The air is cool, almost cold, the leaves are changing colors, and everyone is hurrying to find costumes for the 31st!
Halloween is the best, and whether you take the spooky approach or like to take a pop-culture approach, Halloween parties are best served with a side of seasonal cocktails. We collected a list of several spooky cocktails you'll enjoy concocting and sipping with a good horror movie or among friends and family on the big night.
From vodka to cognac, tequila, whiskey and more, these are eight tasty, terrifying cocktails you've got to try this Halloween season.
See also: 10 Festive Fall Cocktails To Celebrate the Season
The Grapefruit by NR
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Created by Shige Kabashima for NR bar in NYC’s Upper East Side, this citrus-flavored killer will stun your guests in any cup or glass you might have on hand.
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz mezcal
- ⅓ oz St. Germain
- 1 ½ oz grapefruit
- ½ oz lime
- 2 dashes of Palo Santo Bitters
Directions: Stir all the ingredients in ice and pour into a skill and beaker, or any glass you might have. Garnish with palo santo wood, mint, lime and dried flowers.
Blood Orange Martini
This martini features Grey Goose with the flavor of citrus from Orange Bitters and orange zest.
Ingredients:
- 2½ oz Grey Goose Vodka
- ½ oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
- Dash of orange bitters
- Burnt blood orange zest for garnish
Directions:
Stir in a cocktail shaker and strain into a chilled martini glass. For garnish, Hold a flame up to a blood orange zest until it blackens slightly.
The 13th
The dark, fruity and chocolate flavors of D’usse VSOP Cognac pairs great with the combination of orange syrup and ginger beer.
Ingredients
- 2 oz D’usse VSOP Cognac
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz blood orange syrup
- Splash of ginger beer
Directions
Build in shaker with ice and pour over ice.
Noir Negroni
Grey Goose L’Orange adds a sweetness to this bitter-and spice-infused cocktail with martini bitter and martini ambrato.
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz Grey Goose L’Orange
- 1 oz Martini Ambrato
- 1 oz black rice-infused martini bitter
- Halloween candy
Directions:
Build in rocks glass. Add big ice cube. Stir and garnish with fun Halloween candy.
See also: 6 Spooky Halloween Treat Recipes From Chef Jason Goldstein
Pumpkin Margarita
This fall-inspired drink serves Halloween vibes with Código 1530 Repo tequila and pumpkin purée.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Código 1530 Repo
- 1 oz pumpkin purée
- 1 oz maple syrup
- ½ oz lemon juice
Directions:
Shaken and strained over ice. Wet rim in maple syrup and dip in cinnamon sugar. Garnish with cinnamon stick and a dried orange.
Vampires of Perthshire
This cocktail is bittersweet, with bitter whiskey, Averna, sweet apple cider syrup and orange bitters.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
- ¼ oz apple cider syrup
- ¼ oz Averna
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a glass and stir. Express oil of an orange peel and garnish.
The Ghostface
This cocktail from Santa Teresa 1796 was inspired by the killer in '90s classic Scream. It features a perfect mixture of sweet, mixing white wine with chocolate and cinnamon.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Santa Teresa 1796 or aged rum
- ¾ oz. Aquavit
- ¾ oz. white wine
- 2 dashes chocolate and cinnamon bitters
Directions:
Stir to combine. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Bemelmans Bar’s "Elaine’s Smoky Martini"
The taste is in the name! This drink is very much full of spice and less sweet.
Ingredients
- 2½ oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
- ½ oz Lagavulin 16 whiskey
- ½ oz Noilly Prat Vermouth
- Lemon peel garnish
Directions:
Add ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice, stir and then strain into a martini glass. Finish with the essence of a lemon peel twist and garnish with that lemon peel!
