A simple, fruity, and refreshing Halloween cocktail – this Flaming Dragon’s Blood Cocktail (Thyme and Raspberry Daiquiri Cocktail) is a show-stopping drink to delight your party guests!
So why would I assume a dragon’s blood is red? The truth is I didn’t. 🙂 I did quite a bit of research into what color dragon blood would be, ha! The possibilities are of course limited, either red (hemoglobin like yours and mine and other vertebrates’), blue (hemocyanin like in octopuses for example), or even green (like some worms, and rare lizard species with high levels of biliverdin). But by my basic reasoning I figured that dragons are land based animals so it only made sense for their blood to be like ours – red. BUT, a really bright red because fire-breathing dragons would have a much higher core body temperature increasing their hemoconcentration! Besides red looks more familiar and gory. Never heard of anyone passing out to the sight of blue blood.
I’ve shared a few Halloween cocktails before, like this Witch’s heart cocktail and Phoenix cocktail. But I wanted to create a gorgeous and striking rum cocktail that was red – like blood, but would also look classic and elegant for a Halloween cocktail party. Plus, I’m currently suffering from Game of Thrones withdrawal and mourning the loss of Viscerion. The result is this Flaming Dragon’s Blood Cocktail (Thyme and Raspberry Daiquiri Cocktail) made with Bacardi Superior Rum.
I love making cocktails with Bacardi rum. It’s perfect for simple Halloween cocktails like this Dragon’s blood cocktail, which is easy to put together but delicious, and a show-stopper at any party. Your guests will love the look, the taste and the theatrics – a sure-fire way to get that Halloween party going and bring out the “bat” in ’em, and turn your Halloween into an extra spirited evening! 🙂
Bacardi offers both a White rum – Bacardi Superior, and a gold rum – Bacardi Gold, so you can choose whichever you prefer. My first idea was to make a variation of a Hemingway daiquiri, but I just couldn’t find maraschino liqueur. So then I decided on a twist on a berry daiquiri instead. This flaming dragon’s blood cocktail (thyme and raspberry daiquiri) is made with Bacardi Superior Rum.
Here I’m sharing TWO magical ways to serve this cocktail to your guests so you can impress them even more! 🙂
- A flaming cocktail where there is a thin layer of Bacardi 151 on top that you can light up for a dramatic flaming cocktail.
- The classic cocktail, but mixed with just a touch of food-grade luster dust for a shimmery cocktail! After all, dragons are mythical, magical creatures, so why can’t their blood be shimmery too? 🙂
Or you can even do BOTH! I personally prefer option #1 (without the luster dust) because the absence of the shimmer makes it look more blood-like for us non-mythical beings, but then serve it as a flaming cocktail.
If you decide to add luster dust, you need to make sure that the thyme and raspberry syrup is completely strained, so that it’s clear with no pulp or seeds. I passed the syrup through a fine sieve and then through a nut milk bag. Without the luster dust you only need to strain it once through a fine sieve. A clear cocktail (without pulp or seeds) is absolutely necessary IF you want to add luster dust to make it shimmery.
If you’re making the flaming dragon’s blood cocktail, then add a very thin layer of Bacardi 151 on top. Use the back of a spoon to carefully layer just a 1/4 shot of the Bacardi 151 and then set the cocktail on fire using a blowtorch. If you’re unsure or nervous about setting your cocktail on fire, you can simply serve it with a smoking sprig of thyme instead. That thyme-y smokey aroma really adds to the experience too! 🙂
Here’s how you can easily make this dragon’s blood cocktail for a crowd –
- It’s a good idea to make a batch of the berry and thyme syrup ahead of time, so that it’s easy to simply pour the syrup into the drink to sweeten AND flavor the cocktail at once.
- Squeeze lemon juice into a glass or plastic container with a lid. By keeping some already squeezed lemon juice ready, it’s easy to measure the juice needed for your drinks as and when you need it. Don’t squeeze the lemon juice too far ahead of time though. You want it to be nice and fresh as well.
- Keep the syrup, lemon juice and the Bacardi rum in the fridge. This way you get nice, cool drink every time. Also keep ice at hand to make sure the cocktail is cold when you serve it.
If you are going to set the cocktail on fire, make sure you DO NOT fill the cocktail glass to the rim. Even with the 151, the cocktail should not be filled to the rim.
I love this time of the year, and Halloween parties. Since I can’t predict the costumes that my friends and guests will be wearing, I like to serve easy finger food that won’t spill or make a mess of those costumes. Even your Halloween desserts can be easy to serve as mini desserts. That’s also why this elegant yet gory dragon’s blood cocktail is perfect for your Halloween party this year! Not only does it look stunning, it tastes so fruity and refreshing too. The thyme adds a gorgeous herby and earthy flavor. Your guests will be only too eager to feast on this dragon’s blood drink! 🙂
For an added magical touch, sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of the flames (from a safe distance of course), and watch the magical sparks! BUT, please do remember to blow out the flame. The flame is purely for theatrics and it goes without saying that the drink should not be consumed or carried around with the flame.
Recipe
Flaming Dragons Blood Cocktail – Thyme and Raspberry Daiquiri
Difficulty:
US based cup, teaspoon, tablespoon measurements. Weight measurements are recommended for accurate results whenever available.
Common Measurement ConversionsIngredients:
Thyme and Raspberry syrup (blood syrup) (makes about 1 cup / 240 mL)
- 340 g frozen raspberries 12 oz
- 3 sprigs of thyme
- 100 g white sugar ½ cup
- 120 mL of water ½ cup
- 1 drop brown food coloring 1 small drop brown gel food coloring (this is optional if you want to darken the color of the syrup further)
Flaming Dragon's Blood Cocktail (thyme and raspberry daiquiri) – for one cocktail
- 67 mL white rum (I used Bacardi) 2.25 fl oz/ 1.5 jiggers
- 44 mL thyme and raspberry syrup 1.5 fl oz / 1 jigger (recipe above)
- 22 mL freshly squeezed lemon juice ¾ fl oz
- 2 ice cubes
- ⅛ tsp pearl luster dust or red luster dust (optional)
- 1 ½ tsp Bacardi rum 151 optional (PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE)
Instructions:
Thyme and Raspberry Syrup (Dragon’s Blood Syrup)
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan (except the brown food coloring). Cook the mix over medium – medium high heat.340 g frozen raspberries, 3 sprigs of thyme, 100 g white sugar, 120 mL of water
- Stir until the sugar has dissolved and bring the mix to a boil. Stir frequently until the raspberries have softened and break down in the syrup. Remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool down completely. This is important as the raspberries and thyme will infuse the syrup.
- Strain the mix through a fine sieve to remove some pulp and seeds. I strained the mix through a nut milk bag as well to remove any smaller pieces of the syrup, but this is optional.
- Do not squeeze the pulp too much, as you don't want too much of the pulp in the syrup. The syrup shouldn't be cloudy.
- Add the brown food coloring to make the syrup a slightly darker red color. This is an optional step.1 drop brown food coloring
- Pour the syrup into a bottle and store in the fridge.
Flaming Dragon’s Blood Cocktail (Thyme and Berry Daiquiri)
- Place all the ingredients in a cocktail mixer (luster dust as well, if you want a shimmery cocktail).67 mL white rum (I used Bacardi), 44 mL thyme and raspberry syrup, 22 mL freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 ice cubes, ⅛ tsp pearl luster dust
- Shake for a few seconds to chill the cocktail.
- Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass.
- This is an optional step – Place a cocktail spoon over the surface of the cocktail and carefully layer the rum 151 over the cocktail. Carefully light the rum 151 layer on fire using a match or lighter. This is only for the theatrics, and has no impact on the flavor of the cocktail.1 ½ tsp Bacardi rum 151
- Before consuming the cocktail, the fire MUST BE SMOTHERED. Place a saucer or small plate over the glass to put out the flame. The cocktail can be enjoyed once the flames are put out.
Nutrition Information:
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
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