BETTERSWEETDRINKS

THE DRINKS NOTEBOOK

Jim

Co-owner and Editor. Jim oversees editorial work at Better Sweet Drinks. He reviews recipes for clear instructions, consistent measurements, and useful notes, and handles corrections before publication.

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Cocktails

Halloween Pumpkin Oloroso Sherry Cobbler

A nutty Halloween sherry cobbler with pumpkin, maple and spice, served over crushed ice with a jack-o'-lantern orange peel.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 149 kcal
  • ≈ 10.2% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Ghost Nigori Sake Highball

A cloudy nigori sake Halloween highball with ginger syrup, soda and a crisp edible nori bat garnish. Ready in 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 141 kcal
  • ≈ 6.5% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Black Widow Brandy Alexander

A creamy brandy and dark crème de cacao Halloween cocktail finished with an easy chocolate-syrup spiderweb. Ready in about 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 310 kcal
  • ≈ 18.3% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Green Fairy Absinthe Frappé

A pale, cloudy Halloween absinthe frappé with simple syrup, chilled water and crushed ice. Shaken and served in about 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 169 kcal
  • ≈ 16.5% ABV

Cocktails

Haunted Scotch Tea Highball for Halloween

A smoky Halloween Scotch highball with Lapsang Souchong tea, honey and club soda. Built over ice in about 35 minutes.

  • 35 min
  • ≈ 169 kcal
  • ≈ 8.5% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Blood Moon Rye Boulevardier

A bitter Halloween rye Boulevardier with Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred cold and served in a coupe with an orange-peel crescent.

  • 8 min
  • ≈ 201 kcal
  • ≈ 24% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Black Cat Amaretto Cold Brew Highball

A dark Halloween highball with amaretto, cold brew and soda water, finished with removable black-paper cat ears. One fizzy adult drink in 8 minutes.

  • 8 min
  • ≈ 126 kcal
  • ≈ 5.2% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Vampire Ruby Port and Tonic

A ruby-red Halloween port and tonic with a cocoa-sugar half rim. Build one fizzy adult cocktail in a wine glass in 8 minutes.

  • 8 min
  • ≈ 165 kcal
  • ≈ 8.1% ABV

Cocktails

Halloween Headless Horseman Cognac Old Fashioned

A stirred Halloween cognac Old Fashioned with a little amaretto, aromatic bitters and an orange-peel pumpkin garnish. Makes one adult drink.

  • 8 min
  • ≈ 166 kcal
  • ≈ 32.4% ABV

Mocktails

Halloween Midnight Plum Grape Slush for Kids

Blend two small purple Halloween slush drinks for kids with ripe plums, 100% grape juice and ice. No alcohol, dairy or added syrup.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 123 kcal
  • Non-alcoholic

Cocktails

Poinsettia Cocktail

A Poinsettia cocktail with cranberry juice, orange liqueur and chilled Prosecco. Make this Christmas toast in five minutes, one glass at a time.

  • 5 min
  • ≈ 138 kcal
  • ≈ 10.2% ABV

Milkshakes & Creamy Drinks

Halloween Ghost Milkshake for Kids

Make two small banana vanilla ghost milkshakes for Halloween. A sweet, alcohol-free drink for kids with an optional whipped cream ghost decoration.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 368 kcal
  • Non-alcoholic

Cocktails

Halloween Ghost White Russian

Make a Halloween White Russian with coffee liqueur, cream and an edible marshmallow ghost perched above the glass. One cocktail, ready in 10 minutes.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 349 kcal
  • ≈ 20.8% ABV

Cocktails

Christmas Cranberry Rosemary Spritz

A tart cranberry and rosemary Christmas cocktail topped with chilled sparkling wine, with a quick alcohol-free variation.

  • 10 min
  • ≈ 110 kcal
  • ≈ 7.3% ABV