"Then he realised that it was a colossal skull, composed of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation." - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
When I envisioned this drink, I wanted it to be something fearsome. Of course, it still needs to be drinkable, but it needed to be worthy of its name The Dark Mark.
So I worked backwards, envisioning the Voldemort's symbol in the sky to rally his evil Death Eaters: a green skull and snake in the inky black sky, and turned it into a cocktail.
The Dark Mark Double Shot - Recipe Notes
The base layer of The Dark Mark is a mix of white rum, a splash of blue curacao, a little honey syrup to soothe, and absinthe.
I told y'all it isn't for the faint of heart. And yes, absinthe is legal and it doesn't cause hallucinations (anymore). And there isn't so much that it'll knock you back with its licorice flavor.
Then we have a nice dark spiced rum --Kraken-- as a floater to signify our night sky.
I also have instructions on how to make this a very pretty cocktail. Adding pineapple juice gives the Dark Mark a cloudy, eerie green haze beneath the black kraken floater, but you'll have a smooth, fruity, sipple cocktail instead of a sinister looking shot.
I really loved making this, and if you like a hint of licorice with the warmth of spice from the kraken, and the tropical flavors from the curacao, you'll enjoy this fun drink.
Ingredients Needed
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Absinthe - this is an old, herbal flavored liquor. Very strong; swap for Midori if you don't like it.
- Blue Curacao - this liqueur gives a hint of blue and a citrus flavor
- White Rum - to tie into the Kraken floater and ease the intense flavor of absinthe. It's so great with the honey syrup.
- Honey Syrup - just equal parts honey and hot water, cooled down.
- Kraken - this is a very dark spiced rum, to help signify the night sky as a floater.
- Optional: Pineapple Juice - use this if you're making the cocktail version instead of the shot.
How to Make a Dark Mark Double Shot
Step 1
Mix the base.
Mix together everything but the kraken with ice in a cocktail mixing glass. This includes the pineapple juice if you're using it.
Step 2
Pour into the glass.
Pour into the double shot glass.
Step 3
Then pour the Kraken.
Watch this video on how to layer cocktails, for help on setting this floater. (basically you want to disperse the Kraken over the top slowly instead of a direct pour).
Equipment I Used
I actually used a double shot skull glass from Pottery Barn that is no longer made (I'll still link just in case it ever comes back because it's just so cool).
But to complete the whole Dark Mark effect, you can make a skull shaped ice cube to keep in the glass.
Chef's Tips
- Swap the absinthe for Midori if you can't stand licorice. Don't even try to fight through it, I want you to enjoy your cocktails.
- Do not use dry ice in this cocktail. I'm a huge fan of dry ice but not only is this too small to use dry ice in safely, but it'll mix the floater into the green base and ruin the effect.
More Potions from the Bar at Hogwarts
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The Dark Mark Double Shot
Ingredients
- ice
- 2 oz white rum
- ½ oz absinthe
- ½ oz blue curaçao
- ½ teaspoon honey syrup, just equal parts honey + hot water, cooled
- ½ oz Kraken rum, or another dark spiced rum, as a floater
Instructions
- In a cocktail mixing glass with ice, stir together everything but the Kraken until cold, about 20 seconds.2 oz white rum, ½ oz absinthe, ½ oz blue curaçao, ½ teaspoon honey syrup, ice
- Strain into a double shot glass.
- Slowly float the Kraken on top by pouring it over the back of a spoon, it’ll sink slightly and swirl through the top of the green base like smoke.½ oz Kraken rum
Recipe Notes
The Dark Mark Cocktail
This makes a 5.5 ounce cocktail. The only difference is the addition of pineapple juice.- 2 oz white rum
- ½ oz absinthe
- ½ oz blue curaçao
- ½ oz honey syrup (equal parts honey + hot water)
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- ½ oz Kraken rum (floater)
- Ice
Chef's Secret Tips
- If you don't like absinthe, try Midori for a melon-forward flavor that's still very green in color.
- Psst...if you accidentally make this too blue with the curacao, try a tiny toothpick tip's worth of yellow food coloring. It'll make that eerie green come right back.
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