Witch's Blood Elixir

Description: Conjure the dark and mysterious essence of Halloween with this chillingly delicious cocktail. The Witch's Blood Elixir combines the tart and sweet flavors of a homemade blackberry-thyme shrub, eerie green Chartreuse, and dark rum. This bewitching blend is topped with a splash of sparkling water and garnished with a sprig of thyme and a few dried chili flakes for an added spellbinding effect. Ingredients: - 2 oz dark rum - 1 oz homemade blackberry-thyme shrub (recipe below) - 0.5 oz green Chartreuse - 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice - 2 oz sparkling water - Fresh thyme sprig and dried chili flakes for garnish Blackberry-Thyme Shrub: - 1 cup fresh blackberries - 1 cup apple cider vinegar - 1 cup sugar - 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme Instructions for Shrub: 1. In a bowl, combine the blackberries and sugar. Muddle them together until the berries release their juice and the mixture is well combined. 2. Add the thyme sprigs and let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes to macerate. 3. Pour the apple cider vinegar over the mixture, stirring to dissolve the sugar. 4. Transfer the mixture to a clean jar and seal it. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours, shaking occasionally to help the flavors meld. 5. Strain the shrub through a fine mesh sieve to remove the solids. Keep the shrub refrigerated. Instructions for Cocktail: 1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. 2. Add dark rum, blackberry-thyme shrub, green Chartreuse, and lime juice to the shaker. 3. Shake vigorously until well-chilled. 4. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice. 5. Top with sparkling water and gently stir. 6. Garnish with a fresh thyme sprig and a sprinkle of dried chili flakes. Glass: Rocks glass