Hungarian born actor Bela Lugosi cemented our perception of Dracula in 1931 with his iconic portrayal of the vampire. The movie was part of the golden age of Universal’s monster films, and has helped shape our perception of multiple horror icons, including Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and The Wolfman. Along with the imagery, the vocal cues such as those of Bela Lugosi would lend themselves to the characters indeliably, giving us the iconic style of Dracula’s voice. As the count welcomes Renfield, it’s hard to forget Bela’s introduction, “I am Dracula … I bid you welcome.”
Halloween Inspired Cocktails 2019 – I Am Dracula … I Bid You Welcome
A beautiful dark garnet – ruby color in the glass, it’s a bloody beautiful color. A fragrant mix of warm spiced plums, bright currants, and hints of almonds and spice come off the nose. The body is light and bright, dancing across the tongue in a mix of bright fresh plums, baked almonds, and spices all come together in an elegant mix. Touches of caramel and currants come through as well. The finish is a wonderful mix of fresh plum, hints of plum skin, and touches of almond tart.
Drink Notes:
- Tawny Porto – You could go super overboard here and buy a high end Tawny Porto here. You don’t need to though, grab a middle of the road like Sandeman.
- Damson Gin – To the best of my knowledge – Averell Damson Gin is the only Damson gin available on the market. This plum infused gin liqueur is delightfully fruity and spiced. For a substitute – consider Sloe Gin (which is also a type of plum).
- Orgeat – You can make your own – we’re using Monin in this version.
- Lemon Juice – As always – use fresh squeezed (if you don’t have a juicer – this is what we use*)
About The Name – I Am Dracula … I Bid You Welcome
It wouldn’t be fitting to have a Dracula, and not give it some connection to blood. Thanks to the mix of Damson Gin and Porto, the color is spot on where we wanted it. The use of Porto is both a nod to the luxury of the castle and lusciousness of Port, but also as it works beautifully with the spices in the Damson Gin, giving a bit of mulled character. Renfield’s slight nuttiness gets pulled in with the orgeat to create a beautiful if unexpected cocktail.
A final note – I want to give a shout out to James Rolfe’s Cinemassacre’s Monster Madness for getting me into the classic monster films. If you haven’t seen his work, it’s worth a view this time of year – you might even find something amazing to watch on a dark, scary night.
If you’d like something a little less bloody, check out our Ghostbuster’s cocktail – Slimer or our other Universal Monster – Frankenstein.