Spooky season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with a creepy cocktail? We have rounded up the top 10 spine-chilling sips to keep this Halloween happening and put the BOO in booze.
Blood Orange Martini
Ok, so we all want to get our freak on this Halloween, but it’s also important to stay on trend. Searches for the word “Martinis” are up +230% year on year, according to Pinterest, making it a certified crowd pleaser for any Halloween shindig this October.
This Blood Orange Martini is crafted with naturally tasteful Grey Goose vodka to add a touch of refinement to your Halloween festivities.
Recipe:
2 ½ oz Grey Goose Vodka
½ oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
Dash of Orange Bitters
Burnt Blood Orange Zest for garnish
Method: 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.
Halloqueen IPA
Next up, Australian craft beer brand Little Creatures has launched a limited-edition IPA called HalloQueen (ABV: 6.2%) just in time for fright night.
HalloQueen IPA celebrates all things female in the brewing industry. Head of Brewery Operations, Rebecca Crotty Jones gathered her predominately female team at Little Creatures microbrewery to create this new brew whilst learning about the historic role women have had within the brewing industry.
The limited-edition IPA is a combination of 6 grains and 6 hops from across the world, creating an east coast meets west coast IPA.
Served while stocks last, you can find this devilishly delicious tipple at Little Creatures’ Kings Cross microbrewery from 27th October.
Noir Negroni
With Halloween celebrations cancelled last year, it seems only right that we should go all out in 2021. According to the Bacardi 2020 Holiday Survey, one in four people made their own party cocktails last Halloween, and the at-home DIY cocktail trend is showing no time of slowing for this year’s celebrations.
The frightful Noir Negroni looks like it’s straight out of a cauldron. A vodka-twist on the classic cocktail, this negroni variation is blacked out with black rice infused bitters to spook even the bravest of witches.
Recipe:
1 ½ oz Grey Goose L’Orange
1 oz Martini Ambrato
1 oz Black Rice infused Martini Bitter
+ Halloween Candy
Method: Build in Rocks Glass. Add big cube. Stir and garnish with fun Halloween candy
The 13th
Cognac is one of this year’s fastest growing spirits, according to a study from the International Wine and Spirits Record. Pay homage to all-time scary movie “Friday the 13th” with The 13th cocktail.
Crafted with cognac, blood orange syrup and ginger beer, this pumpkin-coloured serve is not for the faint of heart.
Recipe:
2 oz D’usse VSOP Cognac
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Blood Orange Syrup
Splash of Ginger Beer
Method: Build in shaker with ice and pour over ice.
Bridgerton-inspired Holiday Pear Social
Stuck on what to wear to your friend’s annual Halloween bash this year? We have you covered. And not only will your outfit be on point, but you will also be able to match it to your drink. What could be better?
Bridgerton, the smash hit period drama taking over screens earlier this year, filled with high society and high hair, offers plenty of worthy costume choices like the Queen for Halloween.
And for the perfect Halloween cocktail match, look no further than the decadent ‘Holiday Pear Social’ cocktail, which is literally crowned with holiday-esque adornments like dried pear and mint and elegant notes of St-Germain elderflower liqueur. With this fruity, sparkling cocktail in your gloved hand, the queen shall never be wrong.
Recipe:
8 oz Elderflower Liqueur
8 oz Pear Vodka
6 oz Cucumber-mint juice
2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz absinthe
16 oz Sparkling Wine
Garnish- dehydrated pear, mint crown, borage, grated nutmeg
Method: Build in vessel, add all ingredients, stir, add ice and garnish. Serves 8.
Halloween Punch
This one we know will be a crowd pleaser. Perfect for knocking up last minute if you’ve suddenly been cornered into hosting a Halloween bash, this punch will take things to the next level. Blood-red in colour and devilishly delicious, the Crystal Head Vodka bottle will even add to the decor.
Recipe:
12 oz. Crystal Head Vodka
24 oz. Red Cranberry Juice
32 oz. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
8 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
27 oz. Ginger Beer
Method: Add all ingredients into a punch bowl with fresh slices of blood orange, lemon, grapefruit and cranberries. Serve over ice.
Blood-red Fig Negroni
If this Halloween cocktail doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will! Inspired by the Dalmatian-hater herself, this blood-red beverage is the perfect pairing to a 101-inspired look.
Not only does this delicious fig-infused negroni from Trapazzino’s in New York break the mold of the timeless bar favourite, but it also boasts a beautiful ruby red hue, a ‘spot-on’ drink to star alongside the showstopping red number worn by Emma Stone, for anyone who wants to honour the bold villainess from this year’s live-action 101 Disney hit!
Recipe:
1 oz Gin
1 oz Bitter Liqueur
1 oz Fig-Infused Rosso
2 dashes fig bitters
Method: Build all ingredients in a rock glass over a large ice cube, garnish with an orange twist, and enjoy!
Eye of the Spider
Don’t be put off by the name – there are no actual creepy crawlies in this festive Halloween cocktail. If you’ve drawn the short straw and are hosting the Halloween party this year, get the creative juices flowing and impress you friends with the stunning design of this cocktail.
Recipe:
1.5oz Cutwater Spirits vodka
1oz NOLA coffee liqueur
.5oz creme de cacao
Whipped topping:
4oz whipped cream
1oz cinnamon syrup
Method: Combine ingredients in a cocktail stirring glass. Add ice and stir until ice begins to melt and cocktail is properly diluted. Strain into chilled coupe glass. Add heavy cream and cinnamon syrup to cocktail shaker. Shake (without ice) until cream turns light and airy. Float whipped cream on top of cocktail and garnish with a hand-drawn spider web and sugar eyeball.
The Ghostface
This next one is dedicated to a horror movie staple: Scream. Whether you are dressed as the iconic Drew Barrymore, blonde bob and all, or Ghostface himself, this tantalising tipple will have you shrieking with delight.
Recipe:
2 oz. Aged Rum
¾ oz. Aquavit
¾ oz. White Wine
2 dashes Chocolate and Cinnamon Bitters
Method: Stir to combine. Pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Spiced Star Martini
Just because it is less scary by no means makes it less delicious. This one is for anyone who is sick and tired of hearing the words ‘Spooky Season’. Putting an autumnal twist on the classic martini, this vodka-based sip made with star anise will warm you from the inside in the colder months.
Recipe:
2.5 oz Grey Goose Vodka
0.5 oz Noilly Prat Dry
Orange Bitters
Star Anise Bitters
Method: Stir and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with clementine and star anise.
For any whisky lovers out there, here are the top three best drinks to try this Halloween.
