Pennywise Balloontini: IT’s a Scary Good Halloween Cocktail!
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The Pennywise Balloontini is the perfect creepy cocktail for your next Halloween party—it will send chills down your spine!
This balloon-red concoction combines gin and vermouth’s botanical flavors with a tangy pomegranate juice twist.
Whether hosting a Halloween gathering or a scary movie night, this drink will have your guests screaming for more!
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Where is the Cocktail Recipe Card?
The printable recipe card is at the end of this post. We recommend reading through the blog post for recipe tips and ingredient substitutions.
Pennywise Balloontini Cocktail Recipe:
Number of Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Unveiling the Pennywise Balloontini
Inspired by the infamous clown from Stephen King’s It, the Pennywise Balloontini combines the sophistication of a martini with a playful, spooky flair!
A blend of London Dry Gin and Extra Dry Vermouth provides a robust base, while the pomegranate juice adds a hint of sweetness and a blood-red hue that’s eerily appropriate for the season.
The salt-rimmed glass adds an unexpected flavor contrast, and the maraschino cherry garnish resembles a balloon—a nod to Pennywise’s signature prop.
Serve it as a signature cocktail at Halloween Parties, or make a pitcher of Balloontinis to share with a gathering of friends and a game of Horror Movie Bingo!
Check out more of our Halloween Cocktails and learn how to use Dry Ice in Drinks for an ethereal touch! Don’t forget to check out our annual series, Crafty October, for more awesome Halloween ideas.
What To Serve With This Cocktail
The flavors of Pennywise Balloontinis will cut through the richness of buttery or creamy dishes, making it versatile enough for everything from appetizers to desserts.
Pair it with Appetizers such as Crispy Deep Fried Chinese Five Spice Shrimp, Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings Recipe, Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Cups, or Baked Hot Dog Mummies for a Halloween-themed app.
A Charcuterie or Cheese Board would be a great option, too. For a creepy way to serve meat and cheese, look at this Pennywise Charcuterie Board!
We have many Halloween-themed treats, from Monster Eyeball Cupcakes and Mini Cursed Crypt Cheesecakes to Hocus Pocus Candy Apples and Ghost Popcorn Balls.
Cocktail Ingredients
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers such as Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Extra Dry Vermouth—A fortified wine that’s flavored with botanicals, such as herbs, spices, roots, and fruits
- London Dry Gin—Known for its juniper-forward flavor. You can use your preferred brand of gin.
- Pomegranate Juice Drink—Adds sweetness to the drink and provides the balloon-red color.
- Coarse Sea Salt—For the rim of the glass.
- Garnish: Maraschino Cherries and lime slices.
Cocktail Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker—This cocktail is stirred, not shaken. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, stir it in a separate glass and pour it into your salt-rimmed serving glass.
- Cocktail Glasses—We used highball glasses, but any glass will do the job!
- Glass Rimmer Set—Or saucers for rimming the glasses with salt.
Mocktail Variations
Pennywise Balloon Mockatini (Non-Alcoholic)
For a kid-friendly version of the Balloontini, pour 4oz Pomegranate Juice and ½oz Lime Juice into a glass with ice and stir to combine. Top up with Lemon-Lime Soda and garnish with a maraschino cherry. (Makes 1 Mockatini)
Virgin Pennywise Balloontini with Non-Alcoholic Spirits
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives. Try Lyres (UK and USA), Strykk (UK), and Ritual (US & Canada).
- Instead of Extra Dry Vermouth, use Non-Alcoholic Vermouth
- Instead of London Dry Gin, use Lyre’s Dry London
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
Cocktail Variations
Here are some variations of the original cocktail recipe you might like to try.
- Spicy Pennywise Balloontini: Use chili-infused gin for a spicy kick.
- Sweet Pennywise Balloontini: For a sweeter drink, use sweet vermouth (Vermouth Rosso) and a splash of Grenadine Syrup.
- Fizzy Pennywise Balloontini: Add tonic water, club soda, or lemon-lime soda for an effervescent touch.
- Purple Pennywise Balloontini: Replace the gin and juice in the recipe with Sloe Gin and grape juice.
- Frozen Pennywise Balloontini: Blend all the ingredients with crushed ice to create a slushy, frozen version. You can also do the same with the mocktail.
Big Batch Balloontinis
Want to make a big batch of Pennywise cocktails for a party or gathering? It’s easy – here’s how!
If you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct, and you can make as much as you need to.
To make Pennywise Balloontinis for a crowd, mix together:
- 1 part Extra Dry Vermouth
- 5 parts London Dry Gin
- 8 parts Pomegranate Juice
- Optional: Add tonic water, club soda, or lemon-lime soda to make the drink go further.
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers or pitchers, or go retro and serve from a punch bowl!
Add plenty of ice to your serving container to keep the cocktail chilled.
Saving Leftovers
While it’s best to enjoy the cocktail fresh to savor its flavors, you may have some left at the end of your party—don’t let it go to waste!
- Transfer it to an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Or, to make it last longer, turn it into Balloontini Granita!
- Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.
- Transfer the cocktail to a shallow freezer-safe container and freeze it for 6 hours (or overnight). If desired, add some simple syrup or another sweetener.
- Use a fork to break the frozen cocktail into small pieces. Serve and enjoy!
- Or pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Use the cocktail cubes to chill and flavor future cocktails without diluting the drink.
Setting Up Your Halloween Cocktail Bar
When setting up your bar or cocktail serving area, don’t forget:
- Ice Bucket—Filled with ice. Remember a scoop or tongs.
- Cocktail Glasses—Any glass is fine for a cocktail, but a Halloween one is even better!
- Cocktail Napkins—Patterned napkins are fun, but plain Halloween colors like black, orange, or purple work just as well.
- Cocktail Stirrers/Swizzle Sticks—Fun and functional!
- Cocktail Sticks/Picks—Skewer fruit onto cocktail picks for guests to garnish their drinks.
- Cocktail Decorations—Add additional cocktail kitsch with umbrellas, straws, etc.
How Do I Make Pennywise Balloontinis?
The printable recipe card is below—please leave a star rating and quick review to share your experience with others!
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
Pennywise Balloontini Cocktail
Ingredients
For Glass Rim
- Coarse Sea Salt
- Lime Wedge
For the Cocktails
- 1 oz Extra Dry Vermouth
- 5 oz London Dry Gin
- 8 oz Pomegranate Juice Drink
For Garnish
- Maraschino Cherries
- Lime Slices
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Pour some salt onto a small plate. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of two cocktail glasses. Dip each glass rim into the salt and twist. Fill the glasses with ice and set them aside.
- Pour Extra Dry Vermouth, London Dry Gin, and pomegranate juice drink into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Stir for 15-30 seconds to combine.
- Pour into the prepared glasses.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and a slice of lime.
- Cheers, and Happy Halloween!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
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Halloween Dinner Party Menu Suggestions
The beverage is covered, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a spooky dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Stuffed Mushrooms
- Soup: Slow Cooker Pumpkin Apple Soup
- Salad: Fall Apple Salad Recipe with Toasted Hazelnuts
- Main Dish: Rosemary Garlic Beef Tenderloin
- Side Dish: Garlic and Chive Cauliflower Mash
- Dessert: Mini Cursed Crypt Cheesecakes