erebor (g)old fashioned
Fear! Fire! Foes!
Smoking up the place today with a fiery Erebor (G)old Fashioned. This production was quite delightful from a technical standpoint: I enjoyed working with some extra props I wouldn’t normally think to use.
Obviously, I’m partial to Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and while they aren’t exactly spooky Halloween-type films or books, I think each boasts a creepy scene or two that translate into a seasonal-appropriate cocktail. I remember getting fairly spooked by certain periods of the movies: Shelob’s lair, any time Frodo was tempted by The Ring, when Smeagol bites off Frodo’s finger. Good times.
This glittery fixture is inspired by Smaug’s invasion of Erebor in The Hobbit. A smoked glass houses a sweet, warming pomegranate orange syrup laced with cinnamon and maple. Then we throw down some bourbon and bitters to class up the traditional old fashioned, and finish with a smoldering cinnamon stick and sage leave for an interesting garnish. It’s festive, soul-nurturing, and perfect for cozy evenings when it’s a bit chilly outside and you need some warmth down your gullet.
How I Did the Things
The drink itself is not complicated, so if you don’t want all the bells and whistles, don’t worry – it’s still stunning on its own.
The only bit of pre-planning required is to make the pomegranate orange syrup. All you need to do is boil down pomegranate juice and orange juice with a couple cinnamon sticks and some maple syrup to create a thicker, more concentrated sauce.
For a smoky flavor, ignite a cinnamon stick and sage leave and quickly place a cocktail glass over the smoldering aromatics. Make sure the smoking guns are on a heatproof plate or surface. Let the glass sit for a few minutes.
I’ve loved using gold glitter in drinks lately, starting with the Balrog of Morgoth Margarita a couple weeks ago. Another good one for Halloween, just saying. Add a bit of the glitter in with syrup, lemon juice, orange bitters, and bourbon, then shake it together for a swirly finish. You don’t need the glitter here if you don’t want: the drink will boast a gorgeous bloodred color without the specks.
Pour the cocktail over ice and serve! I like to ignite another cinnamon stick and sage leaf and plop it on top for a bit of extra eeriness.
Choose your occasion to serve this drink: elegant dinner party, bustling costume event, or just a gentle night in watching tv. Tolkien marathon, perhaps?
Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
Spooky eats with spooky drinks:
Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Creepy Crawly Pumpkin Patch Chocolate Cupcakes
erebor (g)old fashioned
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving
- 2 tbsp maple syrup, plus more for the drink as needed
- 2 tbsp pomegranate orange syrup
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- dash orange bitters
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/4 tsp edible gold glitter (optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepot, bring the pomegranate juice orange juice to a boil. Toss in the cinnamon sticks and maple syrup and cook until reduced by half and thickened, about 8-10 minutes. Remove and discard the cinnamon sticks. Cool. You will have syrup for about 3 cocktails.
- To smoke the glass: on a heatproof plate, use a kitchen torch to ignite the tips of a cinnamon stick and a sage leave. Quickly turn a cocktail glass over the stick and sage to capture the smoke. Let sit 3-5 minutes.
- Fill a glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker, combine the syrup, lemon juice, bitters, bourbon, and glitter (if using). Shake or stir to combine and pour into the prepared glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and sage leaf, as desired.
