Skip to main content

Three elegant cocktails from Janelle Monáe’s Halloween Party

See what the Queen of Halloween herself is drinking this year

basil hayden janelle monae spellbound smash  halloween 1
Basil Hayden x Janelle Monae

For those looking for a classy way to toast this week, Bourbon brand Basil Hayden has worked with musician, actress, and all round icon Janelle Monáe to create three spooky cocktails for Halloween season. Known as the Queen of Halloween, Monáe has embraced the holiday with elaborate costumes and parties she hosts each year, and now she has unveiled this set of cocktails to ring in the season.

They range from the complex bitter, savory, and fruity Spellbound Smash to the easy to drink Monáe Manor and the even easier to make Basil Hayden 75.

Recommended Videos

Spellbound Smash

Ingredients:

  • 2 parts Basil Hayden Bourbon
  • 3/4 part Demerara Syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • 2 dashes Orange Bitters
  • Half of a Lemon
  • 5 Fresh Blackberries
  • 3 Sage Leaves (2 for garnish)
  • 1 sprig of Thyme (for garnish)

Method:

Place lemon & blackberries into a shaker and lightly press with the back of a bar spoon. Add remaining ingredients, including a sage leaf, to a shaker with ice, shake vigorously, and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with remaining two sage leaves and thyme.

The Monáe Manor

Basil Hayden x Janelle Monae
Basil Hayden x Janelle Monae

Ingredients:

  • 1 part Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • 3/4 part Lillet Blanc
  • 3/4 part Aperol Aperitif
  • Grapefruit peel

Method:

Combine ingredients over ice in a mixing glass, Stir thoroughly, Strain into a chilled cocktail glass over a large ice cube, Garnish with an grapefruit peel.

Basil Hayden 75

BASIL 75
Basil Hayden x Janelle Monae

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 parts Basil Hayden
  • 3/4 parts fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 parts simple syrup

Method:

Shake all ingredients and strain over a large cube, top with prosecco or sparkling wine and serve in a stemmed coupe or sour glass

Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
Cheers with these classic Irish whiskey cocktails for St Patrick’s Day
Sometimes, you just want to enjoy the classics
Tullamore D.E.W Irish Whiskey

St Patrick's Day can be a great excuse for enjoying traditional Irish foods, for going to a sports bar, or for trying out some fun green cocktails. But if you want a truly classic way to celebrate the day, the you can't go wrong with some Irish whiskey drinks. These recipes from Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey cover the classic drinks like Irish Coffee and a Hot Toddy, which are great warming choices that are easy to make at home and add a celebratory air to the day.
Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Coffee

Created by Clodagh Mai O’Callaghan, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey East Coast Ambassador

Read more
Nothing’s more Irish than whiskey cocktails for St Patrick’s Day
Celebrate all things Irish with these drinks
whiskey cocktails st patricks day fy25 redbreast alwayson rb18 manhattan bottle 16x9 1

Today is St Patrick's Day, and if you'd like to celebrate with classic Irish whiskey drinks then we have you covered. These recipes use Redbreast Irish Whiskey for its robust flavors that are perfect for cheering for today.

Valeria Catterini, the Senior Brand Director at Jameson Irish Whiskey & Redbreast Irish Whiskey, has advice on making the perfect Old Fashioned: “The key to making a good old fashioned cocktail lies in the preparation method: I recommend stirring your drink, rather than shaking with ice as this will help keep the whiskey's character and balance intact while also maintaining the liquid’s delicate flavors without introducing too much air or dilution. For an elevated twist on the Flying Old Fashioned, replace the sugar syrup by making up an easy syrup with equal parts Coconut Water + Caster Sugar.”
Redbreast Irish Whiskey ‘Treetop Sour’

Read more
How to make the Evertini, the ultimate après-ski cocktail
A Martini for the mountains
The Evertini cocktail.

We're still in snow season, which means hitting the slopes, après-ski drinks, and sweaters. The days are getting longer, for certain, but there's still a chill in the air. Which calls for a special adaptation of a classic cocktail.

Meet the Evertini, a flagship sipper at Lake Tahoe's Everline Resort & Spa. The drink has been described as a love letter to the giant spruce trees of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Fittingly, it includes spruce, in the form of infused gin you can make at home.

Read more