We're not quite at Christmas yet, so skip the Prosecco and mulled wine this weekend and go for some ghoulish cocktails in honour of Halloween!

Here are a few of our favourite recipes to kick your weekend off – but remember, everything in moderation!

All recipes make one drink.

1. Dark and Stormy
This classic dark rum recipe is an autumn staple. The lightly spiced flavour is a great alternative to other sickly sweet cocktails!

Ingredients

• One large lime wedge (plus a slice for garnish)
• 300 ml ginger beer (not ginger ale)
• 1.5 shot dark rum eg. Captain Morgan's

Method

1. Add 3 ice cubes to a glass.
2. Squeeze your lime wedge over the ice.
3. Add the ginger beer.
4. Add the rum and stir.
5. Garnish with a slice of lime.

 

2. Red Hot Margarita
This spicy twist on the classic Mexican cocktail is sure to please this Halloween!

Ingredients

• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Tablespoon of sea salt
• Juice of 1 and a half limes (save the other half too)
• 1 shot tequila
• 1 tablespoon sugar syrup or agave nectar

Method

1. Combine the cayenne and salt on a plate or clean work surface.
2. Moisten the rim of your glass with the spare half of the lime.
3. Dip the rim of your glass in the pepper and salt mixture to coat it.
4. To an ice-filled cocktail shaker, add the lime juice, tequila and sugar syrup.
5. Shake and strain into a glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

 

3. Alien Brains
This shot is similar to a Baby Guinness, but it's far more gory! It tastes better than it looks, we promise!

Ingredients

• Two thirds shot of peach or strawberry schnapps
• One third shot of Bailey's
• 2 drops grenadine
• Splash of blue curacao (optional)

Method

1. Fill your shot glass two thirds of the way with schnapps.
2. Using a pourer, carefully add the Bailey's so that it floats over the schnapps. Pour it over the back of a spoon or hold the nozzle close to the inside of the glass.
3. Wait a few moments for the Bailey's to settle before adding the grenadine and blue curacao.