Halloween has always been one of the most fun days of the year. It allows adults to act like kids, and for children, well, what could be more fun than dressing up and getting a big bag of candy?
For me, it’s simply an excuse to theme a menu with some creatively spooky food and drink ideas that always make everyone smile. However, for some, it’s not about the costumes. It’s not about the candy. For many, it’s another excuse to drink, and here are some ideas for scary, beautiful and tasty libations.
The simplest of these cocktails can be garnished with licorice legs, chili peppers, cherries, lychee eyeballs and gummy worms turning rather innocent-looking cocktails into something truly SPOOKTACULAR.
I can think of no better way to prep for a Halloween holiday party than by imbibing in a ghoulish cocktail. Think for a moment that I am a mad scientist. I’m not really, but to make the perfect drink I have valiantly tested, with beakers no less, and enjoyed the following cocktails. You will, too:
Death and Stormy
2 oz Dark Rum
6 oz Goslings Ginger Beer drink
1 lychee stuffed with a brandied cherry frozen
Pour into a highball glass over ice, and garnish with a round frozen lychee, which has an uncanny resemblance to an eyeball
Black Widow
5 oz black vodka such as Blavod (or vodka + black food coloring)
1/2 oz Pernod
Licorice spider or gummy spider
Grenadine
Sugar
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add black vodka and Pernod. Shake vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds. Dip your martini glass in grenadine and then in a plate of sugar. Strain into the sugar rimmed martini glass. Garnish with candy spider.
Blood Orange Sparkling Sangria – the perfect party drink
One bottle Prosecco
1/2 cup Cointreau
1 pint fresh raspberries
1 pint strawberries, cut in small pieces
Blood orange sorbet
Pour Prosecco and Cointreau into a pitcher, add fruit. Pour into wine glasses with ice and garnish with a small scoop of blood orange sorbet
Witches Potion
1 oz Spiced Rum
1 oz Gin
2 tsps Triple Sec
2 tsps Lemon Juice
Maraschino Cherry
Mini Chili Pepper
Mix over ice in a wine glass and garnish with a skewered chili pepper and cherry
Tequila Ghost
1 oz tequila
½ oz Sambuca
½ oz lemon juice
Club soda
Combine tequila, sambuca and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass over ice. Top with a splash of club soda.
Eat, Drink, Party!