Mix up Halloween magic: 7 spooky cocktails to try this weekend

Halloween is upon us. In fact, it’s sneaking right up as it all goes down Friday. Being a weekend, the ghoulish holiday calls for a good fall cocktail recipe.

Fortunately, we have a plethora of Halloween-inspired cocktails. Read on for some witches brew to mix up this weekend.

El Diablo

Here’s a proper drink featuring tequila, cassis, and ginger.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Partida Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 ounce crème de cassis
• 1/2 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
• 4 ounces ginger beer
• Lime wedge for garnish

Method:

1. In a shaker filled with ice, pour the tequila and lime juice.
2. Shake and strain into a highball glass with ice and pour the ginger beer and top with crème de cassis.
3. Garnish with lime wedge.

Wicked Potion

A wicked potion indeed, showcasing a great gin.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Middle West Spirits Vim & Petal Gin
• 1/2 ounce crème de violette
• 1/2 ounce Genepy
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce Butterfly pea flower infused Simple Syrup
• 1 dash lavender bitters (optional)

Method:

1. Combine gin/vodka, crème de violette, chartreuse, lemon, honey syrup, and bitters in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard until chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe with an optional purple sugar rim.
3. Garnish with dehydrated lemon and wheat sprig.

Chocolate Espresso Mezcal Martini

This is not your ordinary espresso Martini recipe, people.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Mezcal Espadín Gracias a Dios
• 1/2 ounce agave syrup
• 1 shot double espresso
• 1/3 ounce homemade bitter allspice
• 1 pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons grated bitter chocolate

Method:

1. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker and add ice.
2. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds and serve over a previously cold glass.

Cold Comfort

Rum and vodka get along just fine in this Halloween drink.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Crystal Head Vodka
• 1 ounce dark rum
• 4 ounces apple cider
• 1 cinnamon stick

Method:

1. In a cocktail shaker add vodka, dark rum and apple cider with ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
2. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick, finely grated cinnamon and thinly sliced apple.

Late Night Margarita

A touch of smoke takes this Margarita to the next level.

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Fluère Smoked Agave
• 20 ml Bols Triple Sec
• 20 ml fresh lime juice
• 10 ml simple syrup
• Dehydrated lime wheel for garnish

Method:

1. Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel.

Jack The Ripper

Carrot juice imparts great color and flavor here.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce vodka
• 0.5 oz Bauchant Orange Liqueur
• 1/2 ounce raw carrot juice
• Lemon twist for garnish

Method:

1. Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake and strain into a shot glass.
2. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Zombie

This take on a classic tiki drink comes from Three Dots and a Dash, one of the best bars in America.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Appleton 8-Year Rum
• 2 ounces Chairman’s Forgotten Cask Rum
• 1 ounce Rum Fire
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1 ounce grapefruit juice
• 1 ounce falernum
• 1 ounce pomegranate syrup
• 5 dashes of tiki bitters

Method:

1. Mix all ingredients, pour into the glass of your choice (Three Dots and a Dash serves in their traditional skull glassware). Garnish with some combo of pineapple, grapefruit floret, cinnamon stick, and orchid.