Halloween Hack #1: Themed Cocktails

From my research I’ve decided there are basically three families of cocktail hacks that can be applied to nearly any holiday or event.  The first, which I’ll be discussing in this post, is cocktails named or based on a theme.  The second is cocktail garnishes that highlight the holiday or event.  The third is changing a cocktail’s color to match those of the occasion.  For this first post I’m going to highlight themed cocktails.  Themed cocktails generally means cocktails that are either created with the theme in mind (eg the Candy Corn Cocktail) or cocktails with names that work with the theme (eg the Corpse Reviver).  Below are some instances of both.  I have been spending my time on another of the Halloween hacks this week so I don’t have much in the way of commentary on these.  That said, imbibe at your own risk.

The Corpse Reviver #1

[Ingredients]

1 1/2 oz brandy
3/4 oz apple brandy
3/4 oz sweet vermouth

[Directions]

1) Stir in mixing glass with ice
2) Strain in to a chilled cocktail glass

The Corpse Reviver #2 - Savoy Cocktail Book

[Ingredients]

1/4 Wine Glass Lemon Juice (3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice)
1/4 Wine Glass Kina Lillet (3/4 oz Cocchi Aperitivo Americano)
1/4 Wine Glass Cointreau (3/4 oz Cointreau)
1/4 Wine Glass Dry Gin (3/4 oz Bombay Gin)
1 Dash Absinthe (Verte de Fougerolles)

[Directions]

1) Shake well with ice
2) Strain in to a chilled cocktail glass

[Notes]

The Corpse Reviver is one of the all time classic cocktails and
will doubtless get a week all to itself so stay tuned.

The Zombie

[Ingredients]

3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1/4 oz Falernum
1 1/4 oz Gold Rum
1 oz Dark Rum
1 oz 151 Proof Demerara Rum
3/4 oz Maraschino Liquer
1/4 tsp Grenadine
1/8 tsp Pernod
2 dashes Angostura Bitters

[Directions]

1) Blend briefly without ice
2) Add ice, blend to chill
3) Serve in a Hurricane or Collins glass

Black Cat Cocktail

[Ingredients]

1 Shot Russian Standard Vodka
1 Shot De Kuyper Cherry Brandy
2 Shots Cranberry Juice
2 Shots Coke

[Directions]

1) Pour ingredients into highball glass with some cubed ice
and stir well

Cruel Ghoul

[Ingredients]

1/2 oz Malibu Rum
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
7-Up

[Directions]

1) Combine Rum, Peach Schnapps and Blue Curacao over ice
2) Add 7-Up to Fill

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

[Ingredients]

2 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 Cup Crushed Ice
1 Tbsp Canned Pumpkin
1 oz Half-and-Half
1 oz Spiced Rum
1/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 Tbsp Whipped Topping
1 Pinch Pumpkin Pie Spice

[Directions]

1) Combine the first six ingredients in a blender
2) Blend until smooth
3) Pour into a serving glass
4) Top with whipped topping
5) Sprinkle with pinch of pumpkin pie spice

Candy Corn Cocktail

[Ingredients]

1/2 oz Licor 43
1/2 oz Orange Curacao
1/2 oz Cream

[Directions]

1) Carefully pour the Licor 43 into a shot glass
2) Layer Orange Curacao on Licor 43
3) Layer Cream on top of Curacao

Candy Corn Martini

[Ingredients]

3/4 oz Absolut® Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz Creme de Cacao
1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
2 oz Orange Juice
1 Tbsp Dark Cocoa Powder

[Directions]

1) Rim a cocktail glass with OJ then Cocoa Powder
2) Combine spirits and OJ in a shaker with ice
3) Shake vigorously and pour into glass
4) Garnish with an orange twist and 3-4 pcs of Candy Corn

[Notes]

Not sure what this cocktail has to do with candy corn
other than the garnish.  On the plus side it sounds like
the flavor might not suck.

Now I’m guessing that eight cocktails is simply not enough to fulfill the needs of a crowd reading cocktail blogs so here are some compilations done by other sites.

Halloween Cocktail Recipes from The Nibble

Ghostly Cocktails for Halloween from Suite 101

Scary Halloween Cocktails from Art of Drink

10 Happy Halloween Cocktails from Fine Living