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If you want a truly unique cocktail for your Halloween get together, it begins with @vonpaynewhiskey. Von Payne Black is an aged blended whiskey infused with Natural Black Currant. Slightly tart and subtly sweet, it flows a rich red color through a distinctive and WAY COOL gargoyle spout that is just perfect for Halloween. It inspired me to craft this gorgeously spooky ‘Old Phantom’ cocktail. It’s my ‘break the rules’ version of the classic Old Fashion. Instead of adding a simple syrup and bitters that might overwhelm the complexities of Von Payne, I rimmed a coupe glass with a candy flame infused with orange oil and served Von Payne Black simply with fresh orange peel and a single black ice skull. Each sip from the rim adds just a hint of added sweetness. Enjoy responsibly.
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Old Phantom
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Von Payne Black Whiskey (oz. for each cocktail)
- 1 Orange peel
- 1 black skull ice cube (optional) (Add black food coloring to water before freezing)
Candy Flame
- 1 cup Isomalt (granulated)
- ¼ cup water
- 3 drops red food coloring
- 2 drops orange oil (flavoring for candy)
Instructions
Candy Flames (Make ahead)
- Before you begin you will need to set up a make shift rack to hang the coupe glasses upside down while the sugar cools to get the look of flames. I used a vertical coffee mug rack, a cookie sheet, some big pots and a stack of books to get the height I needed to allow the sugar to drip without touching the countertop. Not to worry if you don't have something like this, you can make the glasses one at a time and hold upside down until cooled and then reheat the Isomalt for each glass. Give yourself some time to make these...they will take a bit of practice to experiment with the cooling isomalt mixture to get the right look of the flames. Add Isomalt and water to a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until mixture dissolves. Insert candy thermometer and cook without stirring until the temperature reaches 320° F, then remove from heat. Stir in food coloring and flavoring to the hot Isomalt and allow it to cool for 5-8 minutes. The mixture will be very thick. Dip the rim of a coupe glass into the mixture and rotate to coat the rim. Rotate the glass as you pull it out of the isomalt to create a curtain of candy. If a candy curtain doesn't form it may be too hot so allow it to cool a few minutes more and dip the glass in again. This will take practice and if the isomalt cools too much just reheat it. It can be reheated several times.
Skull Ice Cubes (Make ahead)
- Optional: Add black food coloring to the water before freezing. Freeze overnight.
Assembly
- Pour 1½ ounces of chilled Von Payne Black into coupe glass with orange peel and a skull ice cube and serve. Enjoy responsibly.
