Black Widow
A dark, seductive drink with fresh blackberry juice, clean vodka and a touch of sweetness from syrup.
Ingredients
- Vodka, clean and neutral60 ml
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed, for the blackberry juice7 ml
- Blackberry, fresh, blended and strained into juice150 g
- Simple syrup (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)30 ml
- Blackberry, rolled in sugar, for garnish (optional)3 whole
- Active charcoal, for an extra-deep colour (optional)1 pinch
Method
- Blend fresh blackberries with lemon juice, then pass the mixture through a fine sieve to make a clear, dark blackberry juice.
- Add the blackberry juice, vodka and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. If using activated charcoal for colour, the person drinking the cocktail must not be taking medication.
- Shake hard for 15–20 seconds, until ice-cold and well combined.
- Strain over fresh ice in a glass.
- Garnish with sugar-coated blackberries, preferably on a cocktail pick for dramatic effect.
About this drink
Black Widow belongs to the modern crop of colourful Halloween drinks, where the visual matters as much as the flavour. Its deep, near-black colour comes entirely from freshly pressed blackberries, rather than colouring or liqueur, giving it a cleaner, fruitier profile than many imitators. It has become popular on American cocktail blogs as an easy homemade spooky drink for autumn parties.
Questions and answers
Can you make a Black Widow without fresh blackberries?
Defrosted frozen blackberries work well for blending the juice, and the flavour changes very little. Expect a little more straining, though, as frozen fruit is often softer and more pulpy.
Why is there a warning about activated charcoal in the recipe?
Activated charcoal is only for garnish and colour, and it binds to substances in the body, including medication, so it is not recommended for people taking regular medication. The drink tastes and works perfectly well without it.
