Trick or treat: drink edition

Happy Halloween Gauchos! With our favorite holiday just around the corner, we have concocted some hauntingly-mouthwatering cocktails and mocktails to get in the Halloween state of mind. Afterall, what’s a good party without a good drink? We perfected these cocktails after a night of experimenting with ingredients we already had in our pantry. Each drink only has a few ingredients, hopefully keeping you on a college-friendly budget. Before you get started, place your favorite glasses in the freezer. With each of our recipes, we encourage you to measure with your heart.

Devil’s Cosmopolitan 

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serving size: 1

Get in the spooky spirit starting with the Devil’s Cosmopolitan! This cocktail is wickedly sweet and slightly tart with an added spiciness from the tajin rim. 

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of cranberry juice 
• ¼ cup of sparkling water
• Tajin
• A squeeze of lime juice 
• Ice
• Optional: add 1 shot of vodka

Instructions:

1. Line your rim using a lime wedge.
2. Roll the rim in tajin.
3. Add ice in your cup (as much as you prefer).
4. Add cranberry juice, sparkling water and lime juice.
5. Optional: top with 1 shot of vodka 

Spooky Martini

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serving size: 1

We’re calling all coffee lovers — next up is the Spooky Martini! The flavor profile of this espresso martini rendition is deep, dark and rich, pairing perfectly with your favorite Halloween chocolates. 

Ingredients:

• Shot of espresso 
• 2 marshmallows 
• Add 1 shot of vodka and a tablespoon of coffee liqueur

Instructions:

1. Pull a shot of your favorite espresso and let it cool to room temperature.
2. Mix together cooled espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur.
3. Melt marshmallows in the microwave for 15 seconds.
4. Use your pointer finger and thumb to create a spider web effect with the melted marshmallows on the rim of the glass.

Bloody Blackberry Spritz 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Serving size: 1

Finish your night with a drop-dead delicious Bloody Blackberry Spritz! This cocktail is more a treat than a trick, as it is on the sweeter side. The tang of ginger balances out the citrusy lime and sweet blackberry syrup. Don’t be shy to adjust the ratio of simple syrup and ginger ale to your liking. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of blackberries 
• ¼ cup of ginger ale
• Lime wedge
•  ¾ cup water
•  ½ cup sugar
• Optional: add 1 shot of vodka

Instructions:

1. Add the water and sugar to a saucepan.
2. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves (it should only take about 5 or so minutes).
3. Add the blackberries and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture has slightly thickened.
4. Take your pan off the heat; allow the syrup to cool.

1. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a mason jar/cup.
2. Add ice to a chilled glass.
3. Add a tablespoon of the blackberry syrup and the ginger ale to the glass.
4. Optional: add vodka.
5. Slice lime wedge and place on rim.

We wish you a very happy Halloween coupled with a few fun cocktails. We definitely had lots of fun making them! We both love to experiment with new flavors and prioritize having a stress-free, enjoyable environment in the kitchen, so that’s exactly what inspired us with these cocktails and mocktails. Enjoy!