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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Don’t be scared — it’s finally Halloween in Northeast Ohio. Whether you’re planning on hosting an extravagant party or laying low while passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, there’s no reason not to make the holiday a little special with a fancy cocktail. Thankfully, with just a few tricks, it’s easy to make festive cocktails for a crowd or just yourself at the last minute this Halloween. Consider picking up any last-minute ingredients when you run out to grab another bag of candy. To provide some inspiration, check out 5 spooky cocktails to make at the last minute this Halloween. Tequila Witch’s Brew DELEÓN Tequila has a bloody delicious version of a margarita that isn’t light on the booze. Aside from the basic cocktail preparation, this recipe is special because you can use your favorite red wine for a devious-looking float. Ingredients: 1 oz. DELEÓN Reposado 1 oz. Fresh lemon juice 0.5 oz. Agave nectar 0.5 oz. Red wine (float) Dehydrated orange garnish Instructions: In a shaker, combine DELEÓN Reposado Tequila, lemon juice and agave nectar. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until the mixture is chilled. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Carefully pour the red wine over the back of a spoon to float it on top of the cocktail. Black Widow Martini NOLET’s Gin created this recipe for a fruity, yet totally spooky martini that also provides the opportunity for you to do a little magic, if you want. Don’t let the color fool you – this cocktail is a crowdpleaser. Ingredients: 2 oz. NOLET’S Silver Gin2 Fresh Blackberries plus more for garnish1 oz. Blackberry Liqueur (or Elderflower) 0.75 oz. Fresh lime juice1/4 tsp Activated charcoal powder (optional) Instructions: In a cocktail shaker muddle 2 fresh blackberries and add NOLET’S Silver, liqueur, lime juice, charcoal (if using), and ice. Shake until well-chilled. Strain into a Martini or Coupe glass and garnish. Nocturna Colada Just because it’s fall, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up the refreshing pina coladas of summer. Kraken Rum’stake on a passionfruit and coffee-infused colada features plenty of dark rum for a deep flavor that’s all treats, no tricks. Ingredients: 1.5 oz. Kraken Black 0.5 oz. Kraken Gold 0.5 oz. Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur 0.75 oz Passionfruit syrup 0.75 oz Coconut milk (unsweetened) 1 oz. Pineapple juice 1 Dash Bitter Queens Coffee Cardamom Bitters Instructions: Add all ingredients to a tin with crushed ice and shake. Pour into tiki mug or tall glass, top with more crushed ice and garnish. Wicked Potion Another cocktail that doubles as a magic trick comes from Middle West Spirits. This cocktail features Butterfly pea flower simple syrup that changes colors when you add in the lemon juice. Add a little edible glitter on top to really amp-up the mystical experience. Ingredients: 1.5 oz Middle West Spirits Vim & Petal Gin 0.5 oz Crème de violette 0.5 oz Génépy 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice 0.5 oz Butterfly pea flower infused Simple Syrup 1 Dash lavender bitters (optional) Instructions: Combine gin, crème de violette, Génépy, lemon, butterfly pea syrup and bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake hard until chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe. Monster Mash Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky knows that nothing is creepier than a bright-green cocktail, but thankfully, the flavor is much less frightful. It takes a little science to make the green apple cordial, but you could always try to source a storebought version in a pinch. Ingredients: 2 parts Monkey Shoulder Whisky 1 part Lime Juice 1.5 parts Pineapple Juice 1 part Midori 6-8 Mint Leaves 1 part Green Apple Cordial* 12 parts of cold press Green Apple juice 2 parts ascorbic acid White Sugar (1:1 ratio by weight to juice) Instructions: Dry shake all ingredients with mint. Strain into Mai Tai glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with mint bouquet, green monster or ghostbuster garnish or neon green glowstick in drink to add glow. *To make cordial: Cold press apples and add ascorbic promptly. Stir to incorporate. Add white sugar in 1:1 ratio by weight to the juice. Incorporate the sugar without heat using a stick blender.
