3 Tips for Creating Spooky Cocktails for Halloween

Craft spooky cocktails for your Halloween drink menu.

The arrival of fall calls for all things pumpkin and apple – and Halloween! Seasonal drinks and limited time offers are the perfect way to draw in customers and serve up something truly spooky. Our expert mixologist Joey Torkelson has a few tricks – and treats – to spookify your drink menu for all your ghoul and goblin guests.

Tip #1: Serve Halloween drinks in themed containers

From cauldrons to pumpkins, there are plenty of ways to serve up batched drinks fit for spooky season. For a Halloween sangria, Joey suggests using a pumpkin instead of a large punch bowl or bucket: Hollow out a larger pumpkin and keep the top intact. Fill the pumpkin halfway with ice and add the sangria.

If you are lucky enough to have access to purchasing dry ice, pick up a large chunk of it. Keep it with ice or cold packs in a small cooler.

As your guests arrive, add a very small piece to the pumpkin filled with sangria.  It will bubble and the dry ice “smoke” will billow out of the top.  Don’t be over-ambitious with adding the dry ice. It will seize up the liquid and regular ice. 

Small plastic spiders or gummy worms are an added bonus when serving too!  

Dragon’s Blood Sangria

  • 4 oz. Dry Red Wine
  • 3 oz. Island Oasis Strawberry Mix
  • 1 oz. Orange Juice
  • Directions: Place all ingredients over a 16 ounce ice filled glass, stir and serve with an orange wedge and a cinnamon stick

pumpking-sangria

Dragon’s Blood Sangria (Non-alcoholic)

You can also serve up fall sangria without the pumpkin. Batch up this concoction, add numerous slices of fresh oranges, lemons and limes and cinnamon sticks in a plastic urn.

Tip #2: Garnish drinks with Halloween treats – and tricks

One of the best parts about Halloween? The candy, of course! Whether you’re looking for kid-friendly mocktails or want to let adults in on the fun, adding a Halloween candy garnish can make any drink taste like a real treat. Our candy shop margarita uses not only DaVinci Gourmet Sour Gummy Candy Syrup, but you can top it off with favorite gummy candies like peach rings or gummy worms!

candy-shop-margarita

Candy Shop Margarita

You can always garnish with some tricks, too. Joey suggests playing with salt and sugar rims that use festive colors or some creepy crawly ingredients like ants! You can turn any drink into a witches brew with dry ice.

If you want something less spooky, cut a whole orange wheel and add a small lime peel in the center. Float it on top for an adorable pumpkin-inspired garnish. There are so many unique ways to garnish drinks and create a memorable drink experience.

Tip #3: Play with seasonal flavors

The fall brings classic autumnal flavors like pumpkin spice and apple. These classics are obviously fall favorites and can be used in a variety of coffee drinks and cocktails alike.

Of course, there are more flavors you can also play with. Try incorporating warming spices like chai and cinnamon for cozy cocktails. Or add subtly sweet flavors like hazelnut or maple for dessert-inspired cocktails. You can even pair unique flavors like cranberry or ginger with seasonal fruits like apple, blood orange or other citrus.

spiked-apple-cider

Krake'd Hot Cider

Halloween Colada

Looking for more Halloween ideas or menu inspiration? Visit the DaVinci Gourmet Tasty Trends and Island Oasis Margarita of the Month pages for trending flavors, recipe ideas and expert tips for crafting creative, delicious drinks.