Drink If You Dare: 7 Spooky Halloween Cocktails To Try

Halloween cocktails have a job beyond getting the party started. They must look the part, bring something interesting to the glass and, ideally, leave the tricks to the garnish. This year's line-up takes its cues from the world of horror, witchcraft and things best left undisturbed after dark. Think fruit-heavy concoctions, chilli-laced pours and drinks served in bottles that look as though they belong in a potion master's cabinet.

Whether you take your Halloween inspiration from Bram Stoker's Dracula, the macabre antics of The Addams Family or the witches' cauldron in Macbeth, there is plenty here to set the mood. Here are seven cocktails worth summoning for the occasion.

Grim Granita by MTW, Goa

Frozen drinks and Halloween may not seem like an obvious pairing, but this one makes a case for keeping things cool when the evening gets dark. Grim Granita brings together Punk Gin, a frozen litchi-plum blend and red grape juice, with lime juice and mint to freshen up the mix.

Blended with crushed ice until slushy, it is served in a clay cup and garnished with a litchi stuffed with pomegranate seeds. The result is a little like a vampire's fruit bowl: familiar ingredients arranged with just enough menace to make you look twice. The frozen texture also sets it apart from the usual shaken-and-stirred Halloween fare.

Satan by Tulleeho

The name makes a promise, and the ingredients suggest that this is not a drink for anyone who wants to keep things mild. Satan combines tequila with tart hibiscus cordial, lemon juice, jalapeño brine and a couple of dashes of spiced tincture. The glass gets a chilli-seasoning rim, while a bird's-eye chilli provides the finishing touch.

Consider it the cocktail equivalent of signing a contract without reading the fine print. Between the tequila, brine and spice, there is plenty to intrigue anyone who prefers a little heat in their drink. The fiery garnish completes the look without requiring a single plastic spider or rubber bat.

Pass The Dutchie by PCO, Delhi

PCO Delhi's The Forbidden menu explores ingredients described as restricted, prohibited or taboo. Pass The Dutchie fits the theme, arriving in an ornate, goblet-style glass that would not look out of place at a rather unconventional Gothic dinner party.

The cocktail combines white wine, vodka, jasmine liqueur, orange marmalade, malic acid and hash oil. Its profile is described as floral and fruity, offering a different direction from the chilli-forward drinks elsewhere on this list. There is also something fitting about its presentation: if The Addams Family had a house cocktail for guests who stayed too late, a goblet like this might well make an appearance.

High Voltage by MTW, Goa

A potion bottle can do a lot of the atmospheric work at a Halloween party. High Voltage, from MTW in Goa, leans into the idea, serving its cocktail in a bottle alongside a chilled lowball glass filled with ice. A black olive on a pick completes the presentation.

The drink itself brings together truffle-washed Hapusa Gin, coffee-infused Campari and sweet vermouth, with water added for dilution. Its savoury notes give it a different character from the fruit-led pours on this list. If your idea of Halloween is less candy corn and more mysterious laboratory, this is the bottle to keep within reach.

Let's Whisper Essence by Davana Vermouth Indica

There is something pleasingly mischievous about a cocktail that pairs herbal vermouth with gummy bears. Let's Whisper Essence starts with Davana Vermouth Indica Rosso, adding rhubarb syrup, apple juice and lime juice before soda gives the drink a fizzy finish.

The gummy bears on top are the final flourish, bringing a little trick-or-treat nostalgia to the glass. Beneath the playful garnish, the combination of tart rhubarb, apple and herbal vermouth offers more than a sugary spectacle. It is a useful reminder that a Halloween drink need not resemble a prop from a horror film to join the party.

Fire & Frost Fusion by MONIN India

Fire & Frost Fusion does exactly what its name suggests, bringing together a citrusy edge, a hint of smoke and a measure of heat. MONIN Red Grapefruit Fruit Mix forms the base of the flavour combination, joined by vodka, jalapeño brine, lime juice and pomegranate juice.

Topped with tonic water, the cocktail is garnished with a dehydrated grapefruit wheel, jalapeño and rosemary that has been slightly burnt. The smoky sprig provides the finishing touch, giving the drink a more dramatic presentation than a standard citrus highball. It is one for those who like their Halloween theatrics with a little bite rather than an excess of sugary decorations.

The Devil's Margarita by Bartisans

The Margarita already has a dependable formula, so this Halloween version does not need to reinvent the drink. The Devil's Margarita combines 60 ml of tequila with 120 ml of Bartisans Classic Margarita, shaken briefly with ice until chilled.

Its devilish detail is a red chilli placed on the rim. That small addition does the seasonal work without overcomplicating the cocktail itself. For anyone who would rather spend the evening watching a horror film than assembling an elaborate drinks station, this straightforward serve makes a case for keeping the theatrics simple.

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