Halloween is here and there are almost too many ways to revel in the “spirits” of the season.
And we’re not just talking about dying a vodka soda green or adding a fake eyeball on top here.
These drinks are much more than merely a scary sight.
Master mixologists from across New York City are giving their best hand in order to create cocktails that will cast a spell on your taste buds. Here are some we think you’ll absolutely die for.
1. CandycornTini - SideBAR (118 East 15th Street)
mystiquelyrogue I couldn't wait any longer, it's almost October! So here it is- Candy Corn-tini - Rim martini glass with syrup and orange, yellow, and, white sugar. Add a little ice and add- White Layer- 1 oz #Milk 1/2 oz #SimpleSyrup Orange Layer- Layer on top with a spoon- 1/2 oz #CandyCorn #InfusedVodka 1 oz #OrangeJuice Yellow Layer- Layer on top with a spoon- 1 oz #PineappleVodka 1/2 oz #PineappleJuice 1 drop #Yellow Coloring Candy Corn garnish 💛🎃🍸 #candycorntini #yummolicious #drinkporn #cocktailporn #liquor #booze #liqueur #alcohol #mixology #foundmycup #lushworthy #tastemybar #tipsybartender #calimixers #halloween #fall #layered #martini #candy #autumn #cocktail
Are you among those sad that candy corn is rarely enjoyed outside the month of October? Then make sure you get your yearly fix with the CandycornTini at SideBAR down in Union Square.
The sweet treat combines Candy-Corn-Infused Vision Vodka with pineapple juice and is garnished with, what else, actual candy corn. Don’t be fooled though. Because of its deceiving taste, the sugary swill can quickly lead you into a candy-coated stupor.
2. Hocus Pocus – Forty Four (44 West 44th Street)
Get bewitched in the swanky Forty Four Lounge at Midtown’s Royalton Hotel with a special brew that’ll have you cackling under the Halloween sky.
Beefeater Gin, Carpano Antica and Combier create this upscale cocktail’s spellbinding palette.
Topped off with the black licorice flavor of Fernet Branca, the Hocus Pocus is a great libation to sip by the hotel’s cozy fireplace, bubbling cauldron not required.
3. Revenge of the Night Marcher – Clover Club (210 Smith Street – Brooklyn)
This Cobble Hill cocktail mecca boasts some of the most creative drinks found in the NYC boroughs. One of their spooky specials for Halloween is the tropically-inspired Revenge of the Night Marcher, a chilling blend of Amaro CioCiaro, reposado tequila, and Cruzan Black Strap rum.
The recipe is partially taken from ancient lore revolving around the ghosts of Hawaiian warriors, fueling their bloody unrequited revenge with every sip you take.
4. Caramel Apple Sangria - KTCHN (508 West 42nd Street)
A safe distance away from the horrors of Time Square is KTCHN, a chic and modern eatery that prides itself on serving unique cocktails. Through October, you can snag a sip of their Caramel Apple Sangria with their popular weekend brunches.
Their secret to this seasonal white sangria is Stoli Salted Caramel Vodka, which helps give a tangy take on the traditional brunch drink. And don’t worry; they regularly check it for any Evil Queen poison.
,5. Spice Pumpkin Milkshake – Sugar and Plumm (377 Amsterdam Avenue)
Don’t let the bright colors of all the candy and cookies fool you. Straying from their normally innocent Upper West Side treats served, Sugar and Plumm beckons you into the warmth given by their Spice Pumpkin Milkshake.
This decadent drink is exactly what it sounds like except for a misleading bite of maple pecan butter-infused rum. You might want to leave bred crumbs to find your way back home, as only one of these might have you thinking the eatery itself is made of sweets.
6. Bloody Knuckle – Dutch Kills (27-24 Jackson Avenue – Queens)
Appropriately given the nickname “The Kills” by neighborhood regulars, Dutch Kills in Astoria combines a local dive bar with the feel of the cocktail houses of old New York.
For Halloween, their gory gotta-have drink is the Bloody Knuckle, a one-two punch of gin, rye and Aperol, which will have even the most passive of drinkers seeing red. Aside from their extensive libation list, the prices here are almost all in the single digits, which is a definite plus if you’re trekking by the train.
7. Escape to Witch Mountain – Fedora (239 West 4th Street)
This tiny West Village haunt attracts a hip crowd of regulars that meet amid artful photography and Chesterfield booths. One of their most nostalgic cocktails is Escape to Witch Mountain, an ode to the classic movie and its signature season.
A sinful variation on a classic Manhattan, the cocktail boasts Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey with the probably unfamiliar yet exotic Contratto Fernet and a tart lemon twist. The multi-faceted taste will be sure to take your taste buds on a tumultuous trip.
8. Zombie #6 – Maison Premiere (298 Bedford Avenue – Brooklyn)
maisonpremiere Our New Fall #Cocktail menu has debuted! Head Barman Will Elliot has created some exciting new drinks. For a preview visit maisonpremiere.com or stop by and catch him in action tonight! #maisonpremiere #Brooklyn
Something wicked this way comes…. and it wants your brain! Taking a nod from the voodoo-laden French Quarter of New Orleans, this powerful concoction can almost bring the dead back to life.
The Zombie #6 fuses four rums with pineapple-lime syrup and, for an extra bite, laced with a shot of Green Fairy dust from their own working absinthe fountain. Before you leave, be sure to check your booth for any limbs that may have fallen off during consumption.
Check out 5 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About the Village Halloween Parade in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]