"The Love Witch" Cocktail

This post was originally published in February 2021 and last updated in March 2024.

As a Halloween blogger, I am frequently asked to share my favorite horror movies - as if loving Halloween automatically means you love horror too. (It doesn't, but that's a blog post for another day...)

I usually rattle off "The Amityville Horror" (the first horror movie I remember watching) or sometimes "Rosemary's Baby". After last summer, "Midsommar" is waaay up there too.

But one movie I forget to list is "The Love Witch". Which is a shame because I absolutely adore it.

Now let's be clear: I'm not claiming this movie is the greatest horror film of all time. The dialogue is clunky, at best, the acting is often painful, and you'll probably finish it wondering if there was actually a plot in there. I equate it to watching "Rocky Horror" for the first time - you go on a really weird journey and get to the end muttering to yourself, "WTF did I just watch?"

But it's a really fun - and beautifully shot - journey. I mean...  

Since I watched it for the first time in January 2017, it's found a special place in my heart for its beauty and quirk. It's a film I often revisit as February 14 approaches because what witchy woman doesn't love a movie with a little love spell or two?  

Or one that inspires a cocktail? Today I've got a fun - and easy - drink recipe for you inspired by Elaine's love potion of organic berries, vodka and hallucinogenic herbs. 

Yield: 1

Print

With ImageWithout Image

"The Love Witch" Cocktail

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 60 MinInactive time: 2 HourTotal time: 3 H & 5 M

Under the spell of "The Love Witch"? Then you'll want to make this easy cocktail to enjoy while watching the movie.

Ingredients

Cocktail

• 6 oz berry juice
• 2 oz vodka
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary (for garnish)
• berries (for garnish)

Homemade Berry Juice

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 Tbsp sugar (optional)

Instructions

To Make Homemade Berry Juice

1. Place all fresh berries in pot and cover with water.
2. Bring to boil on stove at medium heat. (Approx. 20-30 mins.)
3. Once the mixture boils, crush the berries and then bring back to a boil a second time at medium heat. (Approx. 10-15 mins.)
4. After the mixture boils twice, allow the juice to start cooling and strain it into a pitcher or other storage container. (Approx. 10-15 mins.)
5. Add sugar to juice and stir well. Place in fridge to cool before drinking.

To Make "The Love Witch" Cocktail

1. Measure 2 ounces of vodka into a cocktail shaker.
2. Measure 6 ounces of berry juice into the cocktail shaker.
3. Add ice, shake well and pour into a glass.
4. Add fresh berries and a sprig of fresh rosemary to garnish.

Notes

The berry juice recipe will make enough for 2-3 drinks. The cocktail recipe is for a single drink.

You can also use store-bought berry juice if you have a favorite brand. Homemade berry juice will keep in the fridge, covered, for up to two weeks.

Alternatives:

You might consider making a rosemary simple syrup (one part water, one part sugar, 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary) to sweeten your drink. If you do this, add 1 ounce of syrup to the cocktail and omit sugar from the homemade berry juice.

You might also top off your drink with a splash of club soda or champagne to give it a little sparkle!

[MILD SPOILER] If you've seen "The Love Witch", you likely remember the first man we see Elaine kill with her love - the professor who whisks her away to his remote cabin. On the drive up, she shares a flask with an original concoction inside. When he finally asks her what's in the drink, she innocently replies "organic berries, vodka and hallucinogenic herbs!"  

For my cocktail, I trade out the hallucinogenic herbs for fresh rosemary to keep things PG. While I only used rosemary as a garnish, I think it'd be fun to make a rosemary simple syrup to add more flavor to this drink!

If you've never made simple syrup before, it's ridiculously easy: one part water, one part sugar (the easiest measurement is one cup of each). To flavor it, throw in 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, then bring to a boil over medium heat.

Once the mixture boils, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Remove the rosemary sprigs and pour your syrup into an air-tight container. Add to cocktails as you wish!  

I also ended up making my own berry juice because I couldn't find anything like what I had in mind at the grocery store. Luckily, it was an easy process that just took a little time, and the results were delicious!

Full instructions are in the recipe card above, but to make your own berry juice combine four cups of water with three cups of fresh berries. I used fresh raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, crush the berries after the first boil, then bring the mixture to a boil a second time.

After the second boil, remove from the heat, strain the juice into a container and allow it to cool. If you want to sweeten it, you can add sugar to taste - I found about two tablespoons did the trick. (But I also like my juice more on the tart side.) 

If you make this cocktail, it absolutely HAS to be served in a mason jar because, well, you know...

I purposely made this drink a little stronger than I normally would, but you can always reduce the vodka to one ounce if two is too much. You might also give it a little sparkle by topping it off with club soda or even a little champagne or prosecco.

Have you watched "The Love Witch"?

If not, as of March 2024 you can find it on Peacock. You can also watch it for free on Pluto TV and Tubi.

Don't forget to enjoy this cocktail while you watch! You might even consider pairing them with these Tea Love-wiches from Geeks Who Eat!