The 
Real Dark and 
Stormy
A Spooky “Cock-Tale”
“The Skeleton’s Punch”
Listen, my friends, so the legend goes, that a band of pirates was lost at sea. It was a ship of scallywags, thieves, and liars that perished in the night. All were lost into the black and furious water on that dark and stormy night. All, but one.
The Shipwreck
There was an unearthly “ghost wave”, that struck the doomed vessel at exactly midnight. A giant wall of ocean water, whipped by the angry and barely moonless purple sky. Into an icy sea, the ship was tossed and the crew and all their captors were thrown. All were lost, including their ill-gotten gains, all their priceless treasures, sunken to the cold and seemingly bottomless ocean. The ship’s captain, the most notorious and ruthless of all the pirates, miraculously, inconceivably, survived.
The ill-fated ship exploded from the relentless force of the tortured sea. Souls flying into the air, then plummeting into the angry and shark-infested waters below.
By determination of evil will, greed and fortitude, the captain managed to clutch onto a piece of the mangled hull. Surrounded by sharks, for most of the night the exhausted pirate, somehow managed to survive the relentless attacks.
The Shore
With the faintest light from the moon as storm clouds parted, the pirate could vaguely see the shore. With the reluctant push of the tides, he managed to make it to the deserted beach. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the sand, waves lapping onto his motionless frame.
In what seemed only moments later, the captain awoke to the sound of crashing noise. Next to him, lay the golden treasure chest. The most coveted bounty that he’d greedily hid in his own stateroom, to watch over until he could sell the contents and keep the rewards all to himself. He chortled with joy at this surprise of good fortune.
The Looking Glass
The captain opened the chest and to his delight, the bottle was intact. The single item was all he ever wanted or needed. Safe in the chest and it was all for him. He pulled the cork and tilted the bottle onto his parched lips, to lap-up the golden elixir. To his horror, he couldn’t taste or even feel the liquor! What was happening? How could this be? Suddenly, the clouds started to part and a glimmer of light came upon him. Then, he could see for himself what fate had befallen him. He pulled the gold and jewel-encrusted mirror from the chest of treasures and held the looking glass in front of his face.
He was horrified to see that he was no longer a man, he’d become a living, breathing skeleton! Incapable of drinking his pirates punch, he sits on the beach, still to this day, with his bottle in his lap, protecting from anyone who may try to steal his Skeleton’s Punch Cocktail.
Fortunately for you, I have the recipe. So, here’s how you can make this delicious and scary, Skeleton’s Punch Cocktail for yourself! Yo Ho Ho!
The Recipe: The Skeleton’s Punch Cocktail 
Chill a large martini glass. Coat the rim with honey, then roll into a plate filled with gold sprinkles. Set aside.
Into a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces of vodka, then 1 ounce of each, Kahlua, Frangelico, and half and half. Shake vigorously, at least 30 seconds, then strain into the garnished glass.
Cheers!
For more “Scary Cock-Tales, see the recipe index for the Sophisticated Zombie, Beer-y Scary Stout Beer Float with Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Widow’s Tears and here’s a link to the Witches Reign: https://wp.me/p9KEfL-1l6
Skeleton’s Punch Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Khalua or coffee liqueur
- 1 1/2 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce Frangelico or hazelnut liqueur
- 1 ounce half and half
Rim: gold sprinkles, honey
Instructions
For the rim
- coat the martini glass rim with honey, then roll in gold sprinkles, let set
For the cocktail
- Into a shaker filled 1/2 with ice, add Khalua, vodka, Frangelico and half and half. Shake vigourously, about 30 seconds, strain into cocktail glass.
An original yarn, by Karen Knox-Harris https://www.bittersaltysoursweet.com
You’re so talented! To the store for ingredients, or to the beach to steal his bottle.
Thank you so much! It was fun to write. I’m so glad you liked it. I’m going to (try) write a new one each Friday until Hallowed