I love sharing fun drinks for parties, and honestly, the Wicked Witch Whiskey Sour Cocktail is always a hit in my house. This twist on the classic whiskey sour uses green liqueur for a spooky color and a zesty kick. The look and taste always have folks asking for the recipe.
If you’re after an easy but eye-catching Halloween cocktail, this one’s so simple to throw together. The Wicked Witch cocktail mixes sweet, sour, and a little herbal zing in every sip.
Keep reading and I’ll walk you through what you need and how to shake it up.
Wicked Witch Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipe
This vibrant whiskey sour brings green melon liqueur, bourbon, and some wild garnishes into the mix. I try to balance sweet and sour with simple syrup and lemon juice, so it’s flavorful and, honestly, just a lot of fun.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker: Gotta get everything mixed up and cold.
- Strainer: Lets me pour without any ice chunks or pulp.
- Measuring jigger: I like to be precise with the booze.
- Martini or rocks glass: I usually go with a chilled glass—just feels right.
- Bar spoon: Handy if I want to layer in grenadine for a color effect.
- Small plate or saucer: For rimming the glass with black sugar.
- Knife and cutting board: For slicing up garnishes like lemons.
- Ice cubes: Always need more than you think for shaking and serving.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz bourbon or other whiskey
- 1 oz Midori (melon liqueur)
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz blue curaçao (for extra color, optional)
- 1 egg white (for a frothy top, optional)
- 1/4 oz grenadine (optional for layering)
- Lemon-lime soda or sour mix as a topper, if you want
- 1 maraschino cherry and 1-2 candy eyeballs for garnish
- Black sugar for rimming the glass
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Moisten the rim of your glass with lemon juice, then dip it into black sugar to coat.
- Add bourbon, Midori, lemon juice, simple syrup, and blue curaçao (if you’re using it) to a cocktail shaker.
- Toss in the egg white (optional) and fill the shaker at least halfway with ice cubes.
- Shake it up hard—about 20 seconds—so it gets nice and cold and a bit frothy.
- Strain into your prepared glass filled with fresh ice.
- If you want a spooky effect, slowly pour grenadine down the side for a blood-red streak.
- Top with a splash of lemon-lime soda or sour mix if you’re craving a little fizz.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a couple of candy eyeballs for a fun finish.
Notes
I’m all about fresh-squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor—it just pops. The Midori gives that wild green color, which honestly looks magical at Halloween.
Sometimes I toss in blue curaçao for a deeper green, but you can skip it for a lighter vibe. If you want the drink super smooth, add the egg white and shake it like you mean it.
The black sugar rim is sweet and looks spooky—great for parties. Candy eyeballs? Just for fun. If I can’t find them, a cherry works or whatever weird candy I have around.
Sweetness is pretty personal, so I adjust the simple syrup or use less sour mix depending on my mood. I always serve this right away because the colors and garnishes look best fresh.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Strainer
- Jigger or measuring cup
- Martini or rocks glass (chilled)
- Bar spoon (optional, for layering)
- Plate for sugar rim
- Knife and cutting board
- Ice cubes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz bourbon or whiskey
- 1 oz Midori melon liqueur
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- ½ oz blue curaçao optional, for deeper green
- 1 egg white optional, for frothy top
- ¼ oz grenadine optional, for blood effect
- Splash of lemon-lime soda or sour mix optional
- Black sugar for rimming glass
- Garnish: maraschino cherry candy eyeballs
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Rim a chilled glass with lemon juice, then dip into black sugar.
- Add whiskey, Midori, lemon juice, simple syrup, and optional blue curaçao to a cocktail shaker.
- If using, add the egg white and ice cubes.
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Strain into your prepared glass filled with ice.
- Slowly pour grenadine down the inside edge for a red streak.
- Top with a splash of soda or sour mix (optional).
- Garnish with a cherry and candy eyeballs. Serve immediately.
Tasting Notes
First sip of the Wicked Witch Whiskey Sour? It’s got that immediate sweet-tart punch. The fresh lemon juice really wakes everything up.
The whiskey comes in next—smooth, mellow, and it ties the whole thing together. I like how the simple syrup brings just enough sweetness without making it cloying.
If you use the egg white, the drink gets this silky, creamy thing going on. It isn’t heavy, but the foam on top is just kind of inviting.
It’s refreshing and not too strong, so it’s easy to sip with friends or just on a random night. I love how each part stands out, but the whole thing just works—kind of surprising, honestly.
Must Have Ingredients
Image | Title | Buy |
---|---|---|
![]() | Collins Candied Fruit Orange Peel Twist in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Collins Strawberries in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Collins Candied Ginger in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Peninsula Premium Cocktail Cherries For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Premium Lychees in Syrup For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Oranfit Dried Orange Slices For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Oranfit Dried Lime Slices For Garnish | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | LAVA Premium Cocktail Rimmers Variety Pack | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Pure Cane Simple Syrup Cocktail Mixer | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Q GINGER BEER with Real Ginger & Organic Agave | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Q Mixers Premium Ginger Ale | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Q ELDERFLOWER TONIC WATER with Real Quinine & Organic Agave | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Q Club soda with Himalayan Salt | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | WithCo Cucumber Gimlet Craft Cocktail Mixer with Mint | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Strongwater Old Fashioned Mix- Handcrafted Old Fashioned Syrup with Bitters, Orange, Cherry, Organic Demerara Sugar | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Bittermilk No.1 Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned Mix | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Portland Syrups Pumpkin Spice Syrup | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Portland Syrups Lavender Syrup | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Portland Syrups Vanilla Syrup | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Original Bloody Mary Mix | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Professional Drink Mixer Set for Beginners | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | 1 Pack 3 Tier Bar Glass Rimmer | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Cocktail Ice Mold With Easy Fill and Release Silicone Round Ice Ball Maker | Buy On Amazon |
![]() | Stainless Steel Bar Tool For Making Garnish for Cocktails & Mocktails | Buy On Amazon |
Substitute
Let’s be real—sometimes I’m missing an ingredient or two, or maybe I just can’t find the right tool. Here’s how I improvise when I’m making the Wicked Witch Whiskey Sour.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Whiskey: I’ll grab bourbon, rye, or even a blended whiskey, depending on what’s hanging around. If I’m after something a bit lighter, I’ll go with brandy—why not?
- Lemon Juice: No lemons? Lime juice steps in just fine. It’s got a tangier kick, but honestly, it still does the trick.
- Simple Syrup: If simple syrup is missing from my shelf, honey syrup or even agave nectar usually saves the day.
- Green Food Coloring: Out of green? Mixing blue and yellow food coloring gets me close enough.
Equipment Substitutes
- Cocktail Shaker: I’ve used a mason jar with a lid more times than I can count, and it’s never let me down.
- Strainer: A small kitchen sieve works just fine for straining out the ice when a real cocktail strainer is nowhere to be found.
Instructions for Using Substitutes
- I measure the swap-in ingredients using the same amounts as the original recipe.
- Then, I mix and shake everything just like usual.
- Sometimes the taste shifts a little, so I’ll adjust—maybe a splash more syrup or juice if it needs balancing.
- Pour it over ice and, well, cheers!