With Halloween just around the corner, we’ve picked out the world’s spookiest spirits, inspired by stories of mythical beasts and devilish drams.

Virginia City Cemetery Gin is the newest spooky release to make our list

From ghoulish spirits to surreal skull-like expressions, brands have really pushed the boat out with spooky bottlings over the last few years.

A wide array of spirits including gin, whisky, Tequila, rum and vodka have made the list of eerie expressions, so be sure to stock up in time to host your spine-tingling celebrations this weekend.

Last Halloween, we brought you some of the best Halloween cocktails put together by both brands and bartenders – keep a look out for this year’s latest creations in the coming days.

Click through to discover our selection of top spooky spirits.

If you think we’ve missed a deserving spooky sipper off this list, let us know by leaving a comment below.

Bowmore The Devil’s Casks

First launched in 2013, The Devil’s Casks series pays homage to the Islay tale of how the devil himself was chased through the village of Bowmore and into the gates of its distillery before escaping in a cask of whisky bound for the mainland. Matured exclusively in first fill Sherry casks for 10 years and bottled at a high 56.7% abv, The Devil’s Casks are described as “hot and fiery” with notes of fruitcake, chocolate and dark fruits. The third and final variant in the Devil’s Cask series was released last year in time for Halloween.

Crystal Head Skull Vodka

Launched by Ghostbusters star Dan Aykroyd, this spooky spirit is inspired by the legend of 13 crystal skulls which are said to grant spiritual powers to those that possess them. The vodka is quadruple-distilled, triple-filtered through charcoal before being triple-filtered through Herkimer diamond crystals.

Captain Morgan Jack O’ Blast

Another brand to capitalise on Halloween celebrations is Captain Morgan, which launched its pumpkin-shaped Jack-O’Blast last month. It follows the 2015 launch of Captain Morgan Cannon Blast – described as an “intensely delicious shot” and is a mix of Caribbean rum, natural flavours and a “bold spice blend” of citrus, chipotle and jalapeño pepper. 

The Wild Geese Premium Rum

Aged for up to eight years, The Wild Geese Premium Rum is a blend of gold rums from Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados. While it has no “spooky” backstory, this expression makes the list simply for its appearance – the bottle is emblazoned with a creepy image of a skull which glows under black light. On the nose, the rum has “distinct yet light and fresh notes” of sage and eucalyptus. On the palate it has an “elegant balance of deft sweetness” and flavours of light vanilla, mango and banana.

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut

A devilish twist on Jim Beam, Devil’s Cut is the first whiskey of its kind to use liquid extracted from the wood of the barrel – resulting in a higher strength and “increased flavour”. Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe developed the technique – washing the used barrel with water, then  ‘agitating’ it to encourage the wood to release the whiskey that soaked in. The liquid removed is then blended with Jim Beam Black to create Devil’s Cut. The spooky expression would fit well in an array of suitably seasonal cocktails – perfect for a Halloween party.

Tomatin Cù Bòcan

The Cù Bòcan range by Tomatin distillery is named after a mythical highland hellhound. Legend has it after being stalked by the ghostly spectre, a Tomatin distillery worker reached out to touch the fur of Cù Bòcan, when the beast dissolved in front of his eyes and spirited away across the peat moorland. The range first launched in 2013, and is described as a “lightly peated alternative” to the traditional fruit flavours of Tomatin single malt.

Ghost Vodka

British vodka brand Ghost Vodka is distilled in a “haunted” salt depot in Cambridge, where, according to the team, the resident ghosts lend a hand with production. The bottle – which looks as though it belongs in a spooky apothecary – features no brand name; instead the logo does all the talking.

Jägermeister

German liqueur brand Jägermeister is known for its traditional orange and black branding – perfect Halloween colours – while the liquid’s origins are shrouded in legend and mystery – a must-have for a spooky party. Jägermeister also unveiled a “Zombie Outbreak” pack for the on-trade in 2015 in the run up to Halloween.

Cabo Diablo

Introducing Cabo Diablo, a blend of coffee liqueur made with Arabica beans and 100% blue weber agave Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila. The brand was founded by guitarist Ronnie Montrose and Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar – both members of California-based hard rock band Montrose. The expression is described as having notes of roasted coffee, vanilla and chocolate, as well as sweet flavours of blue agave and honey. Aimed towards consumers celebrating Halloween, Cabo Diablo is described as a “devilish mix” and features a colour-changing label that reveals a spooky image when chilled.

Virginia City Cemetery Gin

In honour of the 151st Nevada Day and Halloween last year, Virginia City unveiled its Cemetery Gin. The creepy black bottle features an 1854 Cunningham Hearse, which can only be seen when the bottle is held against the light. This hearse is representative of the history and the undertakers union that inspired the spirit.