24 Halloween Cocktails to Get You in a Ghoulish Mood
Do you have your Halloween costume ready yet? Are you going as Beetlejuice, or Timothée Chalamet in Dune or maybe The Joker with your Harley Quinn? Once that’s settled the next most important thing you have to figure out for this All Hallow’s Eve celebration is what you’re going to be sipping. Whatever Halloween cocktail you shake up will set the mood for the rest of your festivities. Are you craving something bitter to go along with the haunted mood? Then stir up a Corpse Reviver cocktail with a dash of absinthe. If you’re craving candy, but can’t choke down the chocolate bars without a sugar crash, you can try the Salted Caramel Cider. The sweet toffee flavors will do the trick.
Since you’re too old to trick or treat without freaking out your neighbors, we rounded up the tastiest libations for you to satiate that sweet tooth. Widen your tastes for the most fun holiday, in our opinion, and indulge in something that tastes otherworldly. You don’t have to stick to the fall staples like hot toddies or pumpkin spiced ciders, though we have those recipes for you too. Get into the spirit and scare up something brand new.
Apple Cider Mimosa
Nothing screams fall like apple cider, and nothing screams party like some champagne. So mix them together and do the monster mash.
Ingredients
4 oz. brut champagne
2 oz. all-natural apple cider
1 oz. cinnamon whiskey
1 slice of apple, for garnish
Directions
Mix cider and cinnamon whiskey in a champagne flute. Top with champagne, then stir lightly until incorporated. Garnish with an apple slice.
Dark and Stormy
The name of this cocktail suggests heavy bitter flavors, but it's actually quite light and refreshing.
Ingredients
2 oz. dark rum
3 oz. ginger beer
1/2 oz. lime juice (optional)
Directions
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Add rum. Pour in ginger beer and lime juice. Stir with a barspoon. Garnish with a lime wedge. Enjoy.
Zombie
This drink might have you feeling like the walking dead after one glass, but it'll taste revitalizing on the way down.
Ingredients
1/2 oz. white rum
1 1/2 oz. golden rum
1 oz. dark rum
1/2 oz. 151-proof rum
1 oz. lime juice
1 tsp. pineapple juice
1 tsp. papaya juice
1 tsp. superfine sugar
Directions
Stir together all the ingredients except the 151. Pour the mixture into a 14-ounce glass three-fourths full of cracked ice. Float the 151 as a lid by pouring it into a spoon and gently dipping it under the surface of the drink. *Garnish with mint or fruit.
Black Russian
Mix together this super easy, two ingredient cocktail that doesn't lack complexity, and you'll stay up all night raising the dead.
Ingredients
2 oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
Directions
Stir ingredients with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into an old-fashioned glass over fresh ice.
Old Fashioned
Just as the name suggests, this cocktail is as classic as they come. But sometimes the more vintage something is, the better it stands the test of time.
Ingredients
2 oz. rye or bourbon
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 sugar cube
club soda
Directions
Place the sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass. Wet it with Angostura bitters and a short splash of club soda. Crush the sugar with a wooden muddler, then rotate the glass so that the sugar grains and bitters give it a lining. Add a large ice cube. Pour in the whiskey, then garnish with an orange twist.
Irish Coffee
Craving a little sweet treat on Halloween? That's only natural. But since you're not knocking on anyone's door for candy, try this Irish Coffee recipe instead.
Ingredients
2 oz. Irish whiskey
5 oz. hot coffee
2 tsp. sugar
heavy cream
Directions
Pour the whiskey, coffee, and sugar into a stemmed, heated glass mug. Stir, then top off with a thick layer of lightly whipped heavy cream. Don't stir it in. Optional: sprinkle some pumpkin spice on top.
The Last Word
If this is the last drink you ever have, you won't regret imbibing this funky, tart, and easy to sip gin cocktail.
Ingredients
3/4 oz. gin (or genever)
3/4 oz. maraschino liqueur
3/4 oz. green Chartreuse
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
Directions
Add all ingredients into a shaker. Shake well with cracked ice. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and Luxardo cherry.
Negroni
This Italian classic is bitter, complex and the perfect accompaniment for your Halloween night horror movie marathon.
Ingredients
1 oz. London dry gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. vermouth rosso
Directions
Add the ingredients together in a mixing glass. Stir well with cracked ice. Strain into a glass over cubed ice. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
Brain Duster
Trust the name on this one. The Brain Duster contains 3 ounces of liquor, one of them being absinthe. Yet it's a surprisingly smooth blend. Just watch how many you have!
Ingredients
1 oz. rye whiskey
1 oz. absinthe
1 oz. Italian vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters
Directions
Stir ingredients well with cracked ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Espresso Martini
Who can resist an espresso martini? The intoxicating combination of coffee liqueur and vodka makes this drink a win for any occasion.
Ingredients
2 oz Grey Goose vodka
1/2 oz Mr Black coffee liqueur
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 1/2 oz fresh espresso
Directions
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with two or three coffee beans.
Sazerac
Pay homage to New Orleans, one of the most haunted cities in America, by whipping up a traditional Sazerac.
Ingredients
1 sugar cube
2 1/2 oz rye whiskey
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
1 dash Angostura bitters
absinthe
lemon peel
Directions
In an old-fashioned glass, muddle a sugar cube with a few drops of water. Add several small ice cubes, then rye whiskey, Peychaud’s bitters, and Angostura bitters. Stir well. Roll a few drops of absinthe around a second, chilled old-fashioned glass until its inside is thoroughly coated. Pour off the excess. Strain the contents of the first glass into the second. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Bloody Mary
The name might be frightening, however, this drink is anything but. It's savory, acidic, tart and satiating. There's a reason it's served as hangover relief.
Ingredients
The Mix (for one serving)
• 1/2 cup tomato juice
• 1/4 inch horseradish, chopped
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Dash of celery seeds
• 4 dashes hot sauce (Tabasco, Tapatio, etc.)
• 1/2 lemon’s juice, fresh squeezed
• 1/2 lime’s juice, fresh squeezed
• Dash of sea salt
• Dash of black pepper
• 1 tbsp vodka
The Drink
• 2 oz vodka
• 6 to 8 oz Bloody Mary mix
Directions
Blend tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, and celery seeds until smooth. Add hot sauce, lemon juice, lime juice, salt, and pepper, then blend. Adjust the mix depending on how spicy, salty, or citrusy you like it. Add 1 tbsp vodka to stabilize the mix and keep the juices fresh, then blend. Combine 6 to 8 oz of the mix with 2 oz of vodka in a glass with ice. Pour back and forth into another glass 3 or 4 times to mix. Garnish with a celery stalk and a lime.
Vodka Martini
A martini is arguably the most adaptable cocktail out there. You can make it sweet, bitter, or dirty. It also looks great paired with your Halloween costume if you're dressed as Don Draper, James Bond, or Brian from 'Family Guy'.
Ingredients
3 oz vodka
1/4 oz dry vermouth
Directions
Stir the ingredients well with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives.
Sangria
Whip up a batch of this Spanish red wine cocktail at your Halloween party, and toast to the night with a glass of this sweet, blood red concoction.
Ingredients
1 bottle red table wine
1/2 cup brandy
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
2 cups sparkling water
1/4 cup simple syrup
orange slices
apple slices
blackberries
pomegranate seeds
Directions
Stir all the ingredients together in a pitcher. Put the pitcher in the refrigerator and let stand overnight. Pour sangria into glasses. Garnish with an orange wedge.
Hot Buttered Rum
This cocktail is a warm, saccharine beverage that will make you feel like you're getting a hug from the inside. That's exactly the kind of drink you'll need when facing a cold long night of debauchery.
Ingredients
2 oz dark rum
2 sugar cubes
1 pat unsalted butter
Directions
In a mug, dissolve the sugar cubes in a little hot water. Add rum and butter. Fill the mug with hot water. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
Devil’s Negroni
(Created by Fear City Gin)
A devilish twist on the Negroni from Fear City Gin, this cocktail takes juicy pomegranate and the herbal flavors of gin and Campari for a satisfying and enchanting cocktail.
Ingredients
1 ounce Fear City gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce dry vermouth
1 ounce pomegranate juice
orange peel (optional)
dying flower (optional)
Directions
Add the gin, Campari, dry vermouth and pomegranate juice to a rocks glass over ice. Stir until cold. Garnish with an orange peel and dying rose for extra drama.
Salted Caramel Cider
(Created by Crown Royal)
You may not bob for apples anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some apple flavored treats. In this case it's a delicious apple cider spiked with Crown Royal Salted Caramel.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Crown Royal Salted Caramel
6 oz. Hot Apple Cider
Garnish: Cinnamon stick, Apple slice
Directions
Heat apple cider in microwave or in a saucepan on the stove. Pour Crown Royal Salted Caramel into a serving vessel and top with hot apple cider. Garnish and serve
Blood and Sand
For the scotch drinkers amongst us, this cocktail elevates your typical on the rocks order and adds in a splash of fruit and sweet brandy.
Ingredients
3/4 oz. scotch whisky
3/4 oz. rosso vermouth
3/4 oz. cherry brandy or liqueur
3/4 oz. fresh orange juice
Directions
Shake all ingredients together with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
La Bruja
(Created by: Jose Alejandro Ibañez, Principal Bartender at Employees Only)
This tequila cocktail conjures up images of magic and potions. Luckily it tastes more like a delicious tropical getaway.
Ingredients
1 3/4 oz Mijenta Tequila Blanco
1 oz Fresh Lime
3/4 oz Mango Purée
1/2 oz Lemongrass/Cinnamon Syrup
1/2 oz Strega Liqueur
1/2 oz Lejay (Creme de Cassis) Float
Cinnamon and rosemary to create witch’s broom
Directions
Build ingredients in a shaker, mix and strain into into a tall glass with crushed ice
Pumpkin Spiced Margarita
(Created by El Tequileño Tequila)
This drink proves that margaritas are good year round! In fact, all it was missing is that essential fall flavor of pumpkin spice.
Ingredients
2 oz El Tequileño Reposado Gran Reserva
1 oz Orange Liqueur
1 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Spiced Pumpkin Puree
Directions
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake until cold. Strain into rocks glass over cubed ice.
Corpse Reviver
(Created by Yael Vengroff)
The name of this concoction doesn't mince words. The Corpse Reviver will certainly light a fire under you that could wake the dead.
Ingredients
1 oz Harmony Gin or Origen Vodka
1 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Spring Water
Dash of Absinthe (not required)
Lemon Peel
Directions
Rinse your glass with absinthe. Build ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a martini or a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel.
Tully Honey Espresso Martini
(Created by Clodagh Mai O’Callaghan, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey U.S. Ambassador)
Any twist on an expresso martini is a win with us. But this honey whiskey twist will make your cozy coffee cravings disappear.
Ingredients
1 ½ parts Tullamore D.E.W. Honey
1 part fresh espresso
½ part coffee liqueur
¼ part sugar syrup (regular or dark sugar)
Directions
Combine, shake and strain into glass. Garnish with coffee beans.
Pumpkin Pie Mai Tai
(Created by Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum)
Who doesn't love pumpkin pie? Turns out it's even more delicious when you turn it into a rum cocktail.
Ingredients
2 parts Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
1 part dry triple sec
1 part lime juice
¾ tablespoon pumpkin butter
Directions
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake hard so the pumpkin butter mixes with the other liquids well. Stir gently on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.
Ofrenda
(Created by Milagro)
The perfect cocktail for celebrating the Day of the Dead, the Ofrenda is a refreshingly light offering to get your festivities going on the right foot.
Ingredients
2 parts Milagro Reposado
1 part fresh mandarin juice
½ part fresh lemon juice
¼ part green cardamom (orange blossom) honey syrup
½ part egg white
1 edible marigold
Directions
Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with edible marigold.
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