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10 of the Spookiest Cocktails for Halloween

October 14, 2024 2:49 pm

As the shadows grow longer and the air turns crisp, the eerie magic of Halloween is upon us. It’s the time of year when the veil between the living and the dead feels thin.  When whispers from the shadows seem just a little too close, and the chill in the air carries with it secrets long forgotten.  The night is alive with mystery, and what better way to celebrate than with potions that promise both delight and danger?” Whether you’re hosting a full-blown Halloween party or a more intimate séance this list of cocktails is bound to contain the witches brew for you.

From timeless classics like the Corpse Reviver No. 2, a drink designed to bring even the most lifeless partygoer back to life. To playful concoctions like the glowing green Witch’s Brew, there’s a bewitching drink for every spirit in the room. The Blood and Sand offers a hauntingly rich blend of Scotch and cherry, while the Black Widow Martini wraps its webs of pomegranate and black vodka around your taste buds.

But beware—these cocktails may look and taste enchanting, but they carry a delicious danger all their own.

Corpse Reviver No.2
Blood and Sand
Death In The Afternoon
El Diablo
Black Russian
Witch’s Brew
Vampire’s Kiss
Poison Apple
Black Widow Martini
Zombie Punch

Corpse Reviver No. 2

Ingredients:

  • 25 ml gin
  • 25 ml Cointreau
  • 25 ml Lillet Blanc
  • 25 ml lemon juice
  • Dash of absinthe

Method

  1. Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled.
  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with a lemon twist.

About

The Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a classic cocktail from the Prohibition era, known for its bright, refreshing taste and eerie name. The drink is part of a family of “Corpse Reviver” cocktails, originally designed as hangover cures—hence the name.  Wwith a hint of citrus, a slight sweetness from the Lillet Blanc, and a touch of intrigue from the absinthe, It’s a popular choice for Halloween.


Blood and Sand

Ingredients:

  • 20 ml Scotch whisky
  • 20 ml sweet vermouth
  • 20 ml orange juice
  • 20 ml Cherry Heering

 Method:

  1. Shake all ingredients with ice until well-mixed.
  2. Strain into a coupe glass.
  3. Garnish with an orange twist.

About

Named after a 1922 silent film about a bullfighter, the Blood and Sand is a classic cocktail with a name that evokes both drama and danger. Its deep red colour comes from Cherry Heering and orange juice, while Scotch provides a smoky backbone. It offers a layered experience of sweet, smoky, and fruity flavours, all while looking like something straight out of a gothic tale.  A complex, elegant drink with just a hint of the macabre.


Death in the Afternoon

Ingredients:

  • 45 ml absinthe
  • Champagne (to top)

 Method:

  1. Pour absinthe into a champagne flute.
  2. Slowly top with chilled champagne until it turns cloudy.
  3. Serve immediately.

About

Created by the legendary Ernest Hemingway, Death in the Afternoon is as much a literary artifact as it is a cocktail. The combination of absinthe, known for its, albeit undeserved, hallucinogenic reputation in the early 20th century.  The light, bubbly effervescence of champagne makes this drink seem otherworldly. The resulting cloudy appearance makes it especially fitting for Halloween or any ghostly gathering.

El Diablo

Ingredients:

  • 50 ml tequila
  • 15 ml crème de cassis
  • 15 ml lime juice
  • Ginger beer (to top)

Method:

  1. Build tequila, crème de cassis, and lime juice in a highball glass over ice.
  2. Top with ginger beer.
  3. Garnish with a lime wedge.

About:

El Diablo is a devilishly good cocktail that combines tequila with the deep, rich sweetness of crème de cassis, the sharpness of lime, and the fizz of ginger beer. This cocktail is bold, with a fiery name that’s perfect for Halloween. The deep red hue from the cassis and the hint of spice from the ginger beer create a drink that’s both playful and dramatic.  If you’re into living dangerously, then why not try using really fiery ginger beer.


Black Russian

Ingredients

  • 50 ml vodka
  • 25 ml coffee liqueur (Kahlúa)

Method

  1. Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice in a rocks glass.
  2. Stir gently to combine.
  3. Serve immediately.

About

The Black Russian is a simple yet mysterious cocktail, with its dark, brooding appearance fitting for Halloween. This drink dates back to 1949 and is named in reference to its Cold War origins. The combination of vodka and coffee liqueur is smooth and rich.  Made with minimal effort its simplicity, combined with its midnight black look, makes it a perfect choice for a Halloween nightcap—strong, dark, and undeniably cool.


Witch’s Brew

Ingredients

  • 25 ml vodka
  • 25 ml Midori
  • 25 ml lemon juice
  • Club soda (to top)

Method

  1. Shake vodka, Midori, and lemon juice with ice.
  2. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
  3. Top with club soda and garnish with a lime wedge.

About

With its electric green colour and refreshing taste, Witch’s Brew is a cocktail that looks as magical as it sounds. Midori provides a sweet melon flavour, balanced out by the tartness of lemon juice and the fizz of club soda. The bright green hue and playful name make this drink a perfect addition to any Halloween gathering. Light, refreshing, and just a little bit mischievous, it’s a fun drink that’s sure to enchant your guests.


Vampire’s Kiss

Ingredients:

  • 25 ml vodka
  • 25 ml Chambord
  • Champagne (to top)

Method

  1. Rim a champagne flute with red sugar.
  2. Pour vodka and Chambord into the glass.
  3. Top with champagne and garnish with raspberries.

About

The Vampire’s Kiss is a seductive, sparkling cocktail that’s perfect for Halloween. With its deep red hue and a touch of sweetness from the Chambord, this is truly sweet vampiric nectar. It’s fruity nature is really disguised by its sinister appearance. If you can get some the red sugar rim adds a theatrical flourish.

Poison Apple

Ingredients

  • 25 ml apple vodka
  • 25 ml sour apple schnapps
  • 25 ml cranberry juice

Method

  1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
  2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
  3. Garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick.

About

Inspired by the infamous poisoned apple from fairy tales, this cocktail is both visually stunning and dangerously delicious. The sharp tartness of sour apple schnapps is balanced by the sweetness of cranberry juice, giving the drink a vibrant red colour. With the crisp, autumnal flavor of apples, the Poison Apple is a perfect seasonal cocktail for Halloween. It’s light, refreshing, and a little bit wicked—just like the forbidden fruit it’s named after.


Black Widow Martini

Ingredients

  • 50 ml black vodka
  • 25 ml pomegranate juice
  • 25 ml cranberry juice

Method

  1. Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled.
  2. Strain into a martini glass rimmed with black sugar.
  3. Garnish with a lemon twist or spooky decoration.

About

The Black Widow Martini is a dark, sleek cocktail that’s perfect for Halloween. The deep red hues of pomegranate and cranberry juice contrast with the black vodka, creating a drink that looks as sinister as it sounds. This cocktail is a mix of sweet and tart, with bold flavors that will make you feel like you’ve been bitten by its namesake!  If you can’t locate black vodka, then a few drops of food coloring into plain vodka, or switching to dark rum can have the same affect.  If you can get some black sugar round the rim of the glass, then you’re really onto a winner.


Zombie Punch

Ingredients

  • 25 ml light rum
  • 25 ml dark rum
  • 25 ml apricot brandy
  • Pineapple juice
  • Orange juice
  • Dash of grenadine

Method

  1. Build all ingredients in a large glass or punch bowl filled with ice.
  2. Stir gently to combine.
  3. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

About

Its blend of light and dark rum with apricot brandy and fruit juices creates a fruity, flavourful drink that packs a punch. The rich combination of tropical flavours is balanced by the sweetness of grenadine, while the punch format makes it perfect for sharing. This cocktail is playful and strong—just the thing to bring your Halloween bash to life!

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