Where the heck was this drink when I was searching for Halloween cocktails. The name just suggests spookiness. Lucky for us, the cocktail can be enjoyed anytime. It’ll remind you a little of a Cosmo but without the cranberry. I like this one and recommend it to any guest that doesn’t mind a bold sipper.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz Vodka
• ¼ to ½ oz Blackberry Brandy (I go ½ ‘cause I like the taste a lot)
• 2-3 tsp. Lime Juice (or more to taste)

Shake with ice and strain cold into a brandy snifter or serve on the rocks in a rocks glass.

I normally don’t lean towards the sweet in drinks. I like the taste of whiskey, gin, and brandy. That being said, during the holidays, I back down a little. We entertain at home a lot, and let’s face it, more guests than not prefer the yummy factor. A lot of folks who normally don’t drink hard spirits during the year, make exceptions in December, and I want to welcome them at the bar, too. This drink is perfect for boozehounds and soccer moms. It calls for Cinnamon Vodka which you can buy or infuse a bottle at home by adding 5 or 6 cinnamon sticks to a bottle of vodka and letting it sit on a shelf for 3-4 days. I know I won’t drink a whole bottle of cinnamon vodka ever, so what I do is infuse a half bottle only.

Here we go –

• 3 oz Cinnamon Vodka
• ½ oz Sweet Vermouth
• ½ oz Curacao

Shake with ice ‘til cold, strain into cocktail glass, garnish with a cinnamon stick.

I love vanilla throughout the year but really only enjoy it in a cocktail around the holidays. I’m from the “if I want dessert, I’ll have a piece of cake” school when it comes to drinking, but like I mentioned in my intro, sweet sided drinks have their place in December. Vanilla beans are expensive so please feel free to chop one up to smaller sized pieces for the garnish. For a sweet drink, this one’s surprisingly complex and satisfying on that boozy level.

Here we go -

• 3 oz Vanilla Vodka
• 1 oz Dry Vermouth
• 1 oz Cointreau

Shake gently or stir with ice ‘til c-c-c-cold, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a vanilla bean.

This is the fun one of the batch, the drink that will fetch all the “oooohs” and “ahhhhs” when you set a few up on the bar. The serious drinkers can have their Bourbon, rocks, their Martinis and Manhattans, but your guests hoping for a little holiday magic with their cheer will love this one. It calls for a flavored rum so try and pick one up during the holiday sales at your liquor store. This is a great one for a party, a cookie exchange, or any festive and fun occasion. This is a perfect drink to make a batch of ahead of time.

Here we go –

• 2 oz Lemon Flavored Rum (citrus works fine too)
• 1 oz Vodka
• ½ oz Southern Comfort (you’ll just need a pint)
• ½ oz Lemon Juice
• ½ tsp. Dry Vermouth

Rub the rim of a martini glass with a lemon wedge and then rim the glass with granulated sugar. Shake ingredients with ice in shaker ‘til cold then strain into sugared martini or cocktail glass. Garnish with gumdrops on a toothpick.

I pour the hell out of these on Thanksgiving. While the men loosen their belts and snore away in the den, the gals and I pump these down in the living room while granny does the dishes. Not too sweet, nor too sour, this is an either perfect pre- or after dinner drink for a family get-together. I make a glass pitcher of them and leave it down on the bar. When someone needs a third, I’m able to simply pour another. This one has been my “go to” Thanksgiving cocktail for a few years now.

Here we go –

• ½ oz Cointreau
• 1 ½ oz Vodka
• ¾ oz White Cranberry Juice
• Squeeze of a lime wedge.

Mix first three ingredients with ice in a shaker or glass pitcher ‘til cold. Strain into cocktail glass and squeeze fresh limejuice over top. Garnish with four or five fresh cranberries.

Ahhhh, the good old days. Here’s a pretty simple spring & summer refresher that uses bottled lime juice as its sweetener. I actually like Roses juices and completely get why they were so popular during the 1960’s. People knew how to squeeze fresh fruit juices back then, but the almost artificial tang poured from a Martian green bottle of Roses Lime Juice added, and still adds, a zip to your drink that can be as refreshingly welcomed as a frozen Popsicle on a July evening. I realize bartenders and cocktails are all about “fresh” ingredients today, but here at Mr. Booze, we like to shine the spotlight on the golden flavors of the past. You can have a fresh avocado, cucumber martini next time you go to the trendy bar. Right now, take a trip back 40+ years and taste a true sweet & sour throwback.

Here we go –

• 1½ oz vodka
• ½ oz Cointreau or Triple Sec
• ¼ oz Roses lime juice
• Dash of cranberry juice
• Slice of lime for garnish

Shake till chilly-willy with cracked ice in a shaker. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

A little sweet for my taste, I’ll open the lid on this cocktail just one night a year. Candy corn is the spirit of Halloween wrapped up in a bite-sized nugget of deliciousness, so I get why this drink is so gobbled down by sugar-buzzed kiddies over the age of 21. Positively gorgeous on a silver tray bathed in candlelight, a presentation of these on the home bar would last about half a minute.

Here we go -

• 3/4 oz vanilla vodka
• 1/2 oz white Creme de Cacao
• 1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps
• 2 oz orange juice
• cocoa powder for rim

Ring your martini glasses w/ orange juice then pat into cocoa powder till rimmed. In a shaker filled w/ ice, pour liquid ingredients. Shake then pour up into martini glasses. Garnish w/ orange peel twist and skewered candy corn.

You gotta buy one of those goofy flavored vodkas for this one, but what the hell, you’ll have it for something else that calls for it down the line. This is the Halloween drink that your guests have to try when they see it. It looks great on a spooky decorated bar or on a coffee table ‘long side a carved pumpkin. Like “The Ghost”, this cocktail has a drinkability about it that could be dangerous. I mixed up a couple the other night during a DVD showing of The Fearless Vampire Killers, and everyone loved it, so you might consider this one for an October scary movie night.

Here we go -

• 2 oz black cherry vodka
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• coca-cola

Swirl the grenadine around the bottom half of a clear high-ball glass till the glass is coated. Add ice then the vodka. Fill with cola and garnish with 2 plump cherries. Black straw if you can find them.