At the Table

Our Favorite Halloween Cocktails

By: The Local Palate

Who says Halloween holds tricks and treats just for the kids? No one ages out of dressing up and planning a frightful eve. But leave the store-bought candy to the trick or treaters, and craft a fall-inspired beverage for a grownup treat. Bartenders from around the South call upon pumpkin spice, smoke, and candied sweetness to create Halloween cocktails in October, inviting adults to indulge and get spooky. Whether you plan to hand out candy, throw a ghoulish bash, or simply pile in with a scary movie, treat yourself to one of these wickedly delicious brews.

The pumpkin flip, a Halloween cocktail

Pumpkin Flip

Sweet but balanced, this pumpkin-spiced cocktail calls memories of fall baking with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. Its embrace of fall flavors go well beyond pumpkin spice with its thyme foam finish.

Screaming Banshee from Black Lagoon in Texas

Screaming Banshee

Annual Halloween pop-up bar Black Lagoon takes over nine cities around the country. With their custom-made glassware and chilling names, their Halloween cocktails are surprisingly docile; just try the Screaming Banshee, which has tropical fruit flavors and creamy drinkability hiding within its skull-shaped glass.

A halloween cocktail called no tricks here.

No Tricks Here

This drink is for the coffee lovers! Made with fresh brew coffee, vanilla, orange liqueur, Kahlúa, and chocolate bitters. It satisfies any sweet tooth in need of some caffeine.

Pumpkin Daiquiri

Chasing Sage in Charleston makes the classic daiquiri on of their favorite canvasses for creating seasonal drinks. One technique they employ to daiquiri-style cocktails is to add a little bit of citric acid to bump up the tartness.

Smoked Apple Brandy Margarita

Apple brandy, honey, and verjus make give this fall-forward cocktail bright and tart notes, reminiscent of honeycrisp apples. The touch of hot sauce, however, brings in warming, smoked elements.

The pumpkin spice dark n stormy by goslings rum

Pumpkin Spice Dark ‘n Stormy®

A fall-inspired riff on the classic Dark ‘n Stormy® cocktail, this orange-hued beverage features the rich flavor of Goslings Black Seal Rum accentuated by an oh-so-autumnal touch of pumpkin spice.

Skyefall

Strong and full of booze—not unlike certain eras of Bond—this Talisker Whiskey and port beverage pulls in subtle smoke elements between the peaty scotch and ignited orange peel garnish.

This tiki bar favorite gets an autumn makeover with the frozen cocktail from Jasper’s in Nashville. Pro tip, make a double batch in the blender. This easy-drinking cocktail goes quickly.

Smoke Sumn’

Use a rocks glass to cap smoking palo santo and cinnamon sticks. Once the glass turns cloudy and opaque, remove it from the smoke and quickly build Justin Hazelton‘s version of the old fashioned.

Dressed Up Sling

Bourbon stirred with homemade pumpkin seed milk gives this drink a spiced creaminess similar to a bourbon-spiked pumpkin pie.

Sage Advice

A homemade ginger, lime, and sage syrup brings herbaceous, bright notes to this toasty cocktail. If you don’t have Coopers’ Craft, feel free to use any Kentucky bourbon that you have on hand.

Pumpkin Pisco Sour

Halloween cocktails don’t have to be sickeningly sweet. This pumpkin pisco sour adds autumnal essence with pumpkin-spiced vodka, balanced against citrus and bitters. Short on bitters? Grab a “Jack Pack” with Jack Rudy’s aromatic bitters, tonic syrup, grenadine, and a premium jigger.

Toil & Trouble Halloween cocktail

Toil & Trouble

Conjure something magical with this dark cocktail featuring black sesame infused scotch and Hoodoo chicory liqueur from beverage director, Brandi Carter, of Elvie’s in Jackson, Mississippi. Find subtle nuttiness, rich, smoky flavors, and subtle glitter strewn throughout each sip of Toil & Trouble.

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Bitters

Hibiscus Apple Bitters

Indulge in the alluring essence of dried flowers with Woodster's Hibiscus Apple Cocktail Bitters. This tincture-like formula provides a concentrated burst of hibiscus, adding a brilliant magenta hue and delightful tartness to your cocktail creations. Try a few drops in a champagne cocktail, or get creative by adding a dash to your meals. These versatile bitters are perfect for Margaritas, Jack Rose, Brooklyn Cocktail, and Valencia.

$18.00
Bitters

Woodford Reserve® Bitters Dram Set (5-Pack)

Collect all five outstanding Woodford Reserve® Bitters flavors with this combination 10-ml dram set. The combination set comes in a sleek, stylish gift box and is a perfect introduction to all of the Woodford Reserve® Bitters flavors. Spice up your classic Manhattan or Old-fashioned with a dash of the range of flavors, enhanced with their bourbon barrel aging techniques. The set makes for an ideal gift for the home mixologist in your life or for the amateur that is looking to expand their personal collection. Each big Bourbon Barrel Food flavor is made in small batches and tested at the Woodford Reserve® distillery room. All five of the Woodford Reserve® Bitters are effortlessly handy and easy to use with the convenient drip dram topper that lets you use as little or as much as you want. Make the perfect cocktails or baked goods, or add a drop to a tall glass of seltzer water with these endlessly versatile flavors.

$30.00

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