by-step instructions

 

If you haven’t made your blackberry syrup yet, follow this super easy 5 minute recipe. Add gin, vermouth, and blackberry syrup to a mixing glass, add ice cubes and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.

 

Strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a martini glass. If you want that extra Halloween flare, add a tiny bit of black food color, stir and then serve.

 

 

The black color will sink to the bottom eventually, so you may need to stir it again. 

 

Update 2022: I have since tried this cocktail with activated charcoal as well. The color gets much blacker, and it doesn't affect the flavor at all. However, it can be a little gritty, so it depends on what you prefer.

 

Anyway, I really like both the effect of the food coloring and from the activated charcoal, so don't feel the need to get one of them in particular. Either one is fine. 

 

 

Storage

 

You don't store a cocktail. But you can store the blackberry syrup for at least 1 week in the refrigerator, and then it'll take you less than 5 minutes to make the cocktail.

 

Recipe FAQs

Should a martini be stirred or shaken?

A rule of thumb when it comes to stirring or shaking a cocktail is that if it contains only alcohol - we stir it. So normally, a martini should be stirred. But in real James Bond fashion, adding blackberry syrup - we shake our Poison Blackberry Martini. 

 

 

Expert tips

Variations

No one says blackberries are the only way to make a delicious berry martini. Literally, all kinds of berries can be used in the syrup, although I think a tart berry is best.

 

You can go for raspberries, gooseberries - or a combination of a sweet and a tart berry, for example, red currants and blueberries. 

 

Oh, and if you think a passion fruit martini sounds delicious, please make sure to check out my 99 Summer Drinks too. Soo good. 

 

 

More blackberry recipes

I have been known to create all the berry recipes, including a ton of delicious blackberry recipes. Including: 

• Blackberry syrup - which is needed for this recipe
• Blackberry bourbon smash
• Balsamic blackberry basil grilled cheese
• Blackberry glazed brussels sprouts and broccoli
• French crêpes with blackberry jam and lemon cream cheese
• Blackberry lemon curd pavlova nests

 

If you want more ideas not just for blackberries, I'd check this 24 summer berry recipes round-up out. 

 

Did you like this recipe? Here are more cocktail recipes I think you’d love:

 

 

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This recipe was originally published on Oct 16th, 2018, but updated on Oct 23rd, 2022 for better photos and content.