Boo! We're only a few weeks away from one of my favourite holidays: Halloween! 

I love Halloween because it's awesome for both adults and children (and adult-children like myself who refuse to grow up). While the kids are overdosing on sugar, I think you should sit back, relax and pour yourself a Halloween inspired cocktail. 


1. Blood-Orange Cocktails
1 1/2 cups fresh blood-orange juice (from 7 to 8 blood oranges), chilled
6 tablespoons Solerno or other blood-orange liqueur

Tip: Halloween is the perfect time to spice it up and try out new ways to decorate, garnish or showcase your food. Try test tube shots like these for a creepy effect!

2. The Brain Hemorrhage

1/2 - 3/4 oz. Peach Schnapps
Float 1-2 Tbl. of Irish cream on top
Drop 1 tsp of grenadine through the Irish cream

Tip: A great use for a liqueur that is generally only done around Christmas time. 

3. Carrie in Red (Courtesy of Brassaii's Master Mixoligist, Jordan Stacey) 

1.5 oz Absolut Raspberry
.25 oz Apricot brandy
.5 oz grenadine
.75 oz lemon juice
.25 oz simple syrup
1 egg white 

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and dry shake. Add ice, shake and
strain into a chilled cocktail coupe.   

4. Candy Corn Cocktail

2 oz. SKYY Vodka Infusions Pineapple
1.5 oz. Orange Sherbet, softened
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Milk
1 oz. Simple Syrup

Combine SKYY Infusions Pineapple and pineapple juice in cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a glass. Put together softened orange sherbet and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain, and pour over bar spoon to layer in the glass. Then, combine simple syrup and milk in cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Layer milk mixture on top of sorbet mixture.   

Tip: Read this article for instructions on how to make simple syrup. 
 

1. Creepy Cocktail

Black sanding sugar
1 lime wedge
Ice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 ounce light rum
3 tablespoons simple syrup
1/4 cup 100 percent pomegranate juice
1 ounce dark rum
Licorice spider, for garnish

Rim glass, check out this article for details on rimming a cup. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, and add lime juice, light rum, simple syrup, and pomegranate juice. Shake 30 seconds. Strain into glass, don't fill all the way. Gently pour in dark rum so it layers on top. 

2. Zombie Hot Mess (Courtesy of Brassaii's Master Mixoligist, Jordan Stacey) 

1.5 oz Avion tequila
.75 oz lemon juice
.75 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
5 raspberries
pinch of chili pepper
1 egg white

Muddle raspberries, then combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and
dry shake. Add ice and shake then fine strain into a salt rimmed rock glass
over ice and garnish with a small chili pepper.

3. Spooky Sangria (courtesy of  VOGA Italia Dolce Rosso Wine) 


2 bottles VOGA Italia Dolce Rosso
3-4 fresh figs, sliced (or 1 cup dried figs)
1-2 fresh gala apples, sliced
1 cup of cherries
2-3 oranges, sliced (not peeled)
1 lemon, sliced
3 cups sparkling apple cider
1 cup orange juice
½ cup brandy
½ cup dark spiced rum
4 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves

Slice apples and insert whole cloves directly into the fruit.
Combine all fruit slices in a glass pitcher and slowly pour in brandy and wine. Cover and chill from 2-24 hours (the longer, the better!)
Before serving, add sparkling cider and orange juice. Stir gently and serve over ice.
Makes about 15 servings 
Tip: A sangria made with red wine is easy, delicious and a nice way to transition from summer into fall. Plus, you can add whatever flavours you want to a sangria to customize for your palette. Click here for a basic sangria outline and then add in your own ingredients (i.e. substitute white wine for red).  


4. Bleeding Heart Martini

2 ounces dry vermouth
8 ounces premium gin
Ice cubes 
4 Pickled Baby Beets, each placed on a cocktail skewer

Chill 4 martini glasses, let sit until frosty. Add the vermouth, dividing evenly; swirl to coat the glasses, then pour out. Add gin to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled; divide among chilled glasses. Garnish each with a skewered pickled baby beet, and serve immediately.


1. Sweet and Spooky Creamsicle (courtesy of Sparkling ICE) 

1.5 oz Vanilla flavoured vodka 
3.5 oz Orange Mango Sparkling ICE
 
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Serve with candy corn and rock candy swizzle stick.
2. Sparkling Candy Apple (courtesy of VOGA Italia Wine)  


1 ½ oz Apple flavoured rum
1 tbsp lime juice
1 teaspoon of simple syrup
3 oz VOGA Italia Sparkling Wine
 
Shake the rum, the juice and the syrup with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled white wine glass and fill with VOGA Italia Sparkling Wine.
Tip: This is a simple cocktail, not a lot of work but big on looks. 


Tip: For those who can get their hands on it, black vodka was pretty much made for this time of the year. It isn't available everywhere but if you find it, snatch it up! Here are two drinks featuring it:
 
1. Black Widow Martini 

2 oz black vodka
.5 oz Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
2 oz blackberry or grape juice
black licorice and sugar for garnish (optional)

Fill cocktail shaker with ice, pour in all ingredients. Shake well and strain into your sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish if you wish. 

2. Screwed Up Shooter 

.5 oz orange juice
.5 oz black vodka
orange rimming sugar for garnish (optional)

Fill the bottom half of a sugar-rimmed shot glass with orange juice. Next, carefully pour the black vodka over the back of a spoon and into the shot glass to layer. 

Which one of these cocktails would you like to try this Halloween?