Combine the apple juice, blackberry preserves, and brown sugar in a saucepan.
Add the black food coloring ⅛ teaspoon at a time until the juice is a deep black color.
Add the cinnamon stick, star anise, and whole cloves. Heat over medium high heat until it comes to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and chill in the refrigerator until cold.
When it's time to serve, fill a glass about ¼ of the way full with the black apple cider, add in a pinch of edible gold shimmer dust, then fill the glass the rest of the way with chilled ginger ale. If serving with dry ice, leave enough space for the drink to bubble up without bubbling over.
Notes
Add shimmer per glass: Mixing shimmer in individual glasses keeps the sparkle fresh. Chill everything: Cold ingredients help preserve the bubbles. Go slow with the coloring: Add a little at a time until it reaches your desired shade. Use a ladle for serving: It makes portioning cleaner and shows off the shimmer.