Spooky Spirits: 5 Halloween-Inspired Cocktails

Every Halloween restaurants and lounges are filled to capacity with thirsty, costumed customers. Although dressing up at work may or may not be in the cards for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t get in the Halloween spirit(s).

I’ve pulled together a few of my favourite, menu-worthy Halloween cocktails to make sure the evening is all treat and no trick!

1. Dra-Kahlúa

Let’s face it: we’ve all given our morning coffee a Kahlúa boost, so why not do the same for your evening martini? I’m a sucker for a good pun, and with a name like Dra-Kahlúa, this Drink of the Week pick is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz Kahlúa
½ oz Cognac
½ oz Triple Sec
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup

Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled, sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a blood orange wedge to round out your Halloween colour palette.

2. Witch Doctor

This sleek, witchy cocktail from Divine Caroline looks as good as it tastes. Follow the directions to achieve an attractive layered look – perfect for fall!

Ingredients:
1 oz Absinthe
1 oz sugared ice water
1 oz grenadine
2 -3 dashes of bitters

Preparation:
Shake ice water with sugar or simple syrup and combine in a glass with 1 oz of absinthe. Next, add the grenadine, allowing it to settle at the bottom of the glass to form the bottom layer. Finish by carefully adding the dashes of bitters as your topmost layer.

3. Ghost in the Mist Cocktail

The sweetness of a Moscato wine is a perfect addition for fruity cocktails. A Little Bite of Life gave this white wine a spooky twist by incorporating food-grade dry ice (found in most grocery stores).
NOTE: For liability’s sake, exercise extreme caution when serving beverages with dry ice. The last thing you want is for a customer to accidentally burn themselves in your establishment!

Ingredients:
4 oz Moscato white wine
2 tbsp Maraschino cherry juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 chunk of food-grade dry ice

Preparation:
Mix liquid ingredients in a thick glass (author Julie Cohn recommends a mason jar) before adding the food-grade dry ice. As it sinks to the bottom of the glass, the Co2 will create an eerie, captivating bubbling effect.

When serving your customer, make sure to instruct them either to wait until the ice has melted to drink or to sip carefully, making sure not to let the ice make contact with their lips or tongue.

4. Bloody Brain Shooter

Convince your customers you moonlight as a mad scientist with this gory-looking shooter from HGTV. Adding Bailey’s Irish Cream to the acidic lime juice will cause it to curdle, resulting in what looks just like a teeny, tiny brain in your glass. Drink up!

Ingredients:
1 ¼ oz strawberry vodka
1/8 oz lime juice
¾ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
Splash of grenadine

Preparation:
Shake and strain vodka and lime juice into a shot glass. Transport small quantities of Bailey’s from the bottle to your shot glass using a straw. Release the liquid slowly to create a strand-like effect, repeating until the strands coil together to build a “brain.” Finish with a splash of grenadine (because what’s gore without blood?).

5. Dragon’s Blood Punch

Let’s not forget about the expecting mothers, the Sober October-ists (or soberheroes as they are affectionately called), or those guys and gals who simply don’t drink. This yummy “mocktail” punch from the Food Network yields 20 – 25 servings and will keep your party-goers happy and hydrated.

Ingredients:
1 46 oz can of red fruit punch
1 46 oz can of apple juice
1 48 oz bottle of cranberry juice
1 2 litre bottle of ginger ale
Ice cubes

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl (or cauldron, if you happen to have one on hand). Add ice, stir, and serve. NOTE: Option to add 4 cups of berry vodka and ½ cup of orange liqueur for a “grown up” version of this one.

From all of us at 7shifts: have a happy, safe, and sugary sweet Halloween!