4 Festive fall cocktails

You can’t have a Halloween party without a few cocktails! Get into the spirit with these seasonal fall beverages from Effen Vodka and Basil Hayden’s Bourbon.

Basil Hayden’s bloody delight cocktail

Created by Charles Joly, Chicago

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
• 3/4 parts ginger liqueur
• 3/4 parts fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 part agave nectar
• 1/2 part tart cherry concentrate
• Ice
• Orange zest

Directions:

1. Drizzle cherry concentrate around the inside of a martini glass, letting it slowly drip down the sides.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice.
3. Strain into the cherry concentrate-lined glass, squeeze orange zest oil on top of cocktail and garnish with orange zest.

Effen Vodka spiced pumpkin cocktail

Created by David Nepove — National President, U.S. Bartender’s Guild

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 parts Effen Vodka
• 2 parts pumpkin mix (see recipe below)
• 3/4 parts pasteurized egg white
• Ice

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker over ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into a cocktail glass.
2. Garnish with whipped cream, grated vanilla and nutmeg, if desired.

Pumpkin mix

Ingredients:

• 8 parts canned pumpkin
• 8 parts freshly pressed apple juice
• 4 tablespoons pumpkin spice
• 8 parts spiced syrup (see recipe below)

Directions: 

1. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix together.

Spiced syrup

Ingredients:

• 8 parts water
• 8 parts white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 star anise
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or 5 whole allspice pods

Directions: 

1. Combine all ingredients, except sugar, in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off heat, add sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool.
2. Strain and refrigerate. Spiced syrup will last up to 2 weeks.

Basil Hayden’s spooky pumpkin sour cocktail

Created by Joaquín Simó, New York City

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
• 1/2 part fresh orange juice
• 1/2 part lemon juice
• 1/2 part maple syrup
• 1 heaping bar spoon canned pumpkin puree
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 part allspice dram
• Ice
• 3-4 pieces candy corn

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
2. Garnish with skewered candy corn.

Effen Vodka pumpkin patch fizz cocktail

Created by David Nepove — National President, U.S. Bartender’s Guild

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Effen Vodka
• 1 part lemon juice
• 1 part cinnamon syrup
• 2 parts club soda
• Ice
• Orange wedge

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients, except soda, to a cocktail shaker over ice and shake. Strain into a tall glass with ice.
2. Top with club soda and garnish with orange wedge.

More festive cocktails

DIY pumpkin keg
3 Candy-infused cocktails
Bottles of “boos”