All Hallows' Eve, the 31st of October, is spook night with bizarre costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing and bonfires all the rage. Such Halloween traditions have ancient roots and are worthy of celebration. We'll mark the occasion with a Halloween cocktail, or three, from the suitably named libations below.
1. Black Widow's Bite
With: Vodka, blue curaçao, orange juice, and orange bitters.
We say: A Screwdriver blued (not quite blackened) by blue curaçao.
View the recipe
2. Corpse Reviver No.2
With: Dry gin, triple sec, aromatised wine, lemon juice, sugar syrup and absinthe.
We say: Well-balanced with zesty lemon and absinthe just shining through.
View the recipe
3. Corpse Reviver No.4
With: Absinthe, reposado tequila, aromatised wine, triple sec liqueur, lemon juice and sugar syrup.
We say: Beautifully balanced with lemon acidity cleansing and offsetting sweet orange.
View the recipe
4. Dark 'N' Stormy
With: Dark rum, lime juice, sugar syrup, aromatic bitters and ginger beer.
We say: A Daiquiri made with pungent dark rum, topped and made refreshing with spicy ginger beer. Part of the Mule family – but is distinctive due to the strong flavour of the dark rum.
View the recipe
5. Devil's Soul
With: Rye whiskey, mezcal, amaro, bitter aperitivo, elderflower liqueur.
We say: Spirituous, smoky, earthy, bittersweet, floral, herbal and complex
View the recipe
6. Ghost of Smokey Joe
With: Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, Bénédictine, absinthe, aromatic bitters, and peated whisky.
We say: Herbal notes shine, fortified with rye whiskey. Smoke is courtesy of peated whisky and the garnish.
View the recipe
7. Halloween Martini
With: Vodka, blue curaçao, dry vermouth, fernet liqueur, and absinthe.
We say: Spirituous and delicately bittersweet, with zesty orange and underlying herbal complexity.
View the recipe
8. Halloween Sour
With: Dry gin, akvavit, Strega ("witch" in Italian) liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, and saline solution.
We say: A complex mix of botanicals with pine, peppermint and génépy.
View the recipe
9. Lost Souls
With: Mezcal, cognac orange liqueur, beetroot juice, lime juice, agave syrup, and chocolate bitters.
We say: Mezcal and beet juice sit well together in this delicious riff on a Straight-up Margarita.
View the recipe
10. Nightwish
With: Vodka, fino sherry, banana liqueur, lemon juice, sugar syrup, cardamom bitters, and saline solution.
We say: Vodka may fortify this cocktail, but it's led by the interplay between fino sherry, banana liqueur and sweet 'n' sour.
View the recipe
11. Obituario
With: Blanco tequila, mezcal, bianco vermouth, absinthe, and saline solution.
We say: Whisps of mezcal mingle with herbaceous tequila, rich vinous vermouth and delicate aniseed and liquorice.
View the recipe
12. Obituary
With: Dry gin, dry vermouth and absinthe.
We say: What a way to go. A Dry Martini with a dash of the green fairy.
View the recipe
13. Pumpkin Spice Margarita (PSM)
With: Reposado tequila, triple sec, lime juice, pumpkin spice syrup and pumpkin puree.
We say:: Just as the name promises, a lightly spiced, pumpkin-flavoured Margarita.
View the recipe
14. Pumpkin Sazerac
With: Absinthe, cognac/brandy, pumpkin spice syrup, creole-style bitters.
We say: Don't feel bad if you add a cube or two of ice to this spirituous cocktail – it's perhaps all the better for it.
View the recipe
15. Rich Witch & Famous
With: Mezcal, Strega liqueur, red aperitivo, lime juice, and saline solution.
We say: A Naked & Famous with Strega liqueur replacing Yellow Chartreuse.
View the recipe
16. Spooky Tini
With: Bourbon, Irish cream liqueur, popcorn syrup, and cream.
We say: Popcorn-infused creamy whiskey. An indulgent Halloween crowd-pleaser.
View the recipe
17. White Witch
With: Overproof Jamaican white rum, orange curaçao liqueur, crème de cacao liqueur, lime juice, and soda water.
We say: Crème de cacao adds pleasing chocolaty notes to this long, refreshing cocktail.
View the recipe
18. Witches' Cauldron
With: Mezcal, Strega liqueur, aromatised wine, lemon juice, absinthe, and saline solution.
We say: A mezcal-based Corpse Reviver with Strega ("witch" in Italian) liqueur.
View the recipe
19. Witches' Daiquiri
With: Light rum, Strega liqueur, orgeat syrup, lemon juice and orange juice.
We say: Aniseed, sweet almond and delicate spice subtly influence this tasty Daiquiri.
View the recipe
20. Zombie
With: Overproof pot still rum, light rum, overproof aged rum, falernum liqueur, anise liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice and grenadine syrup.
We say: Powerful funky rum and delicate cinnamon spice partially tamed by rich fruit and sweetened clove.
View the recipe
Join the Discussion
... comment(s) for 20 best Halloween cocktails
You must log in to your account to make a comment.