Funny Halloween Drinks

Everyone has their favourite tipple at Samhain, see our pumpkin beer, witches brew and Dracula's cocktail.

• Pumpkin Beer for Halloween
• Get In The Spirit Of All Hallows With Spooks Ale
• Funny Drinks at Halloween - Witches Brew
• Pub Names Can Provide Protection at Halloween
• Halloween Cocktails to Wet Your Palate

Pumpkin Beer for Halloween

We have come across a pumpkin beer which sounds just the job for a Halloween celebration. This is apparently a seasonal Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale, brewed by 'Big Boss'. Will and Guy can reveal that the quote on the beer reads: "Harvest Time Pumpkin Ale is a subtly-spiced, fall ale brewed with real pumpkin that will evoke memories of holidays and family." Although some brewer's only use pumpkin spice in their pumpkin ale, Big Boss uses real pumpkin as well as a blend of spices. Though they have not revealed their blend of spices to us, we think it is likely something with some form of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice.

Guy Drank 'One Over the Eight' Pumpkin Ales?

For the morning after, why not try one of Harry Cradock's cocktails? We can recommend his 'Corpse Revivers'.

Funny Drinks at Halloween - Witches Brew

Witches make wicked brews especially at Halloween.  Think of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Round about the caldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw. Toad, that under the cold stone, Days and nights hast thirty-one Swelter'd venom sleeping got, Boil thou first i' the charmed pot! Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble.

But Remember: NO Drinking and Flying After a Witches Brew

Halloween Chandelier

Schnapps is the official spirit of Halloween, by decree of Samhain.

Pub Names Can Provide Protection at Halloween

Masons building a church in the Middle Ages, says Will, would have stayed probably at a local inn and many pubs took ecclesiastical names upon completion of the place of worship. The ones rebuilding St Bride's church after the Great Fire of London [1666] stayed, for example, in the Old Bell in Fleet Street. Bells were believed to have magical powers, protecting against evil spirits and lightning.

Get In The Spirit Of All Hallows With Spooks Ale

Ghostly Guest Beer in UK Pub Ale drinkers in the Duke of Buckingham, Old Portsmouth, UK are being challenged to try something spooky this Halloween - if they dare. The eerily tasty Spooks Ale from Shepherd Neame will be available in bottles and cask from mid-October.  The Official Ghost Brew of All Hallows, Spooks Ale offers a rich and spicy taste, with a fruity and biscuity aroma. According to the blood-spattered, parchment-like label, the 4.7% abv beer contains "Gall of Shepherd, Slip of Neame, Silver'd in the Kent's Moon Dream." Shepherd Neame is used to ghostly goings-on, as one might expect from Britain's oldest brewer. Spectral sightings at the historic Faversham brewery have included a feline phantom walking through reception and a ghostly group of monks haunting an old malt kiln. Before today's urban noise, bells ringing out to summon the faithful to prayer or sounding curfew would have been far more noticeable. No wonder names like Bell, Old Bell, Six Bells and Eight Bells are so often seen.

The Bucket of Blood

There is also a pub called the Bucket of Blood in Cornwall.  Now the only pub in England with the name, the Bucket of Blood refers to an episode some 200 years ago when the landlord went outside to draw water from the well. Pulling up the pail, he found the water to be bright red, as a corpse has been thrown down the shaft. It is claimed to have been a revenue officer who was investigating smuggling activity, though the truth will never be known. The famous incident is featured on the pub sign, which creaks menacingly on its pole beside the small, whitewashed cottage.  The pub looks much the same as it has for centuries; inside, the bar-room is low-ceilinged and is cosy. Now there's a pub to have a drink at Halloween say Will and Guy.

The Bell Inn

One room at this pub at Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, UK, is said to be haunted by a young girl with black hair that has been known to suddenly whip the bedclothes from people staying in her room. There could also be the ghost of an old man who knocks on the bedroom doors. The Bell Inn has a 300-year-old history.

The Leaky Cauldron and Harry Potter

The Leaky Cauldron is a pub and inn for wizards, located on the Muggle street of Charing Cross Road in London, offering food, drinks and rooms to rent. It was founded by Daisy Dodderidge (1467-1555) in 1500 "to serve as a gateway between the non-wizarding world and Diagon Alley." The current barman and innkeeper is a wizard named Tom. On the main floor, the inn has a bar, several private parlour rooms, and a large dining room. On the upper floors, there are a number of rooms available; Harry has stayed in Room 11 which has a talking mirror and windows that allow him to look out onto Charing Cross Road. People often stay at The Leaky Cauldron when they come up to London on shopping trips. The pub serves as a way of entering into Diagon Alley from the Muggle world for Muggle-borns and their parents (both of whom, until the first letter from Hogwarts, have no magical knowledge or means of entering). The rear of The Leaky Cauldron opens onto a chilly little courtyard where a brick (found by counting three up and two across) is tapped three times. JJK Rowling has revealed that Hannah Abbott becomes the landlady of the Leaky Cauldron, and lives above the pub with her husband Neville Longbottom, when he is not teaching Herbology at Hogwarts.

Halloween Cocktails to Wet Your Palate

The Dracula Cocktail

Will and Guy have selected this cocktail from an old 'Bar Guide' found on our office bookshelves. It is not recommended for minors but only for adult ghouls and ghosties; witches and warlocks. Will, of course, is a warlock as he was born on Halloween. 2 oz white rum ½ tsp grenadine 1 oz lemon juice 4 oz cranberry cocktail couple dashes Angostura bitters Shake well with ice, pour into a tall glass. Add more ice if necessary.

Will and Guy's Halloween Punch

This blood-red punch is perfect for a Halloween party. We suggest that for an adults' version add some gin or vodka. Ingredients

• 500ml/18fl oz cranberry juice
• 1.5 litres/2½ pints lemonade
• 3 limes, juice only
• A large handful gummy worms

Preparation method

1. Pour all of the ingredients into a large glass bowl and mix until well combined.
2. Drape the gummy worms.

More Funny Drinks at Halloween

Goblin Ghoulade

This is so easy to make and we like especially the tart cranberry juice and sweet black raspberry liqueur can make any cocktail look like blood. For some added effect, an "eyeball" made of radish and blueberry is added on top, warning visitors of what can happen to them if they leave your party early. Ingredients 1 oz. Vodka 1 oz. Black raspberry liqueur. The French make liqueurs using 'mure', blackberry which we favour. 1 oz. Lime juice 1 oz. Cranberry juice 1 Radish 1 Blueberry Preparation: Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain drink into a martini glass. To create the eyeballs, peel 1 radish per glass and leave some red skin to form veins. Hollow out center of radish and place a small blueberry to form the eye. Serve eyeball floating or on a drink skewer.

A Blue Satan

Guy thinks this is possibly the simplest cocktail of all to make: 1 ½ oz gin ½ oz blue curacao 1 oz lemon juice Add tonic or soda to taste Shake with ice and serve chilled and up in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a floating lemon or orange slice.

See our funny Halloween pictures »

Footnote: Please send us your funny Halloween drinks.