Celebrate Halloween in Orlando – the Irish way – with ‘Druids Samhain Potion’ at Raglan Road Irish Pub Oct. 24-31
Did you know Halloween originated with the Celts in Ireland thousands of years ago? If you’re looking to celebrate Halloween in Orlando like the Irish do, then Raglan Road Irish Pub is the place to be. Their inventive mixologists conjured spirits of the ancient Celtic “Samhain” (pronounced “sow-anne”) festival with a frightfully delicious Irish Halloween Spooky Cocktail, available only October 24 – 31.
The Druids Samhain Potion is a mix of Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey and Amaretto Disaronno with Maraschino cherry juice, cranberry and apple juice served over dry ice with a surprise garnish. The newly concocted libation celebrates Halloween at Raglan Road and the 2,000-year-old harvest festival, “Samhain” which signified the end of summer and beginning of the harvest.
HALLOWEEN TRADITION IN IRELAND
The Irish Celts believed Halloween was a time when the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. (spooky, right?) Many of the celebration’s practices were based on superstition, and ancient communities gathered together to light huge bonfires meant to ward off evil spirits and bad fortune for the coming year.
Did you know many modern-day Halloween traditions, like dressing in costumes, trick or treating and carving pumpkins, originated with the Celtic Samhain festival?
Irish villagers disguised themselves using animal skins, and families would carve scary faces into turnips and leave them at the doorstep to ward off malevolent spirits.
After learning this, I am inspired to go to Ireland and celebrate Halloween! You can bet I’ve added this experience to my “someday list” and can’t wait to #MakeSomedayHappen. Until then, I’m lucky to have Raglan Road Irish Pub right here in Orlando to go celebrate Halloween like the Irish do.
DRUIDS SAMHAIN POTION BRINGS SPOOKY IRISH HALLOWEEN FUN TO ORLANDO
During my recent visit to Raglan Road, I got a little preview of this Irish Halloween spooky cocktail, directly from Raglan Road’s general manager, Alan Delahunt. Alan grew up in Ireland and from an early age was involved in the family farm and all aspects of the food industry from growing to food service. His passion for providing an authentic Irish experience to guests at Raglan Road is evident. I was intrigued to learn he has his hand in creating many of the cocktails on the menu, which is updated seasonally every 12 weeks.
“Considering our rich history of Halloween traditions, we couldn’t resist the chance to brew our own ghostly cocktail for the occasion,” said Delahunt. “The Druids Samhain Potion is served in a shroud of fog and spooks the palate with a surprise kick!”
Delahunt mentioned he added cherries as they reminded him of a Halloween game he played as a kid in Ireland. The surprise garnish is a nod to the “bobbing for apples” tradition. But don’t worry, there’s no bobbing required here. Simply sipping from your straw is perfectly acceptable.
The spooky potion was loads of fun and quite tasty – the fruity cherry flavors reminded me of drinking a cherry soda. It’s like trick or treating in a glass! The Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey gave it a nice balance, so the drink was not overly cloying. Jameson Black is a triple distilled blend of rich pot still and grain whiskey, matured in a mixture of sherry casks and bourbon barrels. Unlike other styles of Jameson whiskeys, for this one, the bourbon barrels are twice charred giving it a more intense spiced flavor. Perfect for this drink.
Despite the name, this potion was not spooky at all, save for the fun smoke coming out of the glass and how quickly the seductive concoction vanished! (Note of warning: this cocktail was incredibly easy to drink. Please drink responsibly.)
The Halloween potion will be served all week, leading up to Halloween on Oct. 31. Delahunt recommends sipping the spooky cocktail as an aperitif to “awaken the taste buds” or pairing it with one of Master Chef Kevin Dundon’s popular desserts. (Go for ‘Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding’ – It’s to die for!)
IRISH HALLOWEEN SPOOKY COCKTAIL: DRUIDS SAMHAIN POTION RECIPE
I call this an Easy Entertaining Recipe because it’s perfect for your Halloween Party at home. You can make a big batch of this Irish Halloween Spooky Cocktail and serve it from a punch bowl or cauldron. The dry ice will make it look spectacular! Watch the video below as Alan Delahunt demonstrates how to make this easy cocktail.
- Recipe serves 1:
2 oz. Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey
1.25 oz. Amaretto
2 oz. apple juice
2 oz. cranberry Juice
1 oz. maraschino cherry juice
– Add all ingredients to shaker, fill with ice
– Shake, then strain into rocks glass
– Serve over food-grade dry ice and swizzle stick (available online).
– Garnish imaginatively! (Fresh apple is a fun touch!)
ABOUT RAGLAN ROAD IRISH PUB
Orlando’s favorite Irish Pub, is owned and operated by Irish partners John Cooke, Paul Nolan and celebrity chef Kevin Dundon – famous for his five-star hotel and cookery school in Ireland.
Raglan Road features traditional Irish dishes and new creations with a Celtic twist. Some of my favorites on the menu are the Irish Egg, Scallop Forest and the finger-lickin’ good slow roasted Guinness-glazed Baby Back Ribs. All perfect for sharing!
The restaurant’s warm interior of aged walnut and mahogany woods from old Irish bars and churches was built in Ireland and shipped to Orlando. The large space with the church-like dome has fun nooks and crannies to explore with plenty of pictures and artifacts of Irish significance.
Aside from the great food and fun drinks, one of my favorite features of Raglan Road is the live entertainment. Talented musicians and dancers perform nightly and during weekend brunch, including the new Irish house band Raglan Roots Coalition, plus the Raglan Road Irish Dancers.
Lunch is served 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner 3-11 p.m.; Bar menu 11 p.m.-late; Saturday and Sunday Rollicking Raglan Brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant is located at Disney Springs in the Walt Disney World Resort, 1640 E. Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For more information visit www.raglanroad.com or call 407/938-0300.
Are you ready to celebrate Halloween like the Irish? GO have a Happy Halloween at Raglan Road! If you can’t make it to Orlando, make the cocktail at home and pretend you’re there!
Cheers!
Go Epicurista
If you’re interested in preparing a delicious Irish dinner at home, check out this post for fantastic recipes by master chef Kevin Dundon!
Watch Alan Delahunt of Raglan Road prepare the Druid Samhain Potion in the short video here:
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