I am all about the Halloween and spooky season inspired cook books. I don't drink much anymore but honestly I can't wait for the spooky season to try a couple of these!

Even if I don't ever try these out I really enjoyed looking at the recipes, some of them are really unique! And honestly the presentation and photos of many of them are simply stunning!

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun recipe book! This will be so great for spooky season and I can’t wait to try some of these recipes. I loved how the page colors aligned with the drinks.

I absolutely loved diving into this guide of devilishly delicious drinks—it’s a total mixologist’s dream come true. Whether you’re a complete newbie to spooky libations or you already consider yourself a master bartender, the book walks you step-by-step through easy-to-follow recipes that will instantly turn any happy hour into full-blown witching hour. You’ll find themed concoctions like The Witch’s Brew, Black Magic Margarita, Bloody Fang Sangria, Poison Apple Cider, and Crypt Keeper Cooler, each designed to delight your taste buds and send shivers down your spine. The instructions are laid out so clearly that even if you’ve never muddled a mint leaf before, you’ll be whipping up fang-worthy drinks in no time.

Inside you’ll discover over 100 enchanting potions, tonics, tinctures, and mixes that cater to every palate—from sweet and fruity to dark and mysterious. The spine-chilling garnishes (think gummy worms, smoking dry-ice cauldrons, and more) elevate each drink from “cool” to “completely show-stopping,” and the full-color photography is so spooky-beautiful that it practically dares you not to try making one at home. Spooky Cocktails isn’t just for Halloween or horror buffs (though it makes an epic gift for them); it’s perfect all year round whenever you want to dust off the cauldron, cue up a scary-movie marathon, and impress friends with your eerie-elegant creations.

I love Halloween, and this spooky cocktails book would be a great addition to my Halloween bar cart. Even if you don't drink alcohol, there is a section of "boo"ze-free drinks! The introduction really sets the scene. Filled with information from making larger batches, how to remedy a too sour drink, etc, to details about some ingredients that could be harmful. And each cocktail recipe is accompanied by atmospheric photos.

Spooky Cocktails by Claire McLafferty is perfect for your Halloween parties. The pictures and the details help you to make the perfect classic cocktails with spooky names. It also adds a little trivia to each drink and explains what some of the ingredients are if you don't already know. It's a perfect gift for your Halloween obsessed friends.

I love Halloween and this book is perfect inspiration for my themed cocktails for my next halloween party.
I really enjoyed the variety of cocktails in the book with over 100 available. There were a lot of the classic cocktails which had been made spooky by the things around it. This let down the book a tiny bit as I would have loved some spooky alternative names for them. But the non-classic cocktails in the book had fun names or descriptions. The picture of all the cocktails were perfect and had really contributed to the theme. I really enjoyed that there was also a large variety of alcohol free cocktails.

Spooky Cocktails by Clair McLafferty is a bewitching masterpiece that transforms happy hour into a thrilling witching hour. As someone who once trembled at the thought of Halloween as a shy child, I’ve grown to adore the spooky season, and this book has elevated my love for it to new heights. With over 100 enchanting recipes, this cocktail compendium is a must-have for anyone looking to add a dash of frightful fun to their mixology adventures.

The book is a visual and culinary delight, brimming with creative concoctions like the Witch’s Brew, Black Magic Margarita, Bloody Fang Sangria, Poison Apple Cider, and Crypt Keeper Cooler. Each recipe is thoughtfully crafted, easy to follow, and caters to both novice mixologists and seasoned bartenders. The diversity of drinks is astounding—many of which I’d never encountered before—and every one sounds wickedly delicious and intriguing. From potions to tonics, there’s something for every palate, whether you’re hosting a haunted gathering or sipping solo during a horror movie marathon.

What sets this book apart is its attention to detail. The full-color photography is nothing short of spellbinding, showcasing each drink with eerie elegance. The suggested garnishes, like gummy worms and smoking dry ice cauldrons, add a playful yet macabre flair that’s sure to impress guests. The book’s aesthetic is so captivating that it doubles as a stunning coffee table piece, perfect for year-round display, not just Halloween.

As a seasoned reviewer of cocktail books, including Halloween-specific ones, I can confidently say Spooky Cocktails is unparalleled. Its clever themes, innovative recipes, and gorgeous presentation make it the best in its class. Whether you’re a Halloween enthusiast or simply love a good cocktail, this book will inspire you to dust off your cauldron and shake up something wickedly delightful. Highly recommended for ghouls and mixologists alike—this is one potion you’ll want to sip again and again!

Many thanks to NetGalley. Clair McLafferty, and Cider Mill Press for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was given an advance read for a fair and honest review. OMG, this cocktail cookbook is great. The images of each drink were the best part, besides the names of the drinks. Many of the recipes can be converted to alcohol free. The punchlines in the description of the drinks were good, one could say punny. The author sets the mood, whether for a Halloween party or just a spooky feeling at any time; this book has got your drink. The author explains the ingredients and gives directions. Perfect for both beginners and pros. Highly recommend.

This was a fun little cocktail book with a great concept, but it didn’t fully deliver on the spooky vibes I was hoping for.
Some of the drinks had fun horror-themed names or blurbs, which I appreciated as a horror fan, but a lot of the recipes were just classics with a spooky backdrop.
Still, there’s a solid variety here and some creative touches. I did appreciate the mixing tips at the beginning and the conversion chart at the end. Probably more of a cute gift or party inspo book than something I’d reach for regularly, but I’d still try a few!

Spooky season never ends for me, so this book will come in handy year round!

There’s an amazing selection of receipes, there’s definitely something for everyone, even those who don’t drink alcohol have been included. Each drink has a quirky name, the pictures are fun and the instructions are clear. My favourite section so far is the ‘Winter Campfire Tales!’ I also appreciated the tips at the beginning to help with getting started.

This is done beautifully. The photographer and set designer did a really great job!
The names of the cocktails sound properly creepy and the pictures really add to it.

I LOVE Halloween so this was a no brainer book for me! And the book did not disappoint! A lot of unique drinks that totally fits the theme! Great for a party or just because!

I received a copy of this book from Nagalli and the publisher and exchange for review.

Spooky Cocktails is a fun book with a lot of different cocktail recipes. However, the cocktails do not all seem to be related to Halloween or to be particularly spooky. So,elf them were spooky or had spooky background connections which was fun. I liked that the author had taken the time to write a little blurb or story about the cocktails. There were also a lot of good photos of most of them, though I wish they had all been labeled. I also liked learning new recipes for cocktails that I did not previously know and I look forward to making some of these cocktails in the future. Overall, this was an interesting book with good visual representations of the drinks, and I enjoyed the way the book was laid out.

As a huge Halloween fan, I seriously enjoyed this themed cocktail book. Even though I’m not usually much of a drinker, I loved reading it and I may even try some recipes in the future. I appreciate how this book literally has something for everyone, even an alcohol free section!

The styling of the photo spreads are so cute. Each tiny specific detail within the photographs are adorable and you can tell a ton of work went into the design of this book (the New York teddy bear with the laser beam on its forehead? Genius) Even if just reading to see pretty glasses and fancy drinks, this is a super fun book.

This book is super cute and absolutely packed with inspiration—perfect for spooky season and beyond! I loved the mix of familiar favorites and creative, unique concoctions. The little stories that accompany each drink add charm and atmosphere, and the photography is just stunning. Every page made me want to grab my shaker and start mixing. A must-have for cocktail lovers who enjoy a touch of the macabre!

Thank you NetGalley, Cider Mill Press, and Clair McLafferty for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a lover of all things spooky, this cocktail recipe book did not disappoint! The artwork and photograhy were well done and added so much to the layout! Also, these recipes look amazing! My spouse and I cannot wait to try them out.

The Midnight Margarita and Chpacabra will absolutely be made this spooky season! I cannot wait to test these recipes! The book is so cute too with small bits of spooky history!

Thanks to Netgallery and Cider Mill Press for giving me this ARC.

I was very impressed by this book, the recipes and the pictures were great as well as the tips and variations were insightful. Honestly will definitely try to make some of these as look and sound delicious.

This is one of the best themed cocktail books I've ever read- it's fun, festive, and fully of delicious drinks!

I have baked, cooked, and mixed just about everything in the kitchen, but cocktails were new to me! I was very surprised about how much went into a cocktail, but I was even more surprised about how much help is offered in SPOOKY COCKTAILS. I was immediately drawn to the "Combating Dark Wizardry" notes in the beginning about how to tweak a cocktail. I had no idea that this was possible, so I knew I was in for a fun book, but also one that would teach me a lot. It was also good to have the note about how certain ingredients can interact with different medications, because again- I had no idea!

The pictures are so much fun- it feels like a Halloween party. The colors are also vibrant- from the recipes, to the pictures of the cocktails, each recipe is really pretty to read.

The drink I made was my favorite every- a Bloody Mary. I appreciated the variations that were suggested and was reminded of the Michelada, which quickly became the second drink I made.

Each recipe has a little blurb at the beginning with a fun fact about that drink, whether it is an urban legend or classic horror movie. That little piece of trivia just made each recipe a delightful little read.

*Spooky Cocktails: 100+ Spirited and Wickedly Delicious Drinks* by Clair McLafferty is a visually stunning and delightfully festive collection of recipes perfect for Halloween or any eerie-themed gathering. The photography throughout the book is gorgeous, with strong spooky vibes and excellent art direction that brings each drink to life. I also appreciated the inclusion of alcohol-free options, making the book accessible to a wider audience. Each recipe comes with a creative introduction that helps set the scene, and many feature fun ideas for garnishes and presentation.

Themed chapters inspired by haunted American cities, horror films, and monsters add a playful and immersive touch. Most of the drink recipes are imaginative and sound delicious, but a few standard inclusions like the Moscow Mule and Bloody Mary felt a bit too familiar and out of place in such a creatively themed collection. One notable drawback is the design choice of using white text on beige backgrounds on some pages, which makes the content hard to read. Still, the overall feel of the book is fun and inspiring. It made me want to stock up on ingredients and start mixing drinks for my next Halloween party or horror movie night. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Cider Hill Press.