Bloody Mary

Note: This is a classic cocktail. The spice is what makes the drink. The best part is that it is a brunch standard, so you can start your Halloween party off as early as you like.

Ingredients:

2 ounces. Vodka

3ounces. Tomato Juice

1⁄2 teaspoon. Worcestershire Sauce

2 Dashes of Tabasco Sauce

1 Dash of Pepper

1 Dash of Celery Salt or Old Bay Seasoning

1⁄2 teaspoon. of Horseradish

Directions:

Mix ingredients and shake over ice, strain into a Collins glass and serve with a celery stalk.

Zombie

Note: This is an old favorite, but be warned that it will turn you into a stumbling, mindless, living corpse.

Ingredients:

1 ounce White Rum

2 ounces Dark Rum

1 ounce Bacardi 151 Rum

1 ounce Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Lemon Juice

1 ounce Lime Juice

1 ounce Passion Fruit Syrup

1-2 Dash(es) Bitters

1 teaspoon Brown Sugar

Directions:

Dissolve the brown sugar in the fruit juices, then mix all ingredients together, shake over ice, pour into a Collins glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Caramel Apple Martini

Notes: This is a festive way to celebrate Halloween if you are looking to impress your friends.

Ingredients:

1 ounce Vodka

2 ounces Apple Pucker

1 ounce of Tuaca

1 Pinch of Cinnamon

Directions:

Combine ingredients, shake and pour over ice. Pour into a chilled martini glass decorated with caramel syrup and garnish with an apple slice.

The Wicked Witch

Note: This is one of my originals featuring the Italian liqueur, Strega, which is Italian for Witch.

Ingredients:

2 ounces Strega

1 and 1⁄2 ounce White Tequila

1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

Fresh Mint

1 Sugar Cube

Directions:

Muddle fresh mint with the sugar cube in a rocks glass, add ice, pour in the rest of the ingredients and stir.

The Dullahan

Note: The Dullahan has a traditional mythical Irish character that drives the coach of death pulled by black horses using a human spine as a whip. Did I forget to mention he carries around his own severed head? This may be my most frightening Halloween cocktail from the land where Halloween began.

Ingredients:

1 ounce of Absinthe

1 ounce of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey

1 Sugar Cube

3 ounces of Pure Chilled Water

Directions:

Pour 1 oz. of absinthe into a glass (preferably one made for absinthe), place a slotted spoon over the glass with the sugar cube placed over the center, slowly pour the cold water over the sugar cup until it melts, add the Jameson’s and stir.