This year, skip the sickly sweet Halloween cocktails and opt for something else that fits the theme: a New York-made vodka with a backstory that'll keep you up at night.
Harridan Vodka made a limited edition batch of Paranormal Reserve featuring 666 bottles (of course) that were rested for 30 days at the Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. The museum houses the infamous Annabelle doll, which was reportedly demonically possessed in the 1970s and inspired the scary-as-hell Annabelle movie series.
The vodka is packaged in a custom engraved wooden box featuring a functional Ouija board on its lid. It comes with a letter-pressed certificate of authenticity, as well as gloves for handling the bottle. The bottle sports an intricate front label featuring red foiling and a Ouija board motif. The back of the label is inscribed with “Help Me, Help Us,” which was inspired by the mysterious parchment notes purportedly found by Annabelle’s original owner in her apartment. Yikes.
Six hundred and sixty five of those bottles are $199. The 666th bottle, however, got special treatment. It was placed directly inside Annabelle's original protective case for 30 days. Priced at $13,000, it comes in a bespoke wooden case inspired by Annabelle's current confines. That's not cheap. But a portion of all Paranormal Reserve sales will benefit Toys for Tots, so Annabelle's evil legacy will actually do some good.
Last year, Harridan released its first Paranormal Reserve expression, which was rested in three of America's most haunted locations—the Villisca Axe Murder House, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and Farm on Round Top Road, which inspired the movie The Conjuring. So, this isn't their first brush with creepy spirits.
“About half of Americans believe in ghosts and even more give credence to the paranormal,” says Bridgette Taylor, CEO, President and Founder of Harridan Vodka. “We partnered with the Occult Museum, which houses some of the most terrifying artifacts in the U.S., most notably the infamous Annabelle doll. Given that the museum is now closed to the public, Paranormal Reserve is the closest that fans of horror and the occult will get to this allegedly demonically possessed toy."
Despite its frightening origin, Harridan Vodka is still vodka. It has a floral aroma and creamy mouthfeel, with notes of citrus and herbs, followed by a layer of toffee and caramel, and then a hint of vanilla on the finish.
"Fans can open and enjoy Paranormal Reserve with caution or keep it sealed," says Taylor. "The choice is theirs.”
OK, now we're conflicted.
