Halloween cocktails, drinks to try in Delaware, at home

Halloween is still just over a month away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start planning this year’s Halloween party.

Just in time for the spooky season, these Halloween cocktails are unique ways to get into the spirit. If Sober October is more your speed, it’s even easier to make these into equally refreshing alcohol-free beverages.

Delaware is also home to plenty of cocktail bars and breweries that serve fall-inspired drinks.

Here are some recipes to try at home and some Halloween-inspired brews to look for in Delaware.

DIY Recipes

Here are some Halloween and fall-inspired cocktail recipes to test out this year. There are also modifications to make the drinks friendly for those under 21 or sober party guests.

Pumpkin fizz cocktail

This versatile drink is equally seasonal and easy to make, combining the signature flavors of fall to create a boozy (or orange juice-y) sip.

What you need:

1. Honey
2. Brown sugar
3. Pumpkin puree
4. Lemon juice
5. Bourbon
6. Ginger beer
7. Lemon twist

Start by creating a honey and brown sugar rim on your glass. Next, just combine the pumpkin puree, lemon juice, bourbon and ginger beer into the glass and top with a lemon twist. For a sober beverage, you can swap out the bourbon for orange juice or ginger ale.

Halloween Jell-O shots

If you have some time on your hands and are looking to impress your party guests, these Halloween-inspired Jell-O shots are the perfect experimental option. Layered with Halloween colors and infused with a vodka of your choice (or without).

What you need:

1. Gelatin packets
2. Grape, peach and melon Jell-O
3. Vodka
4. Sweetened condensed milk

Dissolve the gelatin packets in a saucepan on low heat while you prepare the grape, peach and melon Jell-O separately and add some vodka to each mixture if you choose. For the white layer, add a cup of gelatin mixture to sweetened condensed milk and set that aside. Next, stir a half-cup of the gelatin mixture into each of the colored Jell-O vodka mixtures.

After your preparation is done, add one teaspoon of the colored Jell-O to each cup in a chilled mini muffin pan. Next, place the pan in the freezer for about three minutes until the mixture is set. After that, remove the pan and add one teaspoon of the sweetened condensed milk and place it back in the freezer for another three minutes. Continue this process until all of your colors and mixutres have been used and then place back in the freezer until they set.

Witches Brew Punch

This spooky looking punch is perfect for a family-friendly Halloween gathering, or an easy-to-spike brew that adults can enjoy while the kids go trick-or-treating.

What you need:

1. 1 quart of lime sherbet
2. 1 liter of lemon-lime soda
3. 2.5 cups of pineapple juice

All you’ll need to do for this recipe is measure out your ingredients and combine them into a well-sized punch bowl. Start with scooping the sherbet, and then pour the soda and pineapple juice over top. If you’re looking to get the party started, add a liquor of your choice and mix well!

Apple whiskey spice cocktail (or mocktail)

Celebrate fall and Halloween with a cocktail that blends the sweet and smoky aspects of fall.

What you need:

1. 4 oz. of apple cider
2. 1 oz. of whiskey (or non-alcoholic whiskey)
3. ½ oz. of ginger syrup
4. Apple slices and cinnamon sticks to garnish
5. Cocktail shaker

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and pour in your apple cider, whiskey and ginger syrup. Next, shake the mixture for around 10 to 15 seconds and strain into a glass with ice cubes. Finally, garnish the cocktail with an orange slice or cinnamon stick.

Delaware's fall brews

Big Oyster Brewery

1007 Kings Highway, Lewes and 6152 South Rehoboth Blvd., Milford ; www.bigoysterbrewery.com

For the downstate drinkers, Big Oyster Brewery is no secret venue. This year, the brewery opened up its second location in Milford . which joined its Lewes location.

Big Oyster’s signature Shuckin’ Pumpkin beer is a perfect brew for fall lovers. Described as a “taste of fall”, the 5.5% ABV beer contains notes of spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg with pronounced flavors of caramel and dark fruit notes.

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Dogfish Head

316 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach; www.dogfish.com

Dogfish Head’s iconic Punkin Ale is back in stores for the 30 ^th consecutive year. The brew is a full-bodies brown ale with tastes of pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon. It’s available on draft and in six-packs in stores.

Available for a limited time, Dogfish Head is also selling its Punkin Liquer . The 375-ml bottles begin as Punkin Ale which is distilled and aged in rum barrels to infuse notes of oak and molasses. It’s then finished with different spices as well as ginger and vanilla.

The brewery and distillery is also selling a Fall Variety Pack, which includes a 12-pack of four different beers including the 60 Minute IPA, SeaQuench Ale, Blue Hen Pilsner and the new Tasty Traveler Jasmine Rice Lager. The Tasty Traveler is made with jasmine rice, lemongrass, wildflower honey and makrut lime leaf for a taste that is light, citrusy and crisp.

EasySpeak Spirits

586 Milford Harrington Highway, Milford; www.easyspeakspirits.com

EasySpeak Spirits creates 14 cocktails and 19 spirits in house. The Milford distillery also serves bar snacks, quesadillas, sandwiches and entrées. There are plenty of specialty cocktails served at the bar that will satisfy your fall cravings, but for an extra kick, check out the Apple Cider Moscow Mule.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com . Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety .

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Halloween cocktails, drinks to try in Delaware, at home