The world turned upside down—in a good way—for one black velvet night.
Karen Fortunati, American Author
Since much of this year has felt like living in an upside-down world, why not embrace it?! Halloween is the perfect time of year to release our pent-up tension and take a ride on the wild side with some creative celebrating.
Whether you’re planning a safe, socially distanced Halloween party for friends, hosting a virtual Halloween costume party, or simply stirring up trouble at home, tap into that creativity as you set the stage for a deliciously frightful night. The first step? Spirits, of course!
Let’s Eat, drink and be scary with these Halloween cocktails.
Happy Halloween Boo-zing!
Trick-or-Drink! Deliciously Spooky Halloween Cocktails & Mocktails
The Phantom (Vanilla Bean White Russian)
No Halloween is complete without a spooky ghost sighting! The Phantom sets the mood and satisfies your sweet tooth as a vanilla bean White Russian. It's to die for!
Equipment
- Ice Cream Scoop
- Rocks Glass or Martini Glass
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Veil Vanilla Vodka
- 2 ounces Kahlua
- 2 ounces Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur
- 2 scoops Talenti Vanilla gelato
- 5 ounces milk Unsweetened almond milk, optional
Instructions
- Line a martini glass with chocolate syrup; this is optional. In a small cocktail mixing pitcher, stir together the vanilla flavored vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream and milk. Place one scoop of vanilla ice cream into glass. Pour the liqueur mixture over the ice cream. Serve immediately.
The Tell-Tale Heart (Brandied Cherry Manhattan)
We can always count on Edgar Allan Poe for some chilling Halloween inspiration. In this cocktail, we're bringing the "Tell-Tale Heart) to life as a dark twist on the classic Manhattan.
Equipment
- Coupe glass
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 2 brandied cherry
- 1 dash Angostura Orange Bitters
Instructions
- Place 6-10 cherries in a bowl and soak overnight in brandy.
- Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir until cold and strain into a chilled coupe or glass of choice.
- Skewer your brandied cherries and place on top to put the final velvety touch on your cocktail.
Dracula’s Usual (Blood Orange Punch)
For a bloody good cocktail, why not mix up a big batch of Dracula's favorite – a blood orange punch! This one can easily be made non-alcoholic for both children and adults to enjoy.
Equipment
- Glass pitcher or punch bowl
- Rock glass
Ingredients
- 25 ounces blood orange juice or freshly squeezed orange juice chilled
- 12 ounces natural orange soda San Pellegrino Aranciata, chilled
- 3 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
- 8 ounces Bacardi light rum
- 5 dashes Angostura Orange bitters
- 1 blood orange slices
Instructions
- Fill an ice cube tray (or two) with 1-1/2 cups orange juice and freeze for later.
- Stir together remaining orange juice, soda, lime juice, rum and bitters into a punch bowl or pitcher (enough for 16 cups).
- Before serving, add orange slices and orange juice ice cubes to keep chilled.
- For a Virgin's Dracula Punch, eliminate the rum and bitters and add 8-12 ounces dark cherry or pomegranate juice. Sweeten as needed.
The Haunted Graveyard (Maple Whiskey Cocktail)
The hallowed ground on which headstones rest provides infinite peace. So much so, that over 3.5 million visitors walk the famous grounds of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, to daydream along the verdant paths and maybe even spot the tombstones of famous icons like Jim Morrison, Maria Callas, Marcel Proust or Edith Piaf.Warm your bones on a chilly night in the graveyard with this blend of warm soothing whiskey and maple syrup. Beware the smooking rosemary sprig garnish, as it may attract some ghoulish attention!
Equipment
- Rock glass
Ingredients
- ½ cup Jack Daniels whiskey
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 orange slice per cocktail
- 4-6 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters
- 1 sprig rosemary
- Ice
Instructions
- Add whiskey (or bourbon) and maple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Top with ice and orange slices and sprig of rosemary. Shake well for at least 30 seconds.
- Serve with ice in a short whisky or rock glass. Be sure to strain.
- Place orange slice in glass as a garnish, along with a smoking rosemary sprig.
- For a Virgin Haunted Graveyard, eliminate the whiskey and bitters and replace with apple cider.
Notes
To really set the spooky scene, garnish with a stem of smoking fresh rosemary. To do this, use a kitchen blow torch or long match to light it. Try to use the freshest, greenest rosemary you can find to ensure that it smokes and doesn’t start an actual flame.
Black Magic Brew (Blackberry Sage Margarita)
Margaritas are synonymous with a sun-soaked summer, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them on a dark, dreary Halloween night. To make your classic Margarita taste a bit like black magic, we'll add freshly muddled blackberries, then finish with a piece of dried sage to ward off any unwanted spooky spirits.
Equipment
- Rock glass
Ingredients
- 2 ounce Cabo Wabo Tequila
- 1 ounce lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 8 medium fresh blackberries
- 5 leaves fresh sage
- 1 large sage sprig
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 dash Angostura orange bitters
- 3 medium fresh blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Place fresh sage sprig on a baking sheet for approximately 12 minutes (give or take) for desired dried effect.
- Rim a rock glass with black sanding sugar (for a haunted effect).
- Muddle blackberries and sage leaves together in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds to a minute until broken down and fragrant.
- Add tequila, lemon juice, bitters, maple syrup to the shaker and shake again to mix well. Pour over ice.
- For a Virgin Black Magic Brew, eliminate the tequila and bitters and simply top the muddled mixture with a sparkling water for a non-alcoholic treat.
Notes
For an extra spooky flare, line the glass with black sanding sugar (available at Michael’s or on Amazon).
AND try out these skull-shaped ice cube trays, also available on Amazon.
Happy Haunting
Whether the spooky season awakens the creative costume designer in you, breaks out your “undead” bartending tricks or unleashes your inner witchy chef, there’s plenty to celebrate. Make a toast to tricks and treats and give thanks for all of your ghoulish pals. Remember to drink responsibly and have a safe and Happy Halloween.
