Black Death Fizzes

• 12 sticks black licorice, broken into 1-inch pieces, plus more for garnishing drinks
• 1 cup sugar
• Three 1-inch slices fresh ginger
• 2 liters unsweetened orange-flavored soda water
• Gin, optional

1. Special equipment: skull and bones ice cube trays
2. For the licorice ice: Place the licorice pieces and 4 cups water in a medium saucepan over medium high heat and bring to a simmer.
3. Cook until the licorice is completely melted, remove from the heat and let cool completely.
4. Fill the skull and bones cube trays with the licorice water and freeze.
5. For the drink: Combine the sugar, ginger and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
6. Cook until the sugar dissolves completely, 3 to 5 minutes.
7. Remove and discard the ginger and set the simple syrup aside to cool completely.
8. Fill a pitcher with the orange soda water.
9. Add the simple syrup.
10. Pour into glasses filled with licorice ice, garnish with black licorice sticks and add a jigger of gin if desired.

black licorice, sugar, three, liters, gin

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nancy-fuller/black-death-fizzes.html (may not work)