BELFAST — I can’t think of a more fitting cocktail to start the first day of October — one of the most spectacular months in Maine, which culminates with the Halloween finale.

The Gothic just switched up their cocktail menu to coincide with the equinox and one of them, “Death In The Afternoon” is one of the most thrilling and spooky tastes you’ll ever come across. Jon Poto, the bartender who put this cocktail on their new menu, says it was inspired by Ernest Hemingway, who wrote a 1932 nonfiction book of the same title.

“Hemingway had a cocktail he’d drink that had this great quote: ‘Pour one jigger of absinthe into a champagne glass. Add iced [brut] champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these, slowly.’ So, this is basically a twist on that by adding a splash of Cointreau and splash of lemon," said Poto, who gave us a live demonstration in constructing the cocktail.

It’s very simple. To make this at home, all you need is:

• A shaker of ice, in which you pour:
• Juice from ¼ of a lemon
• ¾ ounce of absinthe. (Poto ecommends the brands Lucid or La Fée Abisinthe Parisienne.)
• A splash of Cointreau
• Shake and strain into a champagne flute
• Top with Cava or any sparkling wine (or champagne) and garnish with a lemon twist.

The end result is like nothing you’ve ever tasted with fennel and anise as its most prominent notes. “It’s a pretty intense cocktail, maybe not one you’d drink all the time,” said Poto.

Although Hemingway might disagree.....

Stay tuned to The Gothic’s Facebook page as they plan to roll out a Halloween tasting menu later this month. For more of our "What's in that cocktail" series featuring original drinks made by local Midcoast bartenders, check out our Pinterest site.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com