Halloween is the one time of the year to celebrate all things spooky, so why not treat customers to a scary celebration of mixology?
With Halloween on the horizon, now is the time to craft a selection of spooky cocktails to celebrate the infamous scary occasion. Every year, Halloween is celebrated on the 31st of October. There will be scenes of cobwebs, ghosts and skeletons aplenty, but for a real masterpiece, look no further than custom-designed cocktails that will be sure to go bump in the night.
The classic Halloween look is a fun and joyus way to celebrate the unofficial holiday. This family friendly approach is more on the lighter side of scary things, but pleasant enough for a good time.
The Jack-o-Lantern is arguably one of the most instantly recognisable symbols of Halloween, with pumpkins all over the world carved to depict various faces and patterns. Pumpkin is an obvious flavour and is a great addition to a classic Aperol Spritz. Using a base of Aperol, the orange-herbal aroma pairs nicely with a touch of pumpkin spice, topped off with prosecco and a dash of soda water.
For those wanting to offer a mysterious and creepy offering, look no further than the Black Magic Margarita. In addition to the standard mix of tequila, triple sec and lime juice, add some black food colouring and black sanding sugar for an embellishment. Consider offering in frozen form, topped off with the signature lime wedge.
To offer a truly show-stopping masterpiece, the Gin Glowing Cocktail is sure to be a hit with partygoers. Simply mixing gin, lemon juice, and grenadine with a handful of ice and tonic water will create a refreshing yet effective cocktail. Consider serving with a neon-coloured straw, or in a patterned cup for the ultimate experience. For a real witches brew, use purple gin with a decent serving of lemonade for an extra bit of fizz.
For a tropical dose of poison, combine light rum with coconut rum, Blue Curacao, a handful of ice, and pineapple juice, This multi-coloured cocktail has an impressive effect, especially when embellished with a stem of rosemary, pineapple wedge, or lemon rind twist.
For those with stronger stomachs, opting for a gory theme will create an effective and immersive atmosphere.
Dracula’s Blood is a quick and simple cocktail that will have a lasting impression on guests. Mixing in Peach Schnapps with cranberry juice and vodka creates a taste sensation, and when served in a tall glass with crushed ice, it looks the part as well.
For something a little bit spooky-er, a Blood Orange Sangria will provide the right balance of festivity and hints at the summer season that’s just around the corner. combine red wine, pomegranate seeds, blackberries, and cubed apple with a squeeze of lemon juice, créme de cassis, and add Italian soda.
For a spell-binding Halloween, break out the broomsticks and magic potions for a wizard-themed celebration. The popular Harry Potter film franchise is one of the biggest in cinematic history, making it a Halloween theme that is bound to be popular.
Adult Butter Beer is a playful mix of Butterscotch Schnapps, creaming soda, vanilla vodka and extract to create an iconic recreation from the film series. Best served in a beer mug, top it off with a generous helping of whipped cream to represent beer foam.
Based on the fourth movie, the Goblet of Fire is an impressive cocktail containing smashed blackberries, rum, bitters, honey, rosemary, and spiced rum. The deep red colour becomes a showstopper when spiced rum is floated on top and set alight, literally creating a goblet of fire.
Embellishing cocktails is the secret to making the theme feel as present as ever. Use a range of coloured sanding sugar for a touch of colour, or a light touch of food colouring to add an extra pop of colour. Be careful not to over-use food colouring to avoid damaging the taste, or opt for a simple solution such as cola inplace of tonic water or lemonade.
Fruit, as always, is an excellent decoration for cocktails. Maraschino cherries fit right in with the Halloween theme, providing the look of a poisoned apple, especially when used as a garnish for green drinks. When using fruit such as apples or oranges, cookie cutters can create shapes such as a skull or ghost, which will add to the overall theming of Halloween and add to the flavour.
This Halloween, get creative and offer some spooktacular cocktails guests will never forget. As Halloween falls on a Thursday in 2024, consider hosting a Halloween-themed weekend, offering more of a chance for guests to experience the one-of-a-kind cocktail creations. This unique timing can allow bars to serve Halloween concoctions between the weekend before (26th and 27th) to the following weekend (2nd and 3rd of November).
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