These amazing Halloween cocktails are super easy to make

Halloween is upon us, which means haunted houses, slasher flicks, and tasty Halloween cocktails. So, even if you’re planning on staying in and watching Halloween movies, or if you’re planning on putting on your best wigs and looking for a reason to celebrate, we’ve got the Halloween cocktail recipes for any occasion.

There are two routes one can take when it comes to hyper-festive holiday cocktails. You can go the corny route (looking at you, St. Patrick’s Day green beer), or you can embrace the day with a proper cocktail drink that’s as good as it is reflective of its spooky context. We’re not above a cocktail made with Freddy Kruger’s blades or garnished with a witch hat and broom. But you can still have fun without having to hunt down all of the related kitsch. Here are some of the best cocktails to whip up this Halloween.

Cooper and Thief Red Blend Swizzle

(Created by Elliott Clark)

This colorful number blends the power of Pisco with the warmth of cinnamon. The result is a highly autumnal beverage ready-made for Halloween people-watching.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Pisco
• 1 ounce Cooper & Thief Red Blend Aged in Ex-Bourbon Barrels
• 3/4 ounce cinnamon syrup*
• 3/4 ounce lemon juice
• 3-4 dashes of Angostura bitters

*Cinnamon Syrup: Combine 1 cup of sugar in 1 cup of water and a handful of broken-up cinnamon sticks in a medium saucepan on low to medium heat. Bring to a light simmer and gently stir to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool. Strain the cinnamon sticks and store them in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake to chill.
2. Strain into a snifter glass over crushed ice.
3. Garnish with freshly grated cinnamon, mint, and an orange peel.

Diabolique

This drink offers a clever aesthetic that’s not over-the-top, with a chilly red fade. Better, it tastes great thanks to a mix of fruit flavors, liqueur, and a smooth vodka.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Grey Goose Le Citron vodka
• 1/2 ounce Crème de Mure blackberry liqueur
• 1/3 ounce Cointreau
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 ounce fresh pineapple juice

 Method:

1. Build all the ingredients apart from the Crème de Mure in a mixing glass.
2. Top with cubed ice and shake.
3. Fine strain into a highball glass, then add a cap of crushed ice.
4. Drizzle with Crème de Mure and garnish with fresh mint.

Candy Corn Collins

(Created by Jane Danger, Pernod Ricard USA National Mixologist)

OK, we’re allowed to give into a few corny drinks. This one is actually more dressed up as an adult version of a Halloween trick-or-treat bag than anything, a simple but satisfying cocktail in a Halloween costume.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Altos Plata tequila
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Club soda to top off
• Treat bags
• Paper straws
• Twist ties
• Candy corn

Method:

1. Build in tin.
2. Add ice.
3. Shake and strain.
4. Top with club soda.

The Nightmare on 27th Street

This aromatic cocktail may look ghoulish, but it’s a tropical delight. If you don’t have spiders for garnishes, use star anise.

(Created at The Wilson)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Ilegal Joven
• 3/4 ounce Chinola passionfruit/guava syrup batch
• 2 orange wheels in a tin with liquids
• 2 sprays of orange blossom water from an atomizer

Method:

1. Rim half of a rocks glass with black lava salt.
2. Spray orange blossom water from an atomizer over the top of the glass.
3. Allow mist to fall naturally over the top of the glass.
4. Shake ingredients together and single strain into the glass with fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a marigold.

The Gray Moon

This drink will have you howling at the moon. It blends gin with wildly unique Chartreuse and a lovely kick of ginger. Best served on a foggy night during a full moon (not really, you can serve it anytime, we just wanted it to sound spookier!).

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Gray Whale Gin
• 1 ounce Green Chartreuse
• 1 ounce ginger liquor
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice

Method:

1. In a shaker filled with ice shake all ingredients vigorously
2. Strain into a frosted glass.
3. Garnish with your favorite aromatic herb and enjoy!

Monster Smash

(Created by Camille Austin, National Ancho Reyes Ambassador)

Earthy and spicy, this smashing drink is a party pleaser. If there was a Halloween version of the margarita, it might look something like this.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Ancho Reyes Original
• 1 part Ancho Reyes Verde
• 1/2 part simple syrup
• 3 lemon wedges
• 6 mint leaves

Method:

1. Muddle mint leaves and lemon wedges with simple syrup.
2. Add ingredients and shake together.
3. Double strain into a double Old Fashioned glass and garnish with a mint sprig.

Vampire’s Blood

(Created at the now-closed Greene St. Kitchen at the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas)

Mezcal and blood orange go together like The Shining and nightmares. Turns out, the two do even better with the addition of rum and orgeat, a sweet syrup made from almonds.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Bacardi Superior
• 1/2 ounce Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
• 1 ounce orgeat
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Float of hibiscus-infused El Silencio Mezcal

Method:

1. Combine rum, orgeat, lime, and Solerno in a tin with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice.
3. Float hibiscus mezcal over top.
4. Garnish with dehydrated pineapple flowers.

Cold Hollow

Who says you can’t go classy with a Halloween cocktail? The answer, as this drink suggests, is nobody. At least nobody at your party.

(Created by Daniel Zacharczuk, at the now-closed Bibo Ergo Sum, Los Angeles)

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 ounces Lustau Amontillado Sherry
• 1/4 ounce Lustau Oloroso Sherry
• 1/4  ounce Plantation OFTD Rum
• 1/4  ounce Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac
• 1/2 ounce caramel apple cordial
• 6 drops of saline solution

Method:

1. Stir ingredients together with ice.
2. Strain into a Nick & Nora glass and garnish with an apple fan.

Nolet’s Silver Hot Apple Cider

Halloween begs for the occasional warm drink to take the chill out of the air. This one incorporates all of the feel-good items from your pantry.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Nolets Silver Gin per cup
• 1/2 gallon apple cider
• 3 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
• 1 sliced orange
• 1 sliced lemon
• 1 sliced apple
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 4 cardamom pods
• 3 star anise pods
• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 2-inch sliced ginger

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients (except gin) in a slow cooker or large pot on the stove.
2. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to the lowest setting/lowest flame.
3. Can be kept warm for hours and will provide a wonderful holiday fragrance.
4. To serve, ladle punch into a mug or teacup with 1 1/2 ounces of Nolet’s Silver Gin.
5. Garnish with fruit slices, cranberries, cinnamon, or star anise pods.

Black Magic

We couldn’t think of a better name for this cocktail if we tried. The addition of berries, agave, and smoked herbs makes it truly magical.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Misunderstood Ginger Spiced Whiskey
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce agave
• 4 blackberries, muddled
• 4-5 dashes ground nutmeg
• Fresh smoked rosemary and blackberry garnish

Method:

1. Muddle blackberries, agave, and nutmeg together in a shaker.
2. Combine the remaining ingredients and shake with ice.
3. Fine strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
4. Garnish with smoked rosemary & blackberry.

Medusa’s Eye

(Created by Christopher Stephensen, bartender, The Vault, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Sure, this drink touts an involved garnish but the best part is the liquid itself. It may look like ghost blood, but it tastes like a garden party, spiked with the one-of-a-kind kick of a prominent Icelandic spirit.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Tanqueray Gin
• 3/4 ounce Brennivin (an Icelandic aquavit)
• 1 ounce Mean Green juice. (cucumber, pear, honeydew, celery, kale, parsley)
• 1/2 lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon honey simple syrup

Method:

1. Shake all ingredients.
2. Strain into a small coupe.
3. Garnish with carbonated powder rim. (It will foam in your mouth like pop rocks)

The Witching Hour

(Created by Hendrick’s Gin National Ambassador, Mattias Horseman)

Floral and fruit-driven, this cocktail is divine, and you could easily imagine Gomez and Morticia Addams sharing one in a graveyard by the light of a full moon. While you don’t have to drink it in a graveyard, this classy Halloween cocktail is likely to become your new favorite for many Halloweens to come.

Ingredients:

• 3 parts Hendrick’s Gin
• 1/2 part Chambord
• 1 part fresh lemon juice
• 1 part lavender syrup
• Dry sparkling wine (to top off)

Method:

1. Shake all ingredients except the sparkling wine, and double strain into a champagne flute.
2. Garnish with a blackberry.

Violet Chachki

When mixing up this purple people eater be sure to hang on to the Crystal Head vodka bottle and display it prominently as the glass skull doubles as a great Halloween decoration.

(Courtesy of Billy Killin, Bar Manager, Viaggio Restaurant, Chicago)

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Crystal Head Vodka
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Method:

1. Infuse the first three ingredients with a bag of butterfly pea flower tea (this will turn the drink bright purple and it also adds tea flavor).
2. Shake and pour on the rocks.
3. Garnish with rainbow candy.

Blood Moon

You can have your blood and drink it too with this warm and citrusy delight. The vampire teeth garnish is the perfect addition to this spooky drink, making it look like Dracula was there.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Bacardi Superior Rum
• 1 part Monin Blood Orange syrup
• 1 part fresh lime juice
• Ginger beer

Method: 

1. Shake all ingredients, except ginger beer, with ice and strain into a glass.
2. Top with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with vampire teeth.

Smirnoff Boo-YA

What did we see about corny? Anyway, this eye-catcher of a drink is pure Halloween bliss so give in. Even if you don’t like candy corn, you’re sure to like this cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 24 ounces Smirnoff Ice Screwdriver
• 20 ounces orange juice
• 6 ounces grenadine
• Whipped cream and candy corn for garnish

Method: 

1. Chill Smirnoff Ice Screwdriver and orange juice for at least 2 hours.
2. Pour into a large pitcher and stir together.
3. Add 1 ounce of grenadine to the bottom of each of the six cocktail glasses.
4. Pour the Smirnoff Ice Screwdriver mixture on top, leaving about a half inch from the top of the glass.
5. Garnish each glass with whipped cream and candy corn before serving.

Spooky and Spicy

(Created by Curtis Bernadeau, Orchard Room, NYC)

You don’t have to reserve the spice for cinnamon candy this Halloween. Try this fiery number, enlivened by absinthe and colorful peppers, it’s sure to warm you up even on a dark and stormy night.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce Absente Absinthe Refined
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce pineapple juice
• 2 drops Hellfire bitters
• Jalapeno peppers for garnish

Method:

1. Build in a cocktail glass and stir to combine.
2. Add bitters and garnish with peppers.

Raven!

(Created by Alex Jump)

This gem from the folks at Death & Co. is worthy of the exclamation point. It’s as dark as the bird it’s named after and blends all of the best things, from amaro and coffee to brandy and bitters.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Wild Turkey 101 Rye
• 1/2 ounce Clear Creek 8-year Apple Brandy
• 1/2 ounce Chai tea infused Carpano Antica
• 1/2 ounce Dupont Pommeau du Normande
• 1 teaspoon Ristretto
• 1 dash Mole Bitters
• 1/2 dash Cardamom Bitters

Method:

1. Stir all ingredients in a Nick & Nora glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Nightmare on South Beach

(Created by Monkey Shoulder Brand Ambassador Anna Mains)

You can’t have too many nightmares on Halloween. This one is a wonderful, bloody mess, stitching together Scotch with tropical elements like coconut and pineapple.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Monkey Shoulder Scotch whiskey
• 1 part cream of coconut 
• 2 parts coconut water
• 1/2 cup chopped pineapple 
• 1/2 part lime juice 
• 12 milliliters blood*
• 1 cup ice

*Blood: In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups of frozen cranberries, 1 cup of strawberries, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is deep red, 10-15 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine sieve set over a heatproof bowl, without pressing. Stir in a squeeze of lemon juice. Let the syrup cool completely, refrigerate until chilled, and shake before serving.

Method:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth in a blender.
2. Pour into glass.
3. Swirl a little blood on top. 
4. Fill 10ml syringe with blood, insert into drink, and empty syringe when ready to drink. 

Skeleton Key

Another Death & Co. creation, the Skeleton Key utilizes the distinctive wow factor brought forth by one of our favorite types of brandy. Using an oversized ice cube adds to the aesthetic of the drink.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces PM Spirits VS Bas Armagnac (High Proof)
• 1/2 ounce Pikesville Rye
• 1 teaspoon Creme de mure
• 1/2 teaspoon Creme de rose
• 1/2 teaspoon Demerara
• 2 dashes Peychauds bitters
• 1 dash Absinthe

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in Sazerac glass and stir.
2. Express lemon and garnish.

Pumpkin Spice Lebowski

Need a last-minute costume idea? Throw on your worst bathrobe, fix up this tasty drink, and go as The Dude himself. And, yes, of course, this cocktail is based on a White Russian, what else would a Big Lebowski-themed drink be based on? Did we mention you get to garnish with cocoa puffs?

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Reyka Vodka  
• 1 part coffee liqueur  
• 1 part heavy cream 
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Method:

1. Combine heavy cream and pumpkin pie spice into a cocktail shaker and shake.
2. Add Reyka Vodka and Coffee Liqueur and shake with ice.
3. Serve on the rocks and garnish with cocoa puffs.

Bat Brew

We love a good coffee cocktail. This one is simply buzzy—it’ll have you flying high like a bat under a full moon. Just make sure that you don’t drive the Batmobile into Gotham City after having a couple of these, let Robin take the wheel.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Bacardi coconut rum
• 1 ounce cold brew coffee
• 3/4 ounce Monin Vanilla Syrup

Method:

1. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass or serve chilled in a shot glass.

Pumpkin Juice

(Recipe from Delish)

Even though we’re a few years removed from the movies, most Halloween parties are going to have at least one person who comes as their favorite Harry Potter character. So if you find yourself surrounded by Slytherins, Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, break out this cocktail based on the favorite drink of Hogwarts students, just in an adult version. And besides, what’s more Halloween than a pumpkin?

Ingredients:

• 4 cups apple cider
• 1 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup apricot preserves
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 ounces of spiced rum (depending on preference)

Method:

1. Using a blender, blend cider, pumpkin puree, apricot preserves, pumpkin spice, vanilla extract, and spiced rum until the mixture is smooth and slightly foamy. This should take about 30 seconds.
2. Fill glasses with ice, pour in the mixture, and serve.

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