11 Halloween Cocktails to Make

Magic Cotton Candy Daiquiri Image:
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Whether you’re a horror-movies-and-jump-scares fan or more of a candy-and-cute-pumpkins type of person, the one thing everyone can agree on is that good cocktails are essential for Halloween. And who doesn’t love an opportunity to have some themed fun with their booze? With drinks ranging from the sweet Snickertini to a fun twist on the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2, the options on this list will suit any sort of Halloween party—even if you’re just sneaking sips between rings of the doorbell.

Tootsie Roll

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

The Tootsie Roll candy dates all the way back to 1907, and it’s about time it’s gotten an upgrade. This new take on the classic Chicago-made treat may have a sweet name, but the cocktail itself, a take on a Manhattan, is more serious than you might think. Sweet, rich Pedro Ximénez sherry lends its depth to the drink, while bourbon keeps it all balanced. Add a few dashes of chocolate bitters for the quintessential Tootsie Roll flavor and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

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Witches' Brew

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

“Double, double, toil and trouble” will be your mantra as you whip up a batch of this delicious brew. Don’t let its looks deceive you: Although it’s pretty enough to be a centerpiece at your Halloween celebrations, this drink is a balanced scotch sour that gets its blood-red color and earthy flavor from the unexpected addition of beet juice. For extra-dramatic appeal, serve it in seasonally spooky glassware.

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Undead Gentleman

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This Zombie riff comes from Martin Cate of San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove. One glance at its list of ingredients is enough to raise the dead, but its complex Tiki flavor makes the extra effort worthwhile. It calls for two rums, grapefruit and lime juices, velvet falernum, cinnamon syrup, and Angostura bitters, all strained into a chilled coupe that’s been rinsed with absinthe and garnished with lime and grapefruit twists.

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Jack-o’-Lantern Punch

Phil Ward

What’s Halloween without a couple of Jack-o’-Lanterns? Bar vet Phil Ward brings the festive fun to your glass with this fall punch. To keep things easy when you’re hosting a crowd, you can multiply this recipe of spices, rum, apple and lemon juices to make as many servings as you need to fill a punch bowl, then top each punch cup with club soda and finish it with a garnish of apple slices, pumpkin seeds and a cinnamon stick.

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Continue to 5 of 11 below.
Devil’s Margarita

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Show off your devilish side with this tasty twist on the classic Margarita. This recipe starts out as a typical Margarita with blanco tequila, lime juice and simple syrup. Where it gets its impish spin, though, is in the finale: a New York Sour-esque red-wine float delicately topping the drink.

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Let's Pumpkin

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

If you went a little crazy at the pumpkin patch, put your leftover gourds to good use with this big-batch punch by Shawn Chen, the beverage director at RedFarm and the principal bartender at Decoy. A homemade fall spice syrup—made with warming spices like star anise and cardamom, plus orange and sugar—pumpkin purée, and apple juice add an autumnal flavor to bourbon, ginger liqueur. Brighten it all with a bit of lemon and pineapple and serve in meringue-topped mini pumpkins for a cocktail your guests won’t soon forget.

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Corpse Reviver No. Blue

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Raise the dead this holiday with this bright spin on a pre-Prohibition classic. Created essentially as a joke by Bacardí brand ambassador Jacob Briars, this cocktail became so popular that it’s stuck around to jump-start mornings, end nights, and everything in between. To make it, shake blue curaçao, Lillet blanc, dry gin and lemon juice with ice, then strain into an absinthe-rinsed glass and enjoy.

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Snickertini

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Skip sneakily rifling through the kids’ candy bags at the end of the night and make yourself this grown-up treat instead. Starting with rich caramel vodka, this candy bar in a glass gets a blast of sweet flavor from Baileys Irish cream and chocolate liqueur. Add some heavy cream for a rich texture and a dash of amaretto for nutty depth, and you have a drink that tastes just like the classic candy bar. For an extra-special presentation, serve it in a glass drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauces.

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Continue to 9 of 11 below.
Grave Digger

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

If you’d rather avoid a real cemetery this Halloween but still want to get your spook on, turn to this cocktail. A simple twist on a Spanish Coffee, this recipe uses vanilla-infused brandy, coffee liqueur, Grand Marnier and espresso for an easy after-dinner sipper. The real twist, though, comes with the presentation. Serve it topped with whipped cream sprinkled with crushed Oreo cookies and paired with a tiny shovel to resemble a freshly dug grave.

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Toblerone

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The Toblerone chocolate bar was invented in Switzerland in 1908, and since then it’s become beloved around the world as a particularly indulgent treat. Following in its namesake’s footsteps, this cocktail is a decadent after-dinner drink you’ll love. Featuring Baileys Irish cream, Frangelico and Kahlúa, plus honey syrup and heavy cream, it’s a richly sweet treat that’s ideal for holidays like Halloween when candy flavors reigns supreme.

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Magic Cotton Candy Daiquiri

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

If you have leftover cotton candy laying around, turn it into a drink. Part magic trick, all treat, it’s the best parts of Halloween in one glass. Shake rum and lime juice with ice until chilled, then slowly pour over a large fluff of cotton candy in a cocktail glass. The cotton will dissolve like magic, leaving behind just a touch of sweetness. Top it with Champagne for a festive touch, and serve garnished with a lime wheel. Poof! The drink itself will disappear before you know it.

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