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10 Halloween Cocktails To Serve This Holiday, No Floating Eyeballs Or Fake Fingers Necessary
When it comes to serving up some boozy fun this time of year, Halloween cocktails can get pretty outrageous — think ghoulishly green witches' brews, fake floating fingers, and just about anything with blue curaçao. While these drinks are all fun and games, it's possible you might be looking for something a little… simpler to toast with at this year’s costume party. Don't get me wrong — you can still keep your beverages Halloween-themed, but they don't have to be, well, gross-looking. So put your flammable Bacardi 151 back in the pantry, and try out a Halloween cocktail that won’t make your friends gag.
From pumpkin spirits to vanilla bean whiskeys, these beverages cover all the classic fall flavors, and bring in a few adventurous new ones as well. Beer, wine, hard liquor, or Jello shots... it's your party, you can drink what you want to (and you don't want to drink anything that has mysterious body parts in it, even if they are fake). Keep your decor spooky, but not your ingredients— your guests will be thankful. (Trust me: I made Goblet of Fire Cocktails one year... no one was happy about that decision the next morning.)
Image: Rick Chung/Flickr
DIY Extra Dirty Martini Bar
For the olive-lovers:
Olives are the perfect Halloween drink accessory. For starters, they’re delicious, and they also conveniently look like eyeballs, especially if you combine them with radishes. (This is gross, but screams Halloween). A DIY martini minibar, as demonstrated by How Sweet It Is, is the way to go if you’re trying to impress your guests.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Pumpkin Cordial Choice
For the pumpkin-lovers: Every fall, pumpkin liqueurs start popping up, because they’re kind of like the PSLs of booze. Set up a pumpkin liqueur station by pouring one shot of Pumpkin King Cordial into all of your wine glasses. From there, let guests choose between eggnog, ginger beer, or hot apple cider for their mixer. If your guests are feeling extra rambunctious, they can always take the cordial as a shot with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Image: Peter Hayward/Flickr
Apple Bourbon Bellini
For the apple-lovers: An apple bourbon Bellini combines freshly cut apples (you know, from when you picked them), Prosecco, and some Red Stag in the hardcore cider flavor. Take a look at Food Fanatic’s insanely delicious recipe. It’s like sparkling apple cider for adults!
Image: Food Fanatic
Blood Red Sangria
For the wine-lovers: A Halloween get-together usually calls for something a little more exciting than your typical red wine, but a blood-red sangria still feels appropriate. While it might be named Endless Summer Sangria, I Am a Food Blog’s beautiful recipe will taste just as delicious in the fall. It will also give everyone who drinks it a red mouth… that’s pretty creepy.
Image: I Am a Food Blog
Homemade Gin & Tonic
For the glow-in-the-dark-lovers (so basically everyone): Can you guess what two combined liquids make a tasty, glowing treat when served underneath a black light? GIN AND TONIC. Keep things personal by making your own! You can either go ingredient shopping and follow a recipe, or pick up a homemade gin and tonic kit from Williams-Sonoma. Either way, this is one drink that’s frightfully good.
Image: Charles Taze Green/Flickr
Multi-Colored Jello Shots
For the Jello-lovers: Jello shots!!! If you really feel like partying, get the night started with some Jello shots — but for the love of Halloween, make sure they aren’t basic. Mix in whatever liquor you want using Love U Madly’s cool, tilted recipe.
Image: Love U Madly
Pumpkin Ales & Beers
For the beer-lovers: Sometimes, you just want a beer. Thankfully, there are tons of specialty beers that come out right around this time of year to keep you feeling festive. Try Dogfish Pumpkin Ale, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, or go crazy with any of these other 47 pumpkin beers.
Image: Steven Severinghaus/Flickr
Buttery Nipple Shots
For the shot-lovers: Once you learn to stop laughing at their ridiculous name, buttery nipple shots are always a delight (and not to mention as sweet as butterscotch). A crowd-favorite, for sure.
Image: Shelley Panzarella/Flickr
Rosemary Lime Vodka
For the vodka-lovers: Sometimes, the safest choice is vodka when you’re planning to please. This rosemary lime cocktail by Joy the Baker is top dollar in the flavor department: simple, but with a kick.
Image: Joy the Baker
Vanilla Bean Whiskey
For the whiskey-lovers: Anything that uses star anise feels like fall to me. Throw in some vanilla bean flavor, and things start to get even cozier. This vanilla bean whiskey cocktail by A Beautiful Mess is sure to be a crowd pleaser on Halloween.
Image: A Beautiful Mess
