Spooky Spirits and Creepy Cocktails!

By Dave Smith

Crystal Head Vodka

One of the most baffling archaeological mysteries mankind has ever encountered is that of the 13 Crystal Skulls. These enigmas are believed to be between 5000 and 35,000 years old and were carved over a period of several hundred years…but show no tool markings whatsoever. In fact, their very existence defies the laws of physics and common logic. Are they divine? From another planet? Theories differ, but many who know of the skulls believe they offer spiritual power to those who hold or possess them.

Now, we’re not sure whether it’s an other-wordly tie-in with “Ghostbusters” or not, but Crystal Head Vodka is the brainchild (sorry, couldn’t resist) of actor Dan Aykroyd, who has followed the legends of the skulls for many years and explains: “Navajo believe that the crystal skulls were bestowed on their people as a gift from higher beings not of this Earth as a means of cataloguing sacred cultural knowledge from the past, assessing the present, and foretelling the future.Contrary to the common perception of a skull as representing death… the Aztec, Mayan and North American First Nations, for whom these artifacts possess sacred and mystical properties – associate the crystal heads with a life-affirming symbology. In ancient tellings, the heads are living and sentient, sources of knowledge, insight and power.”

Sharing Aykroyd interest in the skulls and [liquid!] spirits is artist John Alexander, who created the anatomically correct skull containers for the vodka. “ We thought it would be worthwhile and fun to develop a pure spirit to commemorate the legend and its positive meaning.”

Legends and mystical properties aside, what makes Crystal Head so incredibly smooth? Says Aykroyd, It’s “a pure spirit from Newfoundland glacial pool water, and peaches and cream corn mash. It is quadrupled distilled and filtered three times through charcoal followed by triple filtration over Herkimer crystals from one of the planets rarest deposits of close concentrated semi-precious stones.”

An extraordinary vodka, housed in a beautiful but somewhat unnerving skull, and a whole host of mysterious tales surrounding ever sip…I know what I want for my Halloween “treat!”
To order, head to (stop it!) to CrystalHeadVodka.com.

For more on the skulls themselves, visit CrystalSkulls.com: it’s dedicated to covering everything about crystal skulls, including Crystal Head vodka, crystal skull theories and legends, the whereabouts of the 13 crystal skulls themselves, Dan Aykroyd, and even “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

Midori ~ Great Green Gulps!

For this Halloween, award-winning mixologist Victoria D’Amato-Moran has created three specialty recipes to toast the night. Inspired by Midori’s green coloring, these haunting treats are as ghoulish as they are delicious.

Serve up a harvest-themed punch by mixing the seasonal flavors of cranberry and apple juice with Midori and rum.? Or opt for sophisticated cocktail recipes like the Midori Green Ghoul and Midori Spider’s Kiss ~ a festive, vibrant addition to any Halloween party…

Midori Halloween Harvest

For a punch bowl (32 ounces), use this recipe times 8.? Add the liquid ingredients and mix well.

1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
1 part Dark Rum
1 part Light Rum
2 part White Cranberry Juice
1 part Unfiltered Apple Juice
1 part Simple Syrup
Juice of one lemon

Top with apple slices, blueberries, and melon balls.

Midori Green Ghoul

1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
One-half part Strega Liqueur or Yellow Chartreuss
One-half part Canton Ginger liqueur
Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale

Add first 3 ingredients into a shaker glass, add ice, shake, strain over ice in a Collins glass.? Line the inside of the glass with strands of black licorice.? Pour in contents of shaker and fill with ginger beer or ginger ale.

Midori Spider’s Kiss

1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
1 part SKYY Vodka
Juice from one half a lemon
Chocolate syrup
Grenadine

With chocolate syrup, draw a web on the inside of the martini glass.? Chill glass.? Shake Midori, SKYY and lemon juice with ice and strain into martini glass. Drizzle grenadine down the side for a blood effect.