Whether you’ve just started dabbling in mixology or are a seasoned young bartender, it’s the season to flex your skills and try new ones with Halloween cocktails. From easy two-ingredient mixes to elegant multi-liquor spectacles, there’s a recipe here for you. So, get your fancy skeleton glassware ready and set up your bar cart for a fun and creepy cocktail night with the girlies.
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Caramel Apple Cider Mimosas (Easy)
This is a simple, easy, manageable cocktail with minimal ingredients. In your favorite champagne flute, mix equal parts of sparkling white wine with apple cider. Definitely don’t forget that sweet caramel rim. As an additional flourish, add apples as garnish.
Twilight Blood (Easy)
Trisha Paytas is a huge Twilight stan just like the rest of us. She made a large bowl of fake blood punch consisting of pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, ginger ale, apple juice, and Hawaiin Punch. Though hers is a mocktail, Trisha says you can spike the recipe yourself and “go by the heart” when it comes to measuring out your “blood.” For example, you can add Prosecco in lieu of ginger ale or add in vodka, rum, etc. You can opt for regular cups or get blood bags to drink your cocktail.
pumpkin spice cocktail (Easy)
Two shots of vodka, two shots of pumpkin spice creamer, and one shot of KahlĂşa will give you a spiked iced coffee treat to get the party started. Add a swirl of whipped cream with some cinnamon sprinkles if you want to get really fancy.
Nale’s Spooky Cocktail (EASY)
Nale’s Cocktails on Instagram and TikTok is always a one-stop shop for spectacular libations year-round. Of course, they come up with festive concoctions just for Halloween. Add some fresh pomegranate to the bottom of your glass, pour in one shot of Malibu, top off with blue soda and drop grenadine into the mixture to create an eerie red glow. Plus–opt for gummy eyeballs, gummy worms, or the like for a garnish.
Spooky Eyeball Cocktail (Intermediate)
Instagram foodie Bobby Boyd has a selection of cocktails perfect for the spooky season. This icy drink requires a heavy hand of gin, a splash of blue curacao for color, a splash of cranberry juice, a hint of lemon juice, and a finish of club soda. Of course, you need to stir in all those gummy eyeballs into this “dark and sexy” cocktail.
Grim & Tonic (Intermediate)
Ghoul At Heart is a fantastic site to find all things spooky and edible. Make sure to get your 3D skull ice molds and prepare your ice cubes ahead of time. Prepare your skulls by mixing in blue butterfly pea powder, blue spirulina, or food dye for a colorful effect. Additionally, you can put clear ice in the bottom of your glass so the skull pokes its head out of the cocktail as pictured. To create this gin and tonic, you can mix 2 shots of Empress 1908 Gin (a specific purple-hued liquor) with tonic water. Lime curls and lavender sprigs are the perfect addition to make your drink classy and creepy.
DEVIL’s MARGARITA (INTERMEDIATE)
For this devilish drink, mix together parts of tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup as indicated by the recipe below. Shake with ice and strain into a margarita glass. Then, delicately pour red wine on top and do not stir. Add a lime wheel for garnish. To some, wine and liquor may be a great mix, others may feel their evil effects in the morning.
Ina Garten’s Hot Spiced Apple Cider (Intermediate)
Looking for a way to warm up? Lifestyle expert Ina Garten has a recipe for that. Combine fresh apple cider, peppercorns, one cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, and fresh orange peel into a medium saucepan and simmer. Add liquid to your favorite mugs and top off with two shots of your preferred bourbon. Add cinnamon sticks and apple rounds for garnish.
Spooky mezcal cocktail (Expert)
If you are a lover of fancy cocktails like cocktail expert Ed of @ed_tales, and think you can be a pro mixologist– start here. To begin, craft your own pomegranate simple syrup with hints of cinnamon and clove. Muddle grapefruit in the bottom of a high ball glass. Then, mix your mezcal, citrus-forward gin, and lemon juice with your syrup and top it off with club soda. Add a pomegranate garnish and you are ready to get down with your ghostly self.
mars attacks (Expert)
This beachy Halloween drink by cocktail creator @servedbysoberon is nothing short of extra(terrestrial). To make it, you need to have two types of rum, real cream of coconut, lime juice, and guava nectar. Flash-blend or hard shake your ingredients with crushed ice and pour into a skull-shaped glass. Garnish with lime and mint and get transported to another world.
You may be too old to trick or treat, but you deserve something sweet. Have a happy Halloween with these cocktails.