Black Magic Martini

I will always start off every party with a welcome cocktail. I have yet to meet a guest who isn’t happy when they are greeted with a drink in their hand, especially when they show up to my annual Halloween party and I hand them a Black Magic Martini!

It’s gin-based with edible black glitter to make it extra spooky. Then I mix in sweet or dry vermouth, olive brine, and black lemon bitters. The Black Magic is your answer to a spooky dirty martini. I’d like to petition for these dirty martinis to be a new welcome cocktail at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion!

Watch Me Make It

*I used food grade activated charcoal here instead of edible black glitter.

How to Make a Black Magic Martini

1. To a mixing glass filled with ice, add gin (infused with edible black glitter), sweet or dry vermouth, olive brine, and bitters.
2. Stir to dilute and chill the cocktail.
3. Strain into two chilled martini glasses.
4. Garnish with something spooky

How to Infuse Alcohol with Edible Black Glitter

Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of edible black glitter to one 750ml bottle of gin (or other clear spirit). If you don’t want to infuse an entire bottle, scale it down based on how much you want to infuse. Swirl or stir until the alcohol is uniformly black.

Edible glitter does not dissolve, so it will eventually settle at the bottom of the bottle or the cocktail after a little while.

Black Magic Martini Ingredients

Gin

I’m a gin martini girl all the way. Gin just has a lot more going on in the flavor department with its botanical and herbaceous flavors, but you could use vodka if you prefer. Check out my Gin Guide for more info, including the bottles I recommend!

Edible Black Glitter

Edible black glitter is your Halloween hosting best friend for spooky desserts and cocktails like this one. It’s odorless and flavorless, but give whatever you add it to a black shimmer. If heavy-handed it can sometimes change the texture so only use what you need to get the black color. You could use food-grade activated charcoal instead, but note it may interfere with certain medications.

You only need 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of edible black glitter per bottle of gin (or other alcohol).

Vermouth

Dry Vermouth is a fortified white wine with very little sweetness and often a subtle, herbaceous bitterness. Sweet vermouth has the same base but is sweetened with caramel or sugar. I would pair sweet vermouth with vodka and dry vermouth with gin.

Olive Brine

I make my own olive brine because it’s easy and allows me to get all my favorite flavors in my briny cocktails. It’s a super easy way to customize your drinks and make a signature martini. You can also just use the brine from a olive jar, preferably from Castelvetrano olives.

Black Lemon Bitters

A concentrated flavoring that tastes like Middle Eastern black lemons (which are actually dehydrated limes, confusing, I know). It’s made with lemon peel, herbs, spices, and caramel. You could use any other bitters in this martini like orange or Angostura, or leave them out altogether.

Tips for Making the Best Black Magic Martini

• As with any Dirty Martini, it’s important to use really cold ingredients and pre-chill your martini glasses.
• Stir your martini instead of shaking it like James Bond. Stirring is not only easier but ensure the martini maintains its clear, smooth texture.
• Add a little bit of edible glitter at a time. You don’t want to go overboard or you’ll start to notice a change in texture.
• Swirl or stir the infused spirit right before serving as the edible glitter may have settled to the bottom.