20 Spooky Halloween cocktails and drinks
Let’s summon the spirits. Reformed goths, Donner party animals, and weekend witches alike can find something to love about Halloween—putting on a mask is often the best way to express yourself. Whether your style is Haunting of Hill House or Scary Movie 2, your Halloween party deserves a signature cocktail. Sure, it can make your party atmospheric (hello, dry ice!), but it can also save you time in party prep when you focus on 1 or 2 scary-good Halloween-themed cocktails. Thankfully, we concocted a list of foolproof cocktail recipes and ideas that will get your guests doing the monster mash in no time.
Table of Contents
Halloween cocktail recipes
“Seymour Bones” by Paperless Post; Image by Tim Nusog.
1. Corpse Reviver
Bring your partygoers back from the dead with this classic pre-prohibition-era drink.
2. Jekyl & Gin
This twist on a Gin Daisy recipe glows under a black light (and if you don’t have a black light at your Halloween party…think again).
3. Bloody Mary Syringes
A classic cocktail and a classic scary story all rolled up into one. Serve it up in a syringe to get your guests in the spirit. Just don’t sip in front of any mirrors, and we’re sure you’ll be safe.
4. Witches’ Brew Lemonade
Almost no toil and trouble goes into this magical drink.
Image via The Spruce Eats; “Dark Reading” by Paperless Post.
5. Zombie’s Shrunken Head
Head to the tropics with this tiki-inspired drink perfect for unwinding with your hoard.
6. Dracula’s Kiss
Encourage some canoodling at your lair with this sultry blend of grenadine and cola.
7. An American Werewolf in London Fog
Coax your partygoers in from the moors with this all-time favorite.
8. The Candyman
Start with a Bee’s Knees and keep your ears open for the telltale buzzing.
“Spirited Affair” by Paperless Post; Image via Craft & Cocktails.
9. The Walking Dead
Rick wouldn’t be caught undead drinking this one, but we like to think that Daryl and Carol would get down with this dry-ice-topped cocktail featuring all sorts of rum.
10. Slimer’s Ectoplasm
Be sure to use Dan Aykroyd’s vodka brand to bring this lime-green concoction to life.
11. Bourbon Butterbeer
Every young witch and wizard dreams of trying this drink. Age it up with bourbon.
“Boozy Nights” by Hello!Lucky for Paperless Post; Image by Crowded Kitchen.
12. Polyjuice Potion
If jungle juice is a mainstay at your get-togethers, this “Harry Potter” inspired version will transform your partygoers into, well, whatever you want.
13. Rosemary’s Baby Punch
Ladle it into a Nick & Nora for the elegance of a Castevet soirée.
“Bat Bottles” by Paperless Post; Image by Louis Hansel.
14. Demagorgon’s Dinner
If a Demadog shows up at your party, you can distract them with this blackberry-infused libation.
15. The Silver Bullet
Strong enough to cure anyone struggling from the effects of the full moon.
16. Michael Meyer’s Lemon Drop
Not that you’d want to invite the masked murderer into your home, but if you did, you’d probably want to have one of these on hand.
17. Manhattan Chainsaw Massacre
Muddle your maraschino cherries for all the guts piling up at Leatherface’s house.
Image via Epicurious; “Haunted Ship” by Paperless Post.
18. Cthulhu’s Mai-Tai
Garnish with a tiny plastic tentacle to set your guests’ hair on end.
19. The Love Witch’s Earl Grey Martini
For those witches just trying to find love.
20. Freddy’s Dream Warriors
You had us at the shot of Powerade (to replenish our electrolytes after fighting the king of nightmares, of course).
Halloween Cocktail FAQs
Before throwing your witches’ brew into a cauldron, stop and think about what you’ll need for your fright fest. The perfect Halloween party cocktail brings in elements of surprise and even terror, but it still ultimately has to have your ghouls coming back for more. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Can you put dry ice in a drink?
Whenever you’re handling dry ice, remember that you can’t actually touch it or ingest it. As long as you use gloves and tongs and remind guests not to handle it at the bar, it makes for a delightful addition to any spooky cocktail.
What drink garnishes should you use on Halloween?
Whether you’re serving a classic Halloween cocktail or something of your own invention, this is the time to get creative with your garnishes. A splash of grenadine makes any cocktail bloody without upping the yuck factor, skeleton swizzle sticks add playfulness and spooky bat straws keep everyone in the Halloween spirit.
Halloween invitations and design inspiration
Before you grab your eye of newt and a cocktail shaker, start with the right invitation. To make sure guests get the right idea, choose something that’s more Lovecraft than handicraft, or if you’re in a spookier mode—our Gorey-inspired “The Old Haunts” or our “Spirits of the Dead” are perfect for it. Or you can embrace the camp of the evening with an invitation like “Mummy Needs a Drink.”
Ready for fright night? Browse our Halloween invitations, including vintage-inspired designs by John Derian. Then, shop our Halloween party supplies at the Party Shop.
Gather your ghouls with spirited invitations you can email, text, or share.
Editor’s note: Party Shop shipping is only available in the continental US.
