Yes, there is black vodka. It tastes like regular vodka, and is used the same way. The only difference is the color.

You can buy black vodka or make it. The brand available in the U.S. is Blavod, a premium vodka made in Germany for a British corporation.

It was created by a marketing consultant named Mark Dorman, and was introduced in 1998 (around $30/750ml bottle).

While different brands use different coloring agents, Blavod is colored with black catechu, an extract made from the bark of a Burmese acacia tree. The coloring agent adds no flavor, and it doesn’t stain.

It makes a heck of Halloween drink. If you’re headed to a party, bring a bottle to your hosts.
 
 
MAKE BLACK VODKA WITH FOOD COLOR

Perhaps the easiest way to get hold of black vodka is to make your own.

All you need is a bottle of vodka and McCormick black food coloring. (If you can only find coarse salt, pulse it in a food processor to the texture you want.)

Start with 10 drops of food coloring in the bottle and shake. Then add drop by drop until you achieve the color you want.
 
 
BLACK VODKA RECIPES

Make a black Martini (photo #2); if you like, use black lava salt to make a black rim around the glass.

Make a Screwdriver. Pour orange juice in a collins glass filled with ice. Float black vodka on top (it will look like photo #1).

Serve shots: orange liqueur on the bottom with black vodka on top (photo #3). For all of these, use the spoon method described in step #2 below.

There are numerous black vodka cocktail recipes online. Here’s one from Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs Caterers.
 
RECIPE: BLACK MAGIC

Ingredients Per Cocktail

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the ice, orange juice and triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into a glass.

2. USING the back of a spoon, pour the black vodka slowly into the glass so that the vodka sits atop the orange juice mix.

3. CAREFULLY DIP one edge of the orange wedge into the vodka or black salt, and place the wedge on the rim of the glass.
 
 
If you don’t finish the bottle of vodka, you can drink the rest on Black Friday.
 
 
MORE HALLOWEEN COCKTAILS

Check out these options. We’re especially fond of the Bloody Eyeball Martini.

[2] A black Martini (photo courtesy Honestly Yum).

[3] Black and orange shot (photo courtesy Cocktail Hacker).

[4] Blavod black vodka (photo courtesy Distil Plc).