20 Spooky Cocktails Sure To Summon The Spirit Of Halloween

Halloween is always a great excuse to have some fun and not take ourselves too seriously.

These spooky cocktails found at restaurants and bars around the world celebrate the spirit of the season, and in a delicious way.

The Walking Dead

At Little Rebel in New York City, this cocktail has a gummy brain garnish and skeleton hand reaching for you. “We love getting creative with our cocktail menus, especially around spooky season when you can push the envelope on creative cocktails and whimsical presentations. The Walking Dead is a refreshing combination of banana liqueur, misguided rum, 151 rum for extra burn, creme de cassis, pineapple juice and a gummy brain garnish or skeleton hand reaching out for you to take a sip. If you drink too much, you might become the walking dead yourself too,” said Jarek Krukow.

Candy Corn Martini

At The Wharf and The Lobby Bar at the the Jekyll Island Club Resort, this hauntingly delectable drink is made with a candy corn and vanilla-infused vodka, orange juice, grenadine and topped with a dollop of whipped cream. The seasonal libation is a feast for the eyes, complete with colorful hues reminiscent of this favorite Halloween treat. “As guests take in the storied resort this Halloween season, this sweet libation will serve as the perfect companion, and perhaps protection, to any spooky encounters with famous guests of yester-year,” said Director of Food and Beverage, Ernest Brown.

Ghost

At Church & Union in Nashville, this cocktail is made with cucumber water, a splash of lime, orange liqueur and a dash of cayenne pepper. “This spooky cocktail is a refreshment with a sneaky kick of cayenne pepper. Right when you’re getting comfortable with the calmness of the cucumber and lime, expect the Ghost to sneak up on you,” said Jake Elliott, manager.

Knock Three Times

At Dream Nashville’s BeetleBar Pop-Up, this cocktail is made with Reposado tequila, organic ginger syrup, lime juice, orange bitters and a blood orange floater. “The bite of tequila is hidden among eerie hints of ginger and lime. Beware of the blood orange, haunting every sip. This is included on the menu of Dream Nashville’s BeetleBar pop-up,” said Michelle LeBlanc, lead bartender.

Mr. Binx

At Bar TENN inside Holston House Nashville, inspired by Salem’s beloved boy-turned-immortal-cat, the Mr. Binx cocktail is a crafted mixture of Empress gin, lemon, blueberry liqueur and egg white to create an inky purple cocktail, reminiscent of a black cat. “It’s officially spooky season in Nashville, and what better way to get in the witchy spirit than with a visit to Holston House’s immersive Halloween pop-up bar,” said Colby Mitchell, Director of Food & Beverage at Holston House. “Along with the experience itself, the Mr. Binx cocktail has gained notoriety among the visitors who dare enter.”

Not Your Mother’s Pumpkin Pie

At The Liberty Hotel in Boston, this jack-o-lantern-look-alike cocktail is made with vanilla-infused Ketel One Vodka, carrot juice, cinnamon sugar, Frangelico, half and half, dash of Pernod, and drops of Angostura. “As a child, my mother would only allow me to have one piece of pumpkin pie, so I created this in honor of my mother’s Halloween Pumpkin Pie. It’s a perfect balance of warm, fall flavors that looks as good as it tastes, and, best of all, now I can have as many as I want!” said lead bartender, Justin Dibble.

Bloody Treat

At Teleferic Barcelona in the Bay Area, inspired by Dracula’s drink of choice, this eerie-sistible cocktail is made with vodka, maraschino cherry juice, Martini Fiero, Patxaran, and lemon. This boozy beverage is all treats, no tricks. “While it might look like blood, it definitely doesn’t taste like it! The Bloody Treat is fruity and tart from the Maraschino cherries and balanced with the bittersweet botanicals from the Martini Fiero and Patxaran,” said Alex Serena, Bar Manager of Teleferic Barcelona Palo Alto.

Espresso Martini

At Kai Lounge in Huntington Beach, their rendition of the espresso martini is a shaken concoction of Drake’s organic vodka, espresso, and Kahlua. Rich dark espresso undertones are accentuated with subtle notes of hickory smoke, giving this cult classic a spooky seasonal twist. “Our espresso martini may look classic, with its perfectly formed layer of crema atop its deep-brown body, but the drink offers a ghoulish mystery as it is finished and served enshrouded in a plume of hickory smoke,” said Beverage Director, Topher Bray.

The Upside Down Cocktail

The Wharf Miami and The Wharf Fort Lauderdale will be serving this cocktail inspired by Stranger Things, at the venue’s Stranger Wharf Halloween event. The Upside Down Cocktail features a blend of vodka, 7-Up, raspberry puree and Blue Curaçao, curating this spooky, blood-colored beverage. “The Upside Down Cocktail will send thrills and chills down the spines of every guest who dares to sip on this beverage at this spooky event, where strange things happen…Who knows what could lurk next. It features a blend of vodka, lemon soda, raspberry puree and blue Curaçao, curating the spooky, blood-colored beverage that tantalizes the taste buds with every sip,” siad Emi Guerra, Co-founder of Breakwater Hospitality Group.

Michael Myers

At Florida Bar at B Ocean Resort, the eerie-sistible cocktail named after the classic Halloween horror character, Michael Myers, is sure to raise the hairs of revelers with its punch of Bulleit Bourbon and cane syrup. The bloody delicious drink is red in color with hints of green lime and muddled mint floating through the glass.“With Halloween right around the corner, we are excited for guests to indulge in the festive spirit-filled cocktail, the Michael Myers, that is inspired by the cult classic movie, Halloween. The final movie, Halloween Ends, is approaching its release, so this frightful concoction will remind guests of the spine-chilling Halloween classic and excite them for the final showdown,” said Mert Cura, Director of Food and Beverage at B Ocean Resort.

Brains Up

At Bistro Alder in the Hotel Dossier in Portland, this simple, spooky cocktail is made with vanilla bean infused vodka, vanilla simple syrup, Baileys, heavy cream and grenadine. “This cocktail is a fine vanilla-scented cocktail with a ghastly surprise awaiting you at the bottom, Bailey’s Brains!” said Patrick Lee Warner.

Violet Delights

At Driftwood Room in the Hotel deLuxe in Portland, a mixture of Empress gin, Crème de violet, sloe gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, egg whites and a touch of simple syrup to pull the flavors together. Topped with an edible orange flower to not only complement the deep violet color of the cocktail but give it that October festive look! “Come to Driftwood Room the home of Violet delights a drink that will not only get your blood flowing but delight your dark Halloween senses,” said Spencer Sollom.

The Emma Foss Cocktail

At The Tides Beach Club, located in Kennebunkport, Maine, this flavorful cocktail combines the sweetness of apples and agave with spice from cider to bring the essence of fall in one sip. With Clement Premiere Rum and Amaro Dell Etna, the beverage provides a kick that is partnered with spices and sweetness to create a truly spooky and cozy cocktail. “Inspired by the hotel’s original owner in 1899, Emma Foss, some believe she is still looking over her life’s work – even in death. Guests have experienced whispers behind them, furniture moving in the middle of the night, and lights in the attic, but – there are no lights in the attic. This cocktail features Emma’s rumored favorites of Rum and Amaro, paying tribute to the ghost of the owner’s past,” said Rachel Pelkey, Regional Marketing Manager at Kennebunkport Resort Collection.

Houdini’s Magic Drink

At Stratus Rooftop Lounge in Philadelphia, this cocktail is made with pea flower-infused Herradura Tequila, sage agave syrup, Canton’s ginger, and fresh lime juice. “Though not quite made in a cauldron — or even playing tricks on you — this magical concoction will transform your thoughts on traditional tequila cocktails and bring you to an elevated sense of reality,” said Patrick Banko, Lead Bartender at Stratus Rooftop Lounge.

Tell Tale Heart

At Red Owl Tavern in Philadelphia, this cocktail is made with beet-infused mezcal and tequila, Licor 43, thyme agave, lemon, egg white, Peychaud Bitters. “Perhaps a cocktail choice of Edgar Allen Poe, the Tell Tale Heart packs bright yet early beet flavor, slight vanilla from the Licor 43, rounded out by the herbaceous thyme agave. Experimental and spooky in all the right ways!” said Christopher Devern, Lead Bartender at Red Owl Tavern.

Scholar’s Mate

“For me, the perfect night cap is boozy, stirred, and rich. When creating the Scholar’s Mate, I wanted to incorporate heavy cream without compromising any of those elements, and became inspired by Sasha Petraske’s Dominicana. Sipping this cocktail late on a fall evening instantly transports me to a Victorian study where I’m reading my favorite macabre tales and smoking a cigar,” said Tiffany Nahm of Death & Co in New York City.

Cotton Candy Margarita

At The Confectionary in New Orleans, this drink is made with Corazon Blanco Tequila, sweet and sour mix, Cointreau, and of course, cotton candy. The cotton candy margarita is a unique and memorable ode to our roots in the sugar industry. The cotton candy is spun fresh in house and gives the drink its vivid blue coloring. Watch as the sugar cloud dissolves into your cocktail and enjoy a fun twist on a classic margarita,” said Valerie Coston, General Manager.

Kilkea Vampire’s Kiss

“Kilkea Castle is known to have at least three ghosts, including The Wizard who has been on his horse. Around Hallow’s eve, I am inspired by the spirits and like to play around with the different ingredients in cocktails. The Kilkea Vampire’s Kiss mixes together a little magic: The Dingle Vodka gives the drink a robust flavor with a dry finish for optimum smoothness and clarity. The raspberry liquor offers a silky-smooth flavor of black raspberry liqueur and gives the cocktail that deep red color, perfect for the holiday. The Prosecco offers the necessary bubbles and a crisp finish that keeps the drink festive and fun,” said Master Mixologist Dawid Smietana, Food & Beverage Manager at The Keep, the traditional Irish pub and bistro within Kilkea Castle in County Kildare, Ireland.

Magic Potion Margarita

At Loreley Restaurant & Beer Garden in New York City, their Halloween Haunted Garden Pop-Up will feature the Magic Potion Margarita which combines butterfly pea flower infused tequila, triple sec, lemon and lime and will be served in two potion bottles that guests can mix together themselves for a color-changing drink with a plume of smoke – a witchy (and instagrammable) concoction. “Loreley’s Haunted Beer Garden is an annual favorite and the Halloween décor is very over the top, so this year in addition to the pumpkin kegs we offer, we wanted to create a drink that matched the spirit. The Magic Potion Margarita is a fun and interactive drink – it comes with a glass filled with ice and two small bottles that guests can pour themselves (or servers will do it at the table). One bottle has tequila infused with butterfly pea flower and the other lime, lemon and triple sec. Pour the tequila first, then the citrus and watch the color change while the dry ice mixed with regular ice bubbles up and adds smoke for a true magic potion,” said Doug Jacobson Owner of Loreley Restaurant & Beer Garden.

Blackberry Bourbon Smash

At Side Bar in San Diego, inspired by the Addams Family, the Blackberry Bourbon Smash cocktail is a blend of of Redemption Bourbon, house made blackberry puree, peach schnapps, simple syrup, lemon and fresh mint, poured over an oversized ice cube. “Side Bar’s limited-time Blackberry Bourbon Smash is dare I say, the ‘perfect’ cocktail, harnessing the sweetness of the blackberries and balancing it with the boldness of the Redemption Bourbon. This cocktail is dangerously crushable as you’ll enjoy the spice of a whiskey cocktail without such a spirit forward presence” Side Bar owner Frankie Sciuto. “At Side Bar, we pride ourselves on creating memorable experiences for our guests and Halloween is no exception to that. You can experience this decadent cocktail featuring blackberry puree, bourbon and fresh mint at Side Bar throughout the fall.”