This Halloween, San Diego cocktail bars have outdone themselves, coming up with everything from to a boozy horchata—called, what else? Horrorchata—to a cocktail inspired by possessed Linda Blair’s projectile vomit in The Exorcist. So, without further a-BOO, here’s where to go for some boozy treats.
Blood of the Scorpion @ 619 Spirits’ Distillery & Tasting Room: Blood orange juice, grapefruit juice, 619 Scorpion Pepper Vodka
Grave Digger @ Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant: House-blend rum, muddled strawberries, pineapple juice, lime juice, orgeat, grenadine syrup, orange juice, activated charcoal rum float (available only on Halloween).
South Park’s Kindred just introduced a new cocktail menu and it’s perfect for Halloween — and for people whose wardrobes lean dark and monochrome. Good luck picking a fave:
- Horrorchata: Bourbon, brandy, biscotti liqueur (yum!), Forbidden Rice horchata, mole bitters
- Hallowed Orchard: 100 Proof Rye, smoked rum, sweet vermouth, Becherovka (a cinnamon-y spirit), baked apple bitters
- Dream Reaper: Reposado tequila, green pepper punch, lime, agave
- The Crystal Calls: Mystic rum blend, Green Chartreuse, honeydew-pineapple gomme, lime
On Halloween, Kindred hosts Night of the Attack of the Killer Astro-Zombies from Mars!, featuring three Zombie and Zombie-inspired cocktails
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Horror films were the inspiration for Campfire’s special seven-cocktail menu:
The Exorcist (1973): Gin, split pea, celery, lemon, salt
The Lost Boys (1987): Jamaican rum, genmaicha, toasted rice, walnut, Curaçao, lime
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988): Rye, sweet vermouth, fennel seed, basil, oregano, Peychaud’s bitters
The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Cognac, Kirschwasser (a dry cherry brandy), allspice, lemon, sage, fava beans, and a nice Chianti
Scream (1996): Aged rum, burnt popcorn, brown sugar, egg, smoked salt
Drag Me to Hell (2009): Apple Brandy, Muscat, Amontillado Sherry, golden raisin, lemon, nutmeg, rosemary (inspired by a very Sam Raimi scene featuring an eyeball baked into a harvest cake)
Get Out (2017): Gin, Earl Grey, Froot Loops, oat milk, lemon
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Mad Hatter grant grill spooky cocktails
Grant Grill’s Mad Hatter
Grant Grill continues its annual tradition with the Smashing Pumpkin martini, made with pumpkin- and star anise-infused 10 Cane Rum, Grand Marnier, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, saffron syrup, cardamom bitters, and fresh Meyer lemon. It’s served in a glass rimmed with spiced sugar and garnished with a wooden pumpkin ornament.
The Grant’s fall cocktail menu, available through the end of the month, is Halloween-appropriate, featuring cocktails inspired by the really-creepy-when-you-think-about-it Alice in Wonderland.
- Mad Hatter: El Dorado single barrel rum, vermouth, absinthe, lemon juice, apple, Darjeeling/Earl Gray tea syrup, and dehydrated lemon, served in a tea pot with an accompanying tea cup.
- Queen of Hearts: Cognac Meret VS, Cynar, St. Germain, oleo saccharum, Beaujolais Nouveau
- Alice: Nolet’s Gin, Cachaça, clarified lime juice, simple syrup
- Cheshire Cat: Redemption Rye, Crème de Cacao, orange/lemon juice, Kasteel Belgian ale, dehydrated dragon fruit wheel
- White Rabbit: Tito’s Vodka, Pavan (a delicious floral French liqueur), Calpico syrup, milk, melon radish garnish
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You & Yours Distilling Co. recently added a seasonal food menu to their offerings, so enjoy your cocktail with a side of Delicata Squash Rings, a take on onion rings, served with pomegranate molasses, feta, and pepitas.
Drunken Pumpkin: Y&Y’s Provisional Gin, pumpkin, orange, cinnamon tea, oatmeal stout foam
Black Magic: Y&Y Summer Citrus Vodka, blackberries, black tea, lemon, activated charcoal, rosemary, Topo Chico
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Buenos Noches at Curadero
Buenos Noches at Curadero
Buenos Noches @ Curadero: Dorda Double Chocolate liqueur, vanilla simple syrup, Fernet, and Bulleit bourbon, garnished with a white chocolate skull
Danse de la Mort @ Bleu Bohème: 10-year-old tawny port, sweet vermouth, lavender bitters, Amaretto di Sarrono, fresh lemon juice, lemon twist
Hello Gourd-geous @ BO-beau kitchen + cache in Hillcrest: Bar Manager Simon Canalez used a classic flip as inspiration for this pumpkin spice latte meets eggnog cocktail.
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San Diego Bars Serve Up Spooky Halloween Cocktails
Kindred’s Horrorchata made with a Forbidden Rice horchata | Photo by Arlene Ibarra
