The air is getting colder and the days are getting longer. This can only mean one thing: Spooky season is upon us!
It's time to put away your summer garb, take the slow cooker out of the cabinet, and settle in for all things warm and cozy. Of course, that means scheming up a drink menu filled with tasty, festive libations.
Halloween themed cocktails bring a spirited vibe to any gathering. They're as fun to make as they are to drink, and they leave an impression your guests will be talking about long after the last trick-or-treaters have left.
Today, we're sharing some of our favorite concoctions so you can make them at home and ring in the holidays in style.
Witch's Brew
Double, double, toil, and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble! This fanciful cocktail combines everything we love about Halloween, including a bold, goblin green color and mysterious smoke. It's sweet and a little sour, and sure to please everyone on your guest list.
To make it, you'll need the following:
- 1.5 oz Dekuyper Melon Liqueur
- 1.5 oz Cointreau Triple Sec Orange Liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
Simply combine all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add two handfuls of ice, and shake until cold. Strain everything into a lowball glass and add a maraschino cherry for garnish!
Want to take it up a notch? Pick up a block of dry ice at your local grocery store. Right before serving, break the block into several small chunks.
Ideally, each chunk of dry ice should be around 1/2-inch to 1-inch in size. You can use a chisel and ice pick to get the pieces smaller. Remember to always wear safety goggles and gloves when working with dry ice, and keep it away from pets and children.
Using tongs, add a chunk of dry ice to each glass after you've poured the drink. The ice should sink to the bottom and create a spooky smoking effect! Wait about five minutes for the ice to dissolve before enjoying the drink.
While you can buy the dry ice a few hours in advance, it doesn't last in the freezer. Place it in a cooler with the top off until you're ready to serve the drinks, and try to use it as quickly as possible.
Candy Corn Martini
We know. Candy corn can be a little polarizing. You either love it and look forward to this month all year, or you'd rather eat a bag of nails than find it in your party mix.
No matter how you feel about the orange and white stuff, this Candy Corn Martini is always a crowd-pleaser.
Here's the ingredient list:
- 4 oz Smirnoff Whipped Cream Vodka
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon grenadine
- Crushed ice
- Whipped cream
First, fill a martini shaker 1/4 of the way full with crushed ice. Then, pour in the vodka and pineapple juice. Close the lid tightly and shake until cold, about 15 seconds.
Next, pour the drink into a martini glass, about 3/4 full. Add one tablespoon of grenadine and watch it sink slowly to the bottom of the glass. Top with a generous serving of whipped cream, and you have a beautifully layered drink that looks just like the candy!
Vampire's Kiss
Now, it's time to get a little dark. The Vampire's Kiss cocktail is just as mysterious and seductive as it sounds. The blood-red color is gorgeous and the flavors combine perfectly, creating a drink that's just a little tart, with a sweet berry finish.
To make this drink, you'll need:
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
- 1/2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice (not cocktail)
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz grenadine
- Ice cubes
- Sugar for the rim (optional)
If you want to sugar the rim of your cocktail glass, do that first. Place a thin layer of sugar on a small plate, and add a little extra grenadine to a second plate. Spin the rim of the glass in the grenadine, then spin it in the sugar until it's well-coated.
To create the cocktail, mix all of the ingredients into a shaker. Add two handfuls of regular ice and shake until everything is cold. Strain the liquid into the prepared glass and you're done!
If you want to add dry ice to each drink, this can enhance the mysterious effect. Remember to follow the safety instructions listed in the Witch's Brew cocktail, so you can stay safe and enjoy your delectably creepy treat.
Hocus Pocus Cocktail
Unless you've been living under a rock (or you just don't have Netflix), you know that Hocus Pocus 2 has been the movie to see this Halloween season. Whether you loved this rendition or preferred the original, this drink won't be nearly as divisive.
Another name for this cocktail is Another Glorious Morning, based on that infamous line uttered by Bette Midler (aka Winifred Sanderson) in the OG HP. Like the Vampire's Kiss, this is one of our Halloween cocktails that's a gorgeously dark shade of burgundy. It's also bursting with fruit, so you can almost call it a health drink!
To create it, gather:
- 3 black plums, sliced
- 2 cups black grapes
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 cups red wine (like Le Vigne Vatani's King Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 1 cup brandy
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
This recipe is enough to make a pitcher-full, so it's great for a crowd. You can prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge until your guests arrive. To make it, just add everything to the pitcher and stir until combined!
Cover and chill in the fridge for about an hour so the flavors can meld together, then serve! If you prefer a slightly sweeter concoction, you can add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of simple syrup to the pitcher.
Pumpkin Martini
Move over, PSL. This season, we're getting a little crazier. Pumpkin martinis are a decadent, yummy treat that taste more like dessert than a drink.
Not only is this cocktail a cinch to make, but the light brown color is totally reminiscent of pumpkin pie, gingersnaps, and everything else this season represents.
Start with these ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz heavy cream
- 1/2 oz maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Crushed graham crackers for the rim
To coat the rim of your martini glass, start by crushing up one graham cracker onto a plate. Add a little maple syrup to another plate. Dip the rim in the syrup, followed by the graham crackers, turning smoothly to evenly coat each time.
Then, place all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, along with a handful of ice. Shake thoroughly until everything is cold, and strain into the glass.
Jack O' Lantern Cocktail
Nothing says Halloween like carving a Jack O' Lantern! If your favorite seasonal activity is finding the biggest pumpkin in the patch and turning it into a character for your front stoop, you'll love this next Halloween themed cocktail.
Here are the ingredients:
- 1.5 oz cognac
- 1.5 oz brandy-based orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier)
- 1 oz orange juice
- 2 oz ginger ale
- Lime twist for garnish
- Orange slice for garnish
To make the Jack O' Lantern Cocktail, fill a cocktail shaker 3/4 full of ice. Then, shake together the cognac, orange liqueur, and orange juice.
Strain the drink into a glass and top it with ginger ale. For garnish, float an orange slice on top of the drink, and place the lime twist on top!
Corpse Reviver
Don't let the ghastly name fool you. This drink is nothing to be afraid of! In fact, it's incredibly good.
This is a classic gin sour cocktail, delivering a crispy, tart flavor with just the slightest hint of licorice on the finish. The secret here is the key ingredient: absinthe.
This storied green spirit is made from botanicals, including wormwood, anise and fennel. It gives the Corpse Reviver its unique taste, and while it was banned in the U.S. from 1912 to 2007, it's now easy to find in stores and online.
To make this cocktail, here's what you'll need:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Grand Marnier
- 1 oz dry vermouth
- 1/2 teaspoon absinthe (like Butterfly Classic Absinthe)
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Orange peel or orange wedge for garnish
Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Then, fill it up with ice and shake it until cold. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel or orange wedge!
Black Widow Cocktail
They're the outcasts of the arachnid world, known to be the most poisonous spiders in North America. If you see a black widow when cleaning out your garage, it's best to run away.
However, if you're handed a Black Widow Cocktail at a party, you should run right to it! This drink is super dark thanks to the blackberries and has a tart/sweet finish that's very smooth.
To start, gather:
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 4 oz blackberry juice
- 2 oz vodka
- Crushed ice
- Blackberries for garnish
If you can't find blackberry juice, simply add 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of blackberries to a blender, and blend until smooth. When you're ready to make the cocktail, add everything to a shaker.
Shake until cold, and strain into your glass. You can top each drink with a few fresh blackberries for a special touch.
Zombie Cocktail
When you really want to impress your guests, you need a complex cocktail full of different flavor profiles and ingredients! The Zombie Cocktail absolutely delivers, thanks to all the different types of rum. While this one might take a little longer to make, we promise that the end result is worth it.
Here are the ingredients you need:
- 1 oz white rum
- 1 oz spiced rum
- 1 oz dark rum
- 1/2 oz 151 rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz passion fruit syrup
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- 1/2 oz grenadine
- Crushed ice
- Fresh mint for garnish
Yes, that's a ton of rum! Thankfully, you can find all of it in our online shop. Start your search on our Rum Page and you're sure to find everything you need.
To make the drink, add all of the ingredients except the grenadine and 151 rum to a cocktail shaker. Add two handfuls of ice and shake away until everything is nice and cold.
Strain the drink into a highball glass, and top it with the grenadine. Then, add the 151 rum on top. The grenadine should sink to the bottom of the glass, and the rum will float!
This gives the cocktail a super-cool layered look. Add a few sprigs of fresh mint for garnish, and you're ready to serve!
Frankenstein Cocktail
It's time to do the Monster Mash, people! When you're feeling especially ghoulish, whip up some Frankenstein Cocktails, invite your friends over, and do your best impression of ol' Victor as you prepare this delicious concoction.
The black sugar rim takes this one over the top, and it's super simple to prepare!
Here's what you need:
- 1 oz apple liqueur
- 1 oz melon liqueur
- 3 oz lemon sparkling water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- Black food coloring
In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and black food coloring until the sugar turns black. Then, wet the rim of a cocktail glass and spin the rim evenly in the sugar to coat it.
Then, add everything but the sparkling water to a cocktail shaker. Shake until cold, and strain into your prepared glass. Top it with the lemon sparkling water for a little fizz.
Try These Halloween Themed Cocktails Today
Whether you're planning a party or enjoying an evening to yourself, you can't go wrong with any of these fun, Halloween themed cocktails. There's a drink on the list for everyone to enjoy!
When it's time to mix up these delicious potions, start with Liquorama. We have all of the wine and spirits you need to make all of these cocktails and more.
Simply place your order online, and we'll bring everything to your doorstep. If you're local, visit our shop in the San Gabriel Valley!
We're here to answer any questions you have, so feel free to contact us.