Halloween Feature, Day 2: Lost Souls

Day 2 of our cocktail-a-day Halloween Feature, and today's drink looks like it belongs in a vampire's coupe.

Lost Souls is a smoky mezcal sour that gets its deep, blood-red color from an unexpected place: beet juice. A cocoa-powder rim finishes the look.

Who made it

Lost Souls was originally made with Lost Explorer Espadín mezcal and promoted by the brand. The adapted spec below comes from Difford's Guide.

The recipe

• 1 oz mezcal

• ¾ oz cognac-based orange liqueur

• ¾ oz beet juice

• ½ oz fresh lime juice

• ¼ oz agave syrup

• 6 drops chocolate bitters

• Cocoa powder, for the rim

Chill a coupe. Moisten the outside of the rim with a little orange juice and dip it in cocoa powder. Shake everything else with ice and fine-strain into the glass.

Why it works

Beets taste earthy and sweet, and mezcal tastes earthy and smoky, so they get along better than you'd think. Lime keeps it bright, the orange liqueur rounds out the edges, and the chocolate bitters plus the cocoa rim pull everything toward something dark and a little decadent.

Bartender tips:

• Bottled beet juice from the grocery store works fine. If you juice your own, strain it well.

• Only rim the outside of the glass. Cocoa falling into the drink turns it muddy.

• Beet juice stains. Wear dark clothes, which, on Halloween week, you probably already are.

Day 3 drops tomorrow. Planning a team party for December? Our holiday party dates are filling up.