Halloween is filled with the best of scares: movies, shadows that are suddenly menacing even in the middle of the day, that unremarkable noise the house always makes becomes a mystery you're not sure you want to solve. As you move through the season, consider adding a Halloween cocktail or two to your frights. These Halloween cocktail recipes won't add too much terror to your days, so consider trying one out as you settle in to watch a movie or two.
Caramel Apple
Caramel apples are a key part of fall and while you may not want to snack on a chewy treat during Halloween, this vodka Halloween drink takes care of the craving. You can't work the month away.
Pairs well with: The Shining
Ingredients
- 8 ounces apple cider
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce caramel vodka
- Hot water
- Cinnamon stick, star anise, and apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, warm the apple cider.
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add warm cider, vanilla vodka, and caramel vodka.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick, star anise, and apple slices.
Witch's Brew
This Halloween-style twist on a French 75 cocktail is a vibrant green Halloween drink, the ideal brew for celebration. If you make this in a large batch, you can make this into a Halloween punch.
Pairs well with: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- ½ ounce Midori
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Prosecco to top off
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, Midori, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Toasted Almond Old-Fashioned
An Old-Fashioned is an ideal fall drink, especially when you change up the bitters to complement the weather or toast to the ghosts of relatives past.
Pairs well with: Thirteen Ghosts (2001)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ ounce almond liqueur
- 4 dashes almond bitters
- 3 dashes angostura bitters
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, simple syrup, almond liqueur, and bitters.
- Stir to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
One Last Word
A riff on a last word cocktail, this killer mixed drink is easy to make with the end result being an enjoyably green hue and an herbaceous flavor.
Pairs well with: Scream
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- ¾ ounce green chartreuse
- ½ ounce lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, green chartreuse, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime peel.
The Glow
Apply a black light, and you've instantly got a spooky Halloween cocktail! The quinine in tonic makes it glow under blacklights, so consider pouring this to impress others with the skills you possess.
Pairs well with: The Exorcist
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Tonic to top off
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, gin, and orange liqueur.
- Top off with tonic.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Poisoned Apple
A poisoned apple may feel like a fairy tale drink, but it's still perfect for an ominous drink on Halloween or to enjoy with family.
Pairs well with: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce apple schnapps
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lime wedge, sugar, and Luxardo cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini or cocktail glass.
- Rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lime wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, apple schnapps, and triple sec.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with Luxardo cherry.
Zombie
A zombie cocktail might be a tropical island drink, but its name is well suited for enjoying on around Halloween. Maybe put your phone on silent as you sip. It may not be the easiest Halloween cocktail, but it's worth the effort.
Pairs well with: When a Stranger Calls
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces light rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- ½ ounce 151 rum
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce falernum
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes peach bitters
- 2 dashes angostura bitters
- Ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rums, juices, falernum, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Strange and Unusual
If you aim to dethrone the ghost with the most, this cocktail should be on the top of your list. But be sure not to say his name three times unless you really want his help.
Pairs well with: Bettlejuice
Ingredients
- 1½ ounce Empress 1908 gin
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce grenadine
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, blue curaçao, simple syrup, juices, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.
Pumpkin White Russian
White Russians are a creamy drink that leaves room to play with flavors. This variation uses creamer in place of milk but you can also use flavored liqueurs if you prefer to use milk, it's what The Dude might do.
Pairs well with: The Big Lebowski
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce pumpkin creamer OR ½ ounce milk and ½ ounce pumpkin liqueur
- Ice
Instructions
- In a rocks glass add ice, kahlua, vodka, and creamer.
- Do not stir.
Cider Sidecar
Apple is the quintessential fall flavor, consider enjoying this after your time picking apples but while enjoying some time on the couch, while definitely not dozing off during the movie.
Pairs well with: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Cognac
- 1 ounce apple cider
- ½ ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Cognac, apple cider, triple sec, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into cocktail glass.
Witch's Heart
Often associated with poison, purple is found in nature as a warning system for deadly plants or animals. But you only have something to worry about unless you've done wrong.
Pairs well with: Fear Street Part Three: 1666
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces Empress 1908 gin
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Luxardo cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into martini glass.
- Garnish with Luxardo cherry.
Graveyard Smash
Smashes are a great way to use up fruit or incorporate a juicy flavor into your drinks without relying on syrups, perfect for impressing friends, both old and new.
Pairs well with: The Strangers
Ingredients
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves
- 3-4 fresh blackberries
- 2 ounces bourbon, gin, or vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Club soda to top off
- Ice
- Mint sprig and blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves and blackberries with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, spirit, lime juice, and remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with mint sprig and blackberries.
Haunted Graveyard
This drink will give you the same chills as the graveyard down the block late at night. Consider a picnic and saying hello to your neighbors, but beware the stare of the locals, they might just steal your tongue.
Pairs well with: Dead Silence
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1½ ounces grapefruit juice
- ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and dehydrated lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with dehydrated lime wheel and lightly charred rosemary sprig.
Washington Appletini
As delicious and bright red as a freshly picked apple, once you take a sip you'll agree that we all float down here.
Pairs well with: IT
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces rye whiskey
- 1 ounce apple schnapps
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, apple schnapps, and cranberry juice.
- Shake to chill
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
Grave Digger
An unusual cocktail, the hard cider works so well with the bourbon, unlike some camp counselors.
Pairs well with: Friday the 13th
Ingredients
- 2 ounces hard cider
- 1½ ounces rye whiskey
- Ginger beer to top off
- Ice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rock glass, add ice, cider, and whiskey.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
Lady in White
Every town has a lady in white story, just like everyone has a story about intrusive neighbors. A good time to share your story is over this deliciously simple drink.
Pairs well with: Rosemary's Baby
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces dry gin
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add gin, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
Fright Night in the Grove
This cocktail is perfect for that unusually warm Halloween, especially if you're prone to giving yourself goosebumps with every bump. Sometimes the silence has you wondering is it a ghost, or are you the ghost? This cocktail has a tasty bit of tequila in it, but if you're all tequila all the time, you can also try a tasty Halloween tequila cocktail.
Pairs well with: The Others
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Jägermeister
- ½ ounce blanco tequila
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- 1 ounce ruby red grapefruit juice
- Ice
- Grapefruit wheel and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Jägermeister, tequila, rosemary simple syrup, and juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with grapefruit wheel and rosemary sprig.
Corpse Reviver No. 2
The corpse reviver no. 2 is actually a classic cocktail. There are several iterations and sequels, so you could say it's always rising back from the dead.
Pairs well with: Halloween (1978)
Ingredients
- Absinthe to rinse
- ¾ ounce dry gin
- ¾ ounce Lillet blanc
- ¾ ounce triple sec
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
Instructions
- Prepare a martini glass or coupe by rinsing (swirling) the inside of the glass with absinthe, then discarding the absinthe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add gin, Lillet blanc, triple sec, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Haunted Orchard
You know when you get home from apple picking and you've made your baked goods and don't want to go above and beyond to make a delicious cocktail? This is that cocktail, and it's not too good to be true.
Pairs well with: The Conjuring Universe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce apple cider
- ½ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¼ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- 3 dashes walnut bitters
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, apple cider, cinnamon simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice and king cube.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Blood and Sand
We all go a little mad trying to accomplish all of our favorite fall activities. But this classic recipe is scarily easy since it's just four equal parts, leaving you with plenty of time to kick back and carve your pumpkin.
Pairs well with: Psycho
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce Scotch
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¾ ounce orange juice
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Scotch, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Maple Sour
This whiskey sour uses maple syrup in place of simple syrup to give it that perfect spooky-fall feel and it's easy enough to make for any unexpected guests.
Pairs well with: The Babadook
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- 2 dashes lime bitters
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, maple syrup, lemon juice, egg white, and bitters.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube or cocktail glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
That's the Spirit
Halloween is a spirit that lives in hearts year-round. Enjoy these Halloween party cocktails (along with other spooky drinks like the Beetlejuice cocktail and the alien brain hemorrhage shot) as you ramp up for the fall season, when you host a Halloween cocktail party, or anytime you want to enjoy a scary movie. And, for underaged partygoers, designated drivers, and people who don't prefer alcohol, be try these Halloween mocktails and nonalcoholic punches. Whether you use these recipes or give a drink a Halloween spin with a fun name, you might just make a new friend that calls to ask what's your favorite scary movie. Have the popcorn ready.
Looking for something a little more efficient but still delightfully spooky? Try these terrifying and tantalizing Halloween shot recipes, or punch up the spooky sophistication with Halloween martinis.
