Sandy Claws and the Pumpkin King

Inspired by Jack Skellington’s plot to take over Christmas, the “Sandy Claws and the Pumpkin King” cocktail layers minty candy-cane flavors beneath a creamy pumpkin-pie topping to create a festive, spooky drink that visually and deliciously blends Halloween and Christmas. (Recipe Below)

Jack Skellington as the Pumpkin King is planning on taking over Christmas. This inspired our second cocktail "Sandy Claws and the Pumpkin King". This layered cocktail has Halloween Pumpkin Pie flavors on top and finishes with a shot of Christmas candy cane; served in a tall Collins glass so you can savor this cocktail through (Ken Page) Oogie Boogie's song. Start with the candy cane layer by mixing together Green Crème De Menthe and White Crème De Cacao, layer on top of that a mix of Rumpleminze and Grenadine Syrup for the look and taste of Sandy Claws. Then top with pumpkin pie by shaking together Spiced Rum, Butterscotch Schnapps, Fireball, Half and Half and Pumpkin Puree. The result is a creamy, sweet and spiced layer; top it with nutmeg and it'll taste just like a pumpkin pie smoothie. Just as smooth as the Pumpkin King's Christmas takeover. Finish the look by adding a spooky cherry garnish dipped in Halloween sprinkles.

1 oz (30mL) Rumple Minze

.5 oz (15 mL) Grenadine Syrup

1 oz (30 mL) Spiced Rum

.5 oz(15 mL) Butterscotch Schnapps

.5 oz (15 mL) Fireball

.5 oz (15 mL) Half and Half

.5 oz (15 mL) Pumpkin Puree

4 dashes Orange Bitters (divided)

2 Droppers Saline (divided)

.5 oz (15 mL) Creme de Menthe

.5 oz (15 mL) Creme De Cacao

Maraschino Cherry

Halloween Sprinkles

Christmas Sprinkles

Grated Nutmeg

Prepare a Collins Glass with a rim of Halloween sprinkles on one half and Christmas Sprinkles on the other half. Chill

Combine in a mixing glass 1 oz Rumple Minze, .5 oz Grenadine, dropper of saline and 2 dashes of orange bitters. Stir to combine (No ice needed)

Combine in a shaker 1.5 oz Spiced Rum, .5 oz Butterschnapps, .5 oz Fireball, 5 oz Half and Half, .5 oz Pumpkin Puree, dropper of saline and 2 dashes of orange bitters, dry shake with a spring for 10 seconds. Fill with ice and shake for 30 seconds.

Into the collins glass add .25 oz Creme De Menthe and .25 oz Creme De Cacao. Add ice.

Layer Rumple Minze mixture. Then, Strain Pumpkin Cocktail on top.

Garnish with grated nutmeg, and a maraschino cherry on top.

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Rumple Minze

Country: Germany
ABV: 100 proof/50%
Brand: Diageo Company
Spirits Type: Liqueurs/Cordials/Schnapps
Taste: Mint, Herbal, Spice
Price Category: $
German style peppermint schnapps although largely unknown to Germany. The high proof lends itself to its strong peppermint smell and taste.
Kraken Spiced Rum

Country: Dominican Republic
ABV: 94 proof/84%
Brand: Proximo Spirits
Spirits Type: Spiced Rum
Taste: Spice, Caramel
Price Category: $
Distilled from sugar cane molasses, aged, then blended with proprietary blend of spices. The result is a warming rum by flavor and alcohol burn. Vanilla and pie spice flavors accompany the warmth.
Butterscotch Schnapps

Country: United States
ABV: 31 proof/15.5%
Brand: DeKuyper
Spirits Type: Liqueurs/Cordials/Schnapps
Taste: Warm, intense butterscotch, syrupy sweet
Price Category: $
A brandy based liqueur that is neutral in flavor, then sweetened with sugar and mixed with caramel flavoring and color. Texture and color is similar to a light agave syrup, but the flavor tastes just like the warm Werther's your grandpa used to give you to keep quiet.
Fireball Whiskey

Country: Canada
ABV: 66 proof/33%
Brand: Sazerac Company
Spirits Type: Flavored Whisky
Taste: Sweet, Full-bodied spices and deep cinnamon, whisky warmth
Price Category: $
A blended Canadian whisky with sweeteners and cinnamon flavoring added to produce a syrupy sweet and bright cinnamon flavor.
Creme de Menthe

Country: United States
ABV: 30 proof/15%
Brand: DeKuyper/Fortune Brands
Spirits Type: Liqueur/Cordials/Schnapps
Taste: Syrupy Sweet, Mint, Herbal, Spice
Price Category: $
A syrupy sweet liqueur with a strong mint flavor, lightly herbal. Chosen for its bright green color made by artificial food dyes.
Creme de Cacao

Country: United States
ABV: 54 proof/27%
Brand: DeKuyper
Spirits Type: Liqueurs/Cordials/Schnapps
Taste: Candy sweet chocolate
Price Category: $
A sweet liqueur made by redistilling alcohol with pure cacao. This liqueur tastes lightly of chocolate and slight vanilla notes.
Orange Bitters

Country: Trinidad and Tobago
ABV: 90 proof/45%
Brand: House of Angostura
Spirits Bitters
Taste: Citrus, Baking Spices and Vanilla
Price Category: $
Bitters are made by concentrating flavors into an alcohol base. Orange bitters vary by brand, but are generally made with bitter orange peel, cardamom, caraway, coriander, anise and toasted sugar.
Grenadine Syrup

Grenadine is a common non-alcoholic beverage syrup used for its color, sweetness and syrup consistency. Commercially produced grenadine is more sweet and less citrusy from artisan made grenadine. Grenadine syrup is easy to make in small batches at home resulting in more pomegranate flavor.
To Make It:
1 cup (8 oz, 240mL) Pomegranate Juice
1 cup (200 g) Organic Cane Sugar
In a small saucepan, combine Pomegranate Juice and Sugar over medium low heat. Stir to combine and allow to heat until the sugar has dissolved and very small bubbles appear, remove from heat and do not stir. Allow to cool to room temperature and strain into a syrup bottle.
Half and Half

10.5% - 18% fat
Half and half is an equal parts mixture of cream and milk. Now, there are great non-dairy options in the market.
Pumpkin Puree

Pure pumpkin is lightly sweet and vegetal. It can bring a thickness and silky texture to a cocktail as well as help carry flavor to the back of the palate.
Sugar Sprinkles

A festive way to add a color pop to the rim of a glass.
Nutmeg

A warming spice that adds a light sweetness that can add depth of flavor to a cocktail. A common ingredient in aromatic bitters and tiki spice mixes.
Salt/Saline

Salt/Saline is a great flavor booster. It can balance sweetness and bitterness, smoothing out a cocktail. It can also enhance citrus flavor and acidity without the need for more acid.
A pinch of salt can be added to the cocktail, but for consistency, saline is easy to make and allows more control.
To Make It:
2 oz (60mL) Distilled or Purified Water
1 Tbsp (15g) Fine Sea Salt
Combine in a jar and shake vigorously. Once salt is dissolved, pour into a dropper bottle.

Raising Spirits in Halloween Town: Two Cocktails Worthy of Jack Skellington's Holiday Takeover

In Tim Burton’s cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington (voiced by Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon) grows weary of ruling Halloween and becomes obsessed with reinventing himself after discovering Christmas Town, leading him and the residents of Halloween Town to kidnap Santa Claus and stage their own delightfully misguided version of Christmas. Inspired by Sally's struggle to escape her creator, Dr. Finkelstein, our first cocktail, "Sally's Revenge," combines absinthe, tomato saccharum, lime juice, and aquafaba into a silky, herbaceous drink that channels the spirit of her poisonous concoctions while delivering bright late-summer flavors. As Sally watches Jack's Christmas ambitions spiral out of control, she becomes the emotional center of the story—and the inspiration for a cocktail that's equal parts elegant and rebellious. Our second drink, "Sandy Claws and the Pumpkin King," mirrors Jack's holiday takeover with layered candy-cane and pumpkin-pie flavors, blending crème de menthe, crème de cacao, Rumple Minze, grenadine, spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps, Fireball, and pumpkin purée into a festive collision of Halloween and Christmas. Like the film itself, both cocktails celebrate the strange magic of "Spookmas," ending on a note of holiday cheer, redemption, and the sweet realization that sometimes the best version of yourself is the one you were all along.