With Halloween around the corner and a wave of house parties incoming, it’s time to work on your drink game. Here are five cocktails to try this Halloween (you may need to invest in a cocktail shaker).
Tequila Lantern (shown below)
You'll need:
• 25ml Gold Tequila
• 25ml Silver Tequila
• 150ml Orange juice
• 10ml Grenadine
• Red food colouring
• Sugar
You can probably see where I am going with this. A spin on the classic ‘Tequila Sunrise’, this version is made pretty much the same way but with a few choice differences. First, fill two-thirds of your shaker with ice, add all the tequila and orange juice and shake like your life depends on it.
Next, grab a bowl and add some sugar. Mix this with the red food colouring until it starts to look like blood. Grab your glass (I recommend a champagne flute if you have one - even if it's plastic) and dip it in the sugar until the entire rim is covered in the blood-red sugar. If it doesn’t stick right away, cut up a lime or orange and run it around the edge of the glass and try again. Pour your mixture into the glass, add the grenadine slowly and hey presto you have got yourself the first drink of the night.
Pumpkin Spice
• 25ml Baileys Pumpkin Spice
• 25ml Tia Maria
• 150ml Milk
A quick and simple cocktail (i.e. you won't need the shaker for this one). Simply pour the Baileys and Tia Maria into a glass filled with ice and add the milk. An easy and tasty cocktail, perfect for a quiet evening.
Caramel Apple
• 25ml Jim Bean Honey (JD Honey also works, but is not as nice)
• 25ml Bacardi Oakheart (other rums are available)
• Caramel extract
• 150ml Apple Juice
This one is for the heavy drinkers out there, as it may be a bit of a challenge. Firstly, shake the Jim Bean, Bacardi and apple juice over ice. Secondly, pour into a glass. Thirdly, add the caramel extract and mix (you know, for flavour). Finally, good luck.
Blood Punch
• 50ml Southern Comfort
• 10ml Grenadine
• 150ml Cranberry juice
• 150ml Lemonade
This is a cocktail for everyone out there with a sweet tooth. Pour the Southern Comfort, Grenadine and cranberry juice into a glass (over ice). Mix it and top up with lemonade. This may be straightforward, but trust me by the time you are making your sixth one you'll be happy there isn’t a lot to remember.
Ectoplasm (also shown below)
• 50ml Jim Bean/Bourbon of choice
• 150ml Milk
• Cinnamon
This is a personal favourite of mine. All you have to do for this one is shake the bourbon and milk together (make sure you use a lot of ice so the milk can froth) pour over ice and sprinkle the cinnamon on top. If you are feeling extra fancy, you can also garnish with two straws.
