11 Scary Good Halloween-Themed Cocktails
Halloween has become one most beloved holiday of the year. It originated as a Celtic festival to ward off ghosts, marking the end of summer and harvest and the start to the cold, dark winter months. But, over the past 2,000 years, October 31 has morphed into a more general celebration of all things fall and supernatural, of course. Because who doesn’t love witches and pumpkin spice?
This year, however, we’re ditching the costumes and candy to celebrate Halloween in cocktail form. Whether you’re throwing a big bash or cuddling up on the couch with a scary movie, consider shaking up one of these spooky season-themed drinks.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Though not explicitly Halloween-themed, the Pumpkin Spice Latte cocktail is more than qualified to be featured in your harvest season drinks lineup. With freshly brewed coffee, heavy cream, pumpkin spice simple syrup, and Cognac, rum, or bourbon, cozy notes of spice and vanilla are sure to hit the spot on a crisp fall day.
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Pumpkin Painkiller
If the Painkiller is the Piña Colada’s sibling, the Pumpkin Painkiller is their autumnally-inclined, Gilmore Girls-obsessed cousin. Shake spiced rum, pineapple juice, blood orange juice, and homemade pumpkin coconut cream together, and garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds for peak autumnal pleasure.
Witch’s Cauldron
Throwing a last-minute Halloween get-together and short on time? No need to stress! Just combine a full bottle of Midori melon liqueur, 12 ounces of vodka, one gallon of orange juice, and 32 ounces of club soda for a perfectly spooky big batch cocktail. The Witch’s Cauldron’s neon green hue and bubbly nature are straight out of a Goosebumps episode (so, consider throwing one on the TV to get the mood going). Serve in a cauldron for authenticity’s sake, though a regular old punch bowl also works.
Candied Sweet Potato Sidecar
Is there anything more delicious than candied sweet potato casserole? Perhaps only the cocktail version. The Candied Sweet Potato Sidecar uses sweet potato liqueur, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and toasted marshmallow to adultify every kid’s favorite fall dish.
The Allen Parsnips Project
Amid the sweet potato fanfare, no root vegetable is as undersung as the humble parsnip. The Allen Parsnips Project is here to change that. The cocktail, named after the musical act The Alan Parsons Project, showcases the veggie’s earthy, mildly sweet flavor, pairing it with ginger liqueur, vodka, and freshly grated nutmeg for a perfect autumn sipper.
Skeleton Key
Boiled down to the basic elements of spirit, citrus, bitters, and sweetness, the Skeleton Key is ready to haunt your Halloween gatherings—or night of Netflix. Delicate elderflower liqueur lends a subtle, tropically floral note and some sweetness, while ginger beer and bourbon contribute warm fall spice flavors. A generous float of Angostura bitters, which permeates the drink with an orange haze, adds an appropriately eerie aesthetic.
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Yum Kaax
Few food items feel spookier than bugs (though, in reality, they’re a great source of protein that have been a food staple for centuries). The Yum Kaax uses Oaxacan sal de hormiga, salt with ground-up leaf cutter ants, to rim the glass of the mezcal- and corn-infused sipper, which lends an extra layer of earthy tang to the drink.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice
Another bug-infused concoction, this aptly named cocktail, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, features an edible beetle garnish. But that’s not the only element that makes it appropriate for Halloween. Calvados, apple cider, simple syrup, lemon juice, and basil leaves bring together the flavors of fall with an eerie green hue.
Toxic Tonic
If sticking an actual bug in your drink is a bit too freaky for you, consider this playful Toxic Tonic. The gin and tonic riff introduces pineapple juice into the equation with green food dye and a gummy worm garnish—making it wholly ready for spooky season or anytime you want a drink that’s a bit extra.
Witches Ginger Brew
This “juicy, citrusy, fruity” riff on the classic Moscow Mule is dark and broody—hence the name, Witches Ginger Brew. It combines earthy, smoked rosemary with tequila, citrus, ginger beer, and fresh blackberries. Note: add extra blackberries for a darker, more purple brew.
Adult Candy Corn
A loose interpretation of the tri-color fall staple, Adult Candy Corn boasts distinct confectionary aromas. Apple cider, reduced on the stovetop, mixes with rye’s spice and orange liqueur, while an egg white adds richness, echoing the creamy texture of candy corn.
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