I get it, Halloween is for kids. We spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars to transform our suburban homes into a nightmare monstrosity that only the Addams family would want to live in. Then there's the latest and greatest superhero costumes to buy for the kids, the candy and cupcakes to send to school, the candy to pass out at the door and the candy we all eat and regret in the morning.
Parents/adults do all the work with little to no thrill or reward. I say it's time to change that. Sure, go ahead and keep your traditions. But instead of falling into your comfy sofa at the end of the night with a bottle of wine or a can of beer, take the same initiative you do with the all the hubbub of the holiday and put it into making a cocktail, in advance. Yes, you heard me....IN ADVANCED. Simply pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and stick it in the fridge. When you get home, add ice, shake, strain and enjoy.
Better yet, this drink can easily be increased if you want to hand out "travelers" to your adult friends who are begrudgingly walking their kids door to door (walking friends only....don't drink and drive) and are in desperate need of a pick me up. The familiar smell and warmth of the bourbon is what hits you first. Then you taste the brightness of the pineapple and lemon right before you're hit with the slight bitterness of the Aperol. Pairing the flavors of this libation with the slightly orange hue it has, I couldn't think of a better "treat" for the evening.
His & Hers Cocktail - Wicked Behavior (Ariana Vitale, Rider, Seattle)
1 1/2 oz Bourbon (Buffalo Trace)
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
1/4 oz Elderflower Liqueur (St. Germain)
1/4 oz Aperol
1/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Honey
In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe.
Happy drinking!