Cocktails to Prepare for Halloween

Are you ready for Halloween? Aside from trick-or-treating, costume parties, and scary stories another thing we can look forward to during the Halloween festivities are the themed drinks that are sure to add something extra to your Halloween experience. Here are four Halloween-themed drinks that you will enjoy, whether you’re in costume (awesome) or dressed as yourself (lame). You can whip up some of these at home if you are throwing a party of your own or pre-gaming before hitting the bars and events, or you can ask your favorite bartender to make them for you.

Zombie

Definitely the mother of all freaky drinks, the Zombie is at the top of our list of Halloween-themed cocktails (though it is a drink you can imbibe any time of the year). It fits the theme because of its name, obviously, more than its appearance. But the way it will make you feel after you drink it (like a zombie, duh) is definitely the reason it makes the cut.

(Watch our recipe video on how to make a Zombie)

Red Head

Now this is a shot that is quite Halloween-y. Ideally built in a chilled skull shot glass, this fiery shooter will definitely set fire to your cold, dead heart. It looks intimidating, but it goes down easily, with just a slight heat from the tabasco sliding down your throat. The cold Sambuca tempers the roughness of the Bacardi 151 and the cinnamon smells divine. This invigorating shot will wake you up and hit you where it counts.

(Watch our recipe video on how to make a Red Head)

Ingredients:

• 15 ml Sambuca
  15 ml Bacardi 151
  Tabasco
  Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Pour Sambuca into the glass.
2. Float the Bacardi 151 gently on top of the Sambuca with a barspoon.
3. Add enough dashes of tabasco until you see a red line form in the middle.
4. Set on fire and sprinkle a dash of cinnamon.

Rubber Duckie Punch (serves five)

Punches are a surefire way to get everyone drinks without the hassle of making one for each glass. Easy to make and even easier to drink, this sweet and citrusy punch is something everyone will enjoy. It does have a lot of liquor, so keep that in mind. The rubber ducks even look happy to be swimming in it.

(Watch our recipe video on how to make a Rubber Duckie Punch)

Ingredients:

• 100 ml Bacardi Black
  100 ml Bacardi Gold
  50 ml Don Papa
  250 ml Pineapple Juice
  250 ml Orange Juice
• 60 ml Calamansi Juice
• Sugar syrup

Directions:

1. Add ingredients in a fishbowl.
2. Add lots of ice. Stir.
3. Garnish with rubber duckies.

Spooky Halloween Punch

Another suggestion for a batch cocktail (another term for punch) is this holiday-specific one that is sure to delight the kid in every imbiber. Kitschy and fruity, this punch will surely be a hit at any party. Just try not to look at the lychee “eyeballs” staring at you as you knock these back. To add to the holiday spirit you can use thoroughly washed Halloween-themed toy buckets.

(Watch our recipe video on how to make a Spooky Halloween Punch)

Ingredients:

• 1 L Four Seasons Juice
• 1 can lychee
• ½ bottle of Tequila Silver (Jose Cuervo Especial Silver)
• Syrup to taste
• Black olives

Directions:

1. Mix juice and tequila in a pumpkin bucket.
2. Add ice and mix.
3. Add syrup to taste.
4. For the eyeball, put whole black olives in the center of each lychee.
5. Drop eyeballs in the bucket or put two or three on top of each glass for single serve.
6. Serve punch immediately. (The taste will change if you leave it in the fridge overnight.)