Send chills down your spine with these devilish drinks
Fall means festivities – and we’ll take any excuse for a good ol’ party. Thankfully, Halloween is on its way, which means it’s time for some seriously spooky costumes, petrifying prop purchases, and themed edibles. And to help you plan your get-together, we’ve conjured up some chilling cocktail recipes for a guaranteed treat.
Thinking of ordering your spirits and setting up your own beastly bar? If you haven't already, try Drizly on for size. An alcohol delivery service with a huge range – undoubtedly more than the grocery store – you can order drinks via the app and have your booze delivered in under 60 minutes. Plus, they’re giving new customers $5 off purchases of $20 or more with the code 'TIMEOUT'*.
Ready to dive in? Most of these cocktail recipes serve two, so look below and pick your poison...
*Valid in select states only, including:
CA, KY, TN, AZ, CO, DC, FL, IA, IL, LA, MD, NY, OR, RI, WY.
What’s in it?
- 1.5oz vodka
- 5oz ginger beer
- a dash of ginger bitters
- a handful of crushed ice
- a wedge of fresh lime
How to make it: Combine the vodka and bitters in a glass. Add ice, then pour over the ginger beer. Squeeze in a small amount of lime juice and then drop the rest of the wedge in.
Serve with: your best ghost impression.
What’s in it?
- 2oz candy corn vodka (recipe below)
- 0.5oz pineapple juice
- 0.5oz. ginger beer
- 3oz tonic water
- cotton candy, for garnish
Candy Corn vodka
1 cup candy corn
1 cup vodka
How to make it: Put the vodka, juice and ginger beer into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker gets very cold. Strain into a martini glass and top up with tonic water. Garnish.
Extra tip: Making the Candy Corn vodka is simple. Just mix the candy and vodka together, seal and let to sit for a day or two, shaking occasionally to help the candy to dissolve.
What’s in it?
- 1oz dark rum
- 1oz white rum
- 1oz apricot brandy
- 1oz pineapple juice
- 1oz papaya juice
- a dash of lime juice
- a dash of grenadine
- a sprig of mint
- a maraschino cherry
- ice cubes
How to make it: Blend the rum, brandy and juice together in a cocktail shaker along with ice. Shake until the outside of the shaker becomes cold. Strain into a glass, pour in the grenadine and garnish with mint and cherry for a killer serve.
Pair with: brains, delicious brains.
What’s in it?
- 3oz vodka
- 6oz tomato juice
- dash of lemon juice
- pinch of salt and pepper
- a few dashes of tabasco
- a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- two sticks of celery
- ice cubes
How to make it: Mix together the vodka, juice, salt, pepper and sauces. Shake. Pour over ice cubes and garnish with sticks of celery.
Only serve if: the drinker says Bloody Mary into a mirror three times.
What’s in it?
- 3oz bourbon
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/8 cup orange juice
- 1 whole orange slice
- 4 caramel candies
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 8 whole cloves
How to make it: Add the cider, juice, caramel candies, cinnamon, orange slice, star anise and cloves to a pan and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Split bourbon between two heat-safe glasses and then top up with cider mixture.
Perfect if: you need to something to warm your cold, cold heart.
What’s in it?
- 1oz gin
- 1oz dry vermouth
- 1oz orange liqueur
- 1oz lemon juice
- two dashes of absinthe
- orange or lemon peel
How to make it: Shake all ingredients together with ice and then strain into a cold glass. Garnish with fruit peel. Sip and rise from the dead.
Halloween dare: cover yourself in toilet roll or call your mummy.
What’s in it?
- 1.5oz dark rum
- 3oz ginger beer
- dash of lime juice
- lime wedge
- ice cubes
How to make it: Pour dark rum over ice into a highball glass. Add lime juice and ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.
For added fear factor: first sips must be done blindfolded.
What’s in it?
- 1.5oz white rum
- 2.5oz pineapple juice
- 0.5oz coconut cream
- a couple of drops of black food dye
- a pineapple wedge
- a maraschino cherry
- ice
How to make it: In a cocktail shaker, add the ice, rum, juice, cream and food dye. Shake until shaker is cold and strain into a glass. Garnish with cherry and pineapple wedge.
If you like piña colada’s: why not try getting caught in the rain?
What’s in it:
- 6oz blackberry juice
- 1oz simple syrup
- 2oz Titos vodka
- Ice
- Black Licorice Twizzlers (3 per cocktail)
How to make it: mix the juice, simple syrup and vodka. Stir and top with ice. Garnish your magical purple concoction with Twizzlers.
If you’ve got some time to kill: you can make the blackberry juice yourself by combining 12oz fresh or frozen blackberries with half a cup of water. Just mix them together in a saucepan, bring to the boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Mash any remaining blackberries and then strain to remove seeds and flesh.
