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A rare white mule from a gypsy circus died in the late1860s on the site of today's Downtown Grill and Brewery in Knoxville, Tenn., bestowing a curse on the property that later burned, was blown up in an accidental dynamite explosion and suffered numerous other small fires and mishaps.

Of course, the building did survive to turn 100 in 2004, but the legend lives on and the curse might, who knows? Non-believers can still enjoy haunting Halloween cocktails at the brewery. Many, like this one, were conceived or perfected by managing partner Dan Goss.

"It tastes pretty good but it really gets its appeal from its looks," he says. "It does take 5-10 minutes to make, so it's kind of a pain, but it's worth it."

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz. strawberry vodka such as Stoli
1/8 oz. Rose's lime juice
3/4 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream
splash of grenadine

Instructions:

1. Chill vodka for better smoothness.
2. Add vodka and lime juice to a shaker, shake and strain into a shot glass.
3. Using a straw, dip some Bailey's Irish Cream into the shot. Once you submerge the straw into the Bailey's put your finger on top of the straw to hold the Bailey's in the straw. Dip the straw tip into the vodka and slowly release your top finger. The Bailey's will curdle a little bit due to the lime juice and you should be able to make strands of Bailey's.
4. Repeat the straw/Bailey's process to build a "brain" in the shot glass.
5. Add a splash of grenadine to the concoction to add the 'blood' to the mix. Down the hatch as a shot.

Recipe courtesy Dan Goss, Downtown Grill and Brewery, Knoxville, Tenn.

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