Corpse Reviver No. 2
GinLillet Blanc, Cointreau, lemon, a dash of absinthe
Halloween Cocktails
Craft cocktail recipes for Halloween, built on real spirits and classic technique.
These Halloween cocktails are written for craft cocktail drinkers: drinks with layers and nuance, dressed up for the holiday. The collection pairs classics from the 1930s with modern recipes made for October.
Classics with a Halloween Edge
Savoy Cocktail Book standards, a Hemingway recipe and one modern classic, with names that suit October.
Halloween Originals
Nine recipes written for Halloween.
A Wicked Thing
Bourbon and TequilaMole and Angostura bitters, orange peel
Hocus Pocus
GinSweet vermouth, orange curaçao, Fernet-Branca
Royal Haunt
BourbonCassis, black walnut bitters, dry ice
Reanimated Pirate
RumCoffee, vanilla, cream
Fallen Diablo
TequilaCassis, lime
Skeleton Key
BourbonElderflower liqueur, lemon, ginger beer
Fright Night in the Grove
JägermeisterTequila, grapefruit
Red Riding Hood
Root Beer LiqueurLemon, red currant preserve
Bobbing for Apples
RyeApple brandy, demerara, orange and Angostura bitters
Batch for a Crowd
A Manhattan mixed ahead for a party.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead can you make Halloween cocktails?
The Batched Orange Manhattan is all spirit, liqueur and bitters, with no juice, so the whole batch can be mixed ahead and kept cold. Drinks with fresh citrus, like the Corpse Reviver No. 2 and the Fallen Diablo, taste best with juice squeezed the same day.
How do you give a Halloween cocktail color without food dye?
Blood orange juice and Cherry Heering make the Blood and Sand red, cassis turns the Royal Haunt and the Fallen Diablo a deep purple, and red currant preserve colors the Red Riding Hood. Absinthe clouds when Champagne hits it in Death in the Afternoon.
What spirit works best for Halloween cocktails?
Bourbon anchors five of the fourteen recipes here, including the Midnight Manhattan, the Royal Haunt and the Skeleton Key. Tequila appears in three, gin in two, and the rest use Scotch, rye, rum, absinthe, Jägermeister or root beer liqueur.
How do you make a cocktail smoke for Halloween?
The Royal Haunt gets its fog from a single cube of dry ice dropped into the glass. Wait until the cube has disappeared completely before drinking, because dry ice burns skin and must never be swallowed.
What is the difference between a classic and a Halloween original?
Three of the classics were in print by 1935, and the Midnight Manhattan is a modern classic; their names happen to suit the night. The originals were written for Halloween, with names like Hocus Pocus, Skeleton Key and Reanimated Pirate.
Which Halloween cocktail works for a crowd?
The Batched Orange Manhattan, because it is mixed before guests arrive. The Skeleton Key is the long drink of the group, with bourbon, elderflower liqueur and lemon topped with five ounces of ginger beer.
How do you plan a Halloween cocktail menu?
Three drinks cover the range: one classic, one original and the batched Manhattan. The Corpse Reviver No. 2 brings gin and citrus, A Wicked Thing brings bourbon and tequila with mole bitters, and the batch leaves the host free to pour.
Article Updates
September 29, 2026: Rebuilt this page as a guide to our Halloween cocktail recipes.
All Halloween Cocktail Recipes
A Wicked Thing Cocktail Recipe
Dare to serve A Wicked Thing Cocktail to your bourbon-loving and tequila aficionado friends this Halloween. It may seem like an odd alcohol pairing, but their eyes will light up with delight after the first sip. This is the perfect beverage to get the party started at your spooky yet sophisticated party. If you’re looking …
Bobbing for Apples Cocktail Recipe
Made with apple brandy, the Bobbing for Apples Cocktail is a fun way to celebrate the fall leaves turning color and apple season getting into full swing. This cocktail is packed with fall flavors, including rye whiskey, demerara syrup, angostura bitters, and orange bitters. It is garnished with a dehydrated apple slice and a cinnamon …
Batched Orange Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
The Batched Orange Manhattan is crafted for those who crave a little more orange zest in their life, and perhaps some chocolate too. The pumpkin-colored cocktail is made with Woodford Bourbon, Nonino Amaro, Grand Marnier, and orange bitters and is recommended to pair with bites of dark chocolate. After copious amounts of testing, the group …
Fallen Diablo Cocktail Recipe
The Fallen Diablo cocktail is a great addition to your upcoming adult Halloween soirée. Based on Trader Vic’s El Diablo cocktail, this devilish drink is easy to sip on and will balance out all the sweets you are sure to encounter on Halloween night. Looking for more festive cocktails to serve this spooky season? Try …
Reanimated Pirate Cocktail Recipe
The Reanimated Pirate is a rich and well-balanced cocktail that is a delightful after-dinner pallet cleanser. With coffee-infused rum and a hint of vanilla, this cocktail reminds one of an elevated RumChata, balanced out by the acidity of the coffee. Just a few sips are guaranteed to wake you from your food coma and have …
Hocus Pocus Cocktail Recipe
The Hocus Pocus Cocktail is a light and fragrant drink to sip on while enjoying a spooky Halloween night with friends! Adapted from the Hanky Panky, a sweet 50/50 martini created by Ada Coleman, head bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London. The Hocus Pocus balances out sweet vermouth and orange Curaçao liqueur with a …
Death in the Afternoon Cocktail Recipe
Absinthe and anise-flavor lovers will kill for the Death in the Afternoon cocktail, a drink with a unique and refreshing licorice flavor profile. If you cringe at the thought of anise or licorice flavors, you may want to steer clear of this cocktail. This simple yet enticing cocktail is a wonderful palette cleanser after a …
Royal Haunt Cocktail Recipe
The Royal Haunt Cocktail is a play on the classic Manhattan with a haunted Halloween twist. Cassis liqueur is used to add a bit of royal, or blood, color. A few dashes of walnut bitters round out the flavor profile for a simple and well-balanced cocktail. If you’re looking for more spooky cocktails to shake …
Blood and Sand Cocktail Recipe
The Blood and Sand cocktail may have an intense name, but it tastes similar to a sophisticated mimosa. Fresh blood orange juice, sweet Vermouth, and Heering cherry liqueur create a balanced and uniquely-refreshing cocktail with hints of cherry and tart citrus. Its blood-red color perfectly lends itself to an adult Halloween get-together. In search of …
Midnight Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
The Midnight Manhattan was built in Detroit in 2012 and crowned in New York on Travis Fourmont’s birthday, January 7, 2013. Fourmont was tending bar at Roast, Michael Symon’s steakhouse on the ground floor of the Westin Book Cadillac downtown, when he submitted the recipe to Woodford Reserve’s national Master of the Manhattan competition. He …