Halloween is upon us, which means, yes, costume parties and scary movies – but it’s also the season for spooky serves. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best recipes from spirits brands for you to try at home.

From skeleton garnishes to bloody colours and sinister themes, spirits brands seem to be at their creative best at this time of the year. It’s almost scary how they do it.

Fortunately, they’ve also shared some of their secrets and these 10 recipes should ensure a memorable Halloween, whether alone or with friends.

And once Halloween’s over, it’s not like you have to drop the amateur bartending – check out our recipe round-ups from October and September.

Devil Wore Green by King of Soho

Devil by name, devilish by nature, King of Soho combines gin, apple juice and melon liqueur Midori for this gloriously ghoulish creation.

Ingredients:
35ml King of Soho Variorum Gin
25ml Midori
30ml Clear apple juice
1 Egg white
10ml Lemon juice

Method: Shake all the ingredients well with lots of ice and strain into a small cocktail glass.

Bramble of Darkness by Jawbox

The sort of Bramble a member of the Addams family might whip up, using Kirker Greer Spirits-owned Jawbox Gin and a drizzle of blackberry liqueur for ‘bloody’ effect.

Ingredients:
35ml Jawbox Export Strength Gin
30ml Lemon juice
10ml Monin sugar syrup
15ml Blackberry Liqueur
3-4 Fresh blackberries

Method: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the first three ingredients and shake firmly. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Drizzle with the blackberry liqueur in the glass. Garnish with fresh blackberries and serve.

Espress-oo-Martini by Mr Black

Coming face-to-face with Jack Skellington isn’t such a terrifying prospect when it’s via Mr Black’s Halloween take on an Espresso Martini.

Ingredients:
60ml Mr Black
30ml Espresso

Method: Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake hard and strain into a coupe glass.

Back from the Ashes by Smokehead

Smokehead’s Tequila cask-finished whisky has flavours of toffee and ‘chewy meringue’, which go down a treat in this smoky serve.

Ingredients:
22.5ml Smokehead Tequila Cask Terminado
22.5ml Fresh lemon juice
22.5ml Dry vermouth
22.5ml Triple sec

Method: Fill a coupe with ice and high-strength absinthe, to rinse the glass and strain out, then shake all other ingredients and double strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

Halloween Hell Boy by Dead Man’s Fingers

Dead Man’s Fingers already has the perfect name for Halloween-themed drinks and its spiced rum fits the mould too in this heady punch-like potion.

Ingredients:
50ml Dead Man’s Fingers Spiced Rum
50ml Mango juice
25ml Lime juice
Top up with lemonade
Chillis and mint

Method: Fill a glass with ice. Pour in all the ingredients (minus the lemonade). Lastly, top up with lemonade and garnish with chillis and mint.

Dark Storm

This black-hued no-ABV serve from Seedlip is great for those staying off the booze this Halloween, but still want to feel a part of the festivities.

Ingredients:
50ml Seedlip Grove 42 (swap with Cîroc or Gordon’s for an alcoholic version)
20ml Lime juice
¼ Teaspoon of black squid ink
150ml Ginger beer

Method: Dry shake (ie. without ice) the Seedlip, lime juice and squid ink. Add ice and continue to shake until cold. Strain the liquid into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a strip of nori seaweed (or a lemon wedge)

Pumpkin Flip by Grand Marnier

Not only is this festive cocktail using Grand Marnier’s Cordon Rouge something you’ll want to drink five times over, but it’s also a handy way to reuse those old Halloween pumpkins.

Ingredients:
28ml Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge
14ml Appleton Estate Rum 8 Years Old
14ml Cynar
14ml Pumpkin syrup*
1 Egg (whole)
Garnish with grated nutmeg on top

*Pumpkin syrup
Bring to a boil:
500g Demerara sugar
250g Pumpkin purée
250g Water
¼ Teaspoon ground allspice

Method: Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass.

Pop & Spritz

Metaxa’s Spritz works for any kind of Halloween occasion, whether that be hosting a big bash or hiding under the blankets watching a horror film.

Ingredients:
40ml Metaxa 12 Stars
30ml Bitter liqueur (Aperol is recommended)
60ml Grapefruit soda
Popcorn

Method: Pour Metaxa 12 stars and bitter liqueur into a wine glass with ice. Stir all the ingredients well and top up with grapefruit soda. Garnish with popcorn.

A Vampire’s Kiss by Kōloa Rum

Hawaii-based Koloa Rum Company’s Halloween offering has everything you want out of a vampire-inspired cocktail, minus any actual human blood.

Ingredients:
46ml  Kōloa Kaua’i Gold Rum
113ml Tart cherry juice
24ml Lime juice
24ml Simple syrup
113ml Sparkling water
Ice

Garnish with dry ice (optional)

Method: Add ingredients (except the soda water) into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds until shaker is frosty, then strain ingredients into a glass with ice. Top with soda water and stir. For an extra spooky effect, use dry ice.

Kah Spiked Pumpkin

This Tequila and pumpkin-based serve from Kah is ideal for dealing with scary situations during Halloween – like when it’s you that’s in charge of making cocktails at a heaving fancy-dress party.

Ingredients:
25ml Kah Tequila Blanco
25ml Cointreau
50ml/2tbsp Lime juice
Pumpkin puree
1 tbsp Honey
Ice

Method: Place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake until cold. Rim the glass with pumpkin pie spice. Strain the drink into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of apple and one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.