A spirited cocktail for Halloween

rszagwabottleshot300dpi2Hosts can bring an otherworldly glow to their Halloween festivities with AGWA de Bolivia, literally “Water from Bolivia,” touted as the world’s original coca leaf liqueur.

It’s a truly international blend. Choice coca leaves are plucked high in the Andes and shipped to Amsterdam where Dutch artisans quickly macerate the leaves into tea and blend with Chinese green tea, ginseng, Amazon guarana and African mint for a 60-proof herbal liqueur that is a striking bright green in color.

(MSRP: $31.99 for 750 ml)

When frozen for four hours, AGWA forms ice crystals, which concentrates the color and transforms the liquid into a green glow you would be proud to serve to Martians. Fiendishly clever!

Here’s a recipe for your Halloween sipping pleasure.

Green Angel

Ingredients:

8 basil leaves

12.5ml limoncello

37.5ml gin

25ml AGWA,

25ml pure apple juice

Vanilla sugar

 

How to Mix:

In a chilled cocktail shaker, place 7 basil leaves, fill with crushed ice, drizzle limoncello and stir.

Strain off limoncello, add 3 other liquids and stir to taste.

Rim a chilled martini glass with a lime wedge and vanilla sugar. Strain contents into glass, garnish with remaining basil leaf and serve to spirited applause.