“Spooky Cocktails” is a delightfully eerie collection that’s perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of magic—and maybe a little mischief—to their drink menu. Clair McLafferty delivers over a hundred creative recipes that balance festive flair with approachable instructions. From potions inspired by classic horror to whimsical twists on familiar favorites, each drink is thoughtfully crafted and often paired with fun presentation ideas that make them party-ready.

The book’s design and photography are a treat in themselves, offering plenty of visual inspiration. The ingredient lists are mostly easy to source, though a few recipes call for specialty items that may require some hunting down. While beginners can certainly enjoy these recipes, seasoned mixologists will especially appreciate the unique flavor combinations and creative garnishes.

Overall, it’s a spooky-chic addition to any home bar—ideal for Halloween parties, themed gatherings, or anyone who just likes their drinks with a dash of drama.

If it had just a bit more substitution guidance for rare ingredients, this might be a perfect 5-star. Still, it’s a thrilling and highly enjoyable cocktail guide worth raising a glass to. 🍸🦇

I was really excited to take a look at this one. It’s clear that a lot of thought and care has gone into the concept, but it fell a little flat for me.

There are a lot of unique ingredients included in the cocktails, and it feels like there could stand to be more sourcing information. I loved that they included the safety info, and was surprised to see it. It’s something that I think makes this book stand out, because most are based just on the look of everything.

I liked that there were alcohol free options, and would love to see more of that moving forward.

Positives aside, the photos are just ok. They feel pretty basic, and a little on the low-end as far as set-ups go. I think we’re all so used to the wild production value of blogs and social media content now, that simpler sets like this feel a bit lackluster.

That said, it’s a pretty decent book overall. I don’t think it’ll make any top lists, but it does feel at least on-par with the standards in what it has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy to review honestly.

This book is basically Halloween in a glass, and I am so here for it. Spooky Cocktails doesn’t just give you drink recipes—it gives you full-on party vibes. We’re talking bubbling cauldrons, creepy garnishes, and drinks with names that sound like they belong in a Tim Burton movie. (Black Magic Margarita, anyone?)

What I love most is that it’s not pretentious. You don’t have to be a mixology wizard to make these—most recipes are simple enough to whip up between answering the door for trick-or-treaters. But they still look and taste impressive, so you get maximum “wow” factor with minimal stress.

Also, the pictures? Gorgeous. Like, “I need to host a themed party right now” kind of gorgeous. This is the kind of book that makes you want to buy dry ice, plastic spiders, and five bottles of rum “just in case.”

In short—if you like cocktails, Halloween, or just making your friends suspicious of what’s in their glass, you need this on your shelf. It’s a little bit spooky, a little bit fancy, and a whole lot of fun.

Gives a warning about how mixology is closer to baking than cooking. It really helped me wrap my brain around making drinks. It gives ways to fix problems along with fun recipes. The book was laid out beautifully and the names were great.

5 stars

Spooky Cocktails focuses on 100+ drinks that will put you into the spooky spirit.

The Sections are
party with the spirits
notes on potion making
mixing for a crowd
combatting dark wizardry
scare-free drinking
setting the scenes
ghost tours
raising hell
rated R
creature feature
"boo"ze-free drinks
winter campfire tales

Each recipe has a drink blurb, ingredients, directions, and any other tips. The photographs of the drinks are very meticulous and have great detail. The drink blurbs were great is providing the spooky and fun reasoning behind the drinks. The drinks range from classics like Bloody Mary to more unique drinks like Ursula which is a fusion of chocolate and lavender.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: Spooky Cocktails by Clair McLafferty
Thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for the advanced reader copy!

This book is a ghoulish delight. With easy-to-follow instructions and fab imagery, Spooky Cocktails is a great resource for Halloween entertaining—or anytime you want a creepy twist on your favorite drinks.

It features a fun mix of new and classic cocktails, all with a Halloween spin. I’m especially intrigued by the popcorn-washed rum—definitely a standout concept I can’t wait to try.

Perfect for your Halloween get togethers or even just any party.
This recipe book is so creative. It has over 100 different drinks and the creative ways you can serve them. Each recipe has a great description to explain what to expect from your drink. The directions and ingredients
are so easy to follow and to understand even for a novice like me. The photography is stunning and makes me want to try them all. The author also includes those "Booze free” drinks so that you truly have something for everyone. She offers advice for how to fix things when drinks don't turn out like we wanted. I sure found my favorites like the several drinks featuring pumpkin flavors, the Carajillo, and the coffee inspired treats. All perfect for me to celebrate Fall. You're sure to find your favorites too.
Jump in, get creative & have some spooktackular fun.

This is a fantastic cocktail book! Especially if you are into the spooky!
First of all, this is a great recipe book. There is a short description of the drink, but not too long that you get bored. The ingredients are listed clearly, instructions are easy to follow, and any additional information is on the page. Each drink has gorgeous photos, and if there are alternate version of the drinks listed in the instructions, there are pictures of that as well. There are also several booze free cocktails. I also give big props for the author making sure that the drink maker ensures that any drinker knows what drinks have grapefruit, since it counteracts so many medications!
As for the spooky? This is one of the greatest spooky food/drink book aesthetics I've seen. The Instructions and pictures are color-coded, and the colors change from page to page with spooky emblems on the pages. The pictures of the drinks have great set dressing, not depending on just the drinks to be the star of the picture. The author even spookies up winter drinks, showing that Halloween is forever.
Every Halloween lover who makes cocktails needs this!

I enjoyed a new spooky twist on some classic cocktails. And I learned a few new ones. I also liked how multiple cocktails showed variations using different liquors. Everything was photographed beautifully and looked very cool. I can't wait to try making some of these at Halloween

I am not really a drinker but I have written down some of these
recipes so I can make them later.

I want to try a bunch and they all look so darn yummy!
Will try when the season is right!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7757874024

Excellent book full of new and old recipes wine which where ones I hadn’t heard of !

Definitely fun for all ages and people who drink , don’t and maybe want to experiment .

Really colourful and fun book even just a talking piece for a coffee table or bookshelf.

Would recommend for anyone who wants to make some fun cocktails for Halloween or even summer as they are interchangeable.

Lots of interesting facts in texture , units and ingredients.

A little history lesson tied up in a cute book 📕

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is a great starting place for anyone looking to make cocktails- spooky or not.

Spooky cocktails is a fun addition to a cocktail lover's collection who is also a spooky / horror fan. The artwork is really fun, the cocktail photos are well taken, and all the ingredients are reasonable and easy to assemble. I loved the introduction to each drink, as each introduction paired perfectly well with each beverage by calling back to movie or book references. I also loved the addition to 'boo'-ze free drinks, which still shows you can make fun holiday themed drink for those who don't drink.

My favorite cocktails include Arsenic and Old Lace (but to be fair it's one of my favourite movies), Painkiller and special mention to Gochujang Caramel, which I will now eat directly with a spoon. I also liked that they included the recipe for simple and candied lemon wheels because while neither is not hard to make, its nice to have it included so all recipes are in the same book.

I am a huge horror and halloween girlie so this book was right up my alley.

Thank you to Clair McLafferty, NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely love the layout and imagery of this book. I was going through the recipes and showed a few to my partner and we agreed that it would be one that we would use as not just a recipe book but also as decoration because of the cover. As I went through the book, I was pleased to see that most syrups also had a mini-recipe included which means less flipping back and forth. It would be nice if there were serving notices for some of the larger drinks, but that's my only gripe. Otherwise, this is a book that I will definitely be using come spooky season (which is most of the year).

Publishing date: 08.07.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

You get exactly what it says on the tin for this book. Spooky cocktails. Perfect for a Halloween party.

To be a little more precise, you get:
- Recipes for the cocktails
- History surrounding them
- Different variants of the same drink¨
- Pictures for each drink

I thought this was a great little book, and it tempted me to buy a copy to keep for my eventual Halloween party (will never happen, who am I kidding). If you, like me, enjoy a pretty little cocktail more than most other alcoholic beverages this is definitely for you. And if you plan a Halloween party? Get this book asap.

Giving this 4 stars, I enjoyed it lots.

Spooky Cocktails was such a fun little surprise. I picked this up looking for seasonal cocktail inspiration, and it completely delivered. Clair McLafferty puts together a playful and well-curated collection of Halloween-themed drinks that feel both approachable and elevated. Whether you're hosting a costume party or just want something moody to sip while watching scary movies, this book has you covered.

The aesthetic is on point. Each cocktail has a clever name, and the photos are stunning. I loved flipping through and bookmarking the ones I want to try next. The book is organized by theme — think potions, haunted house, vampire vibes — and it made it easy to pick a drink based on the mood I wanted to set. Some of my favorites were "Corpse Reviver #2," "Midnight Margarita," and "Blood Moon Punch." They were flavorful and fun without feeling too gimmicky.

The recipes themselves are easy to follow, and I appreciated the balance between classic cocktails with a twist and more original creations. Some use ingredients you probably already have, while others might require a quick trip to the liquor store. It felt accessible even if you're not a pro bartender.

The only reason it’s not a five-star read for me is that I wish there had been a bit more commentary or background about the drinks. A few pages with party tips, serving suggestions, or even spooky playlists would’ve taken it to the next level. But as a visual, seasonal cocktail guide, this absolutely nails what it sets out to do.

If you love themed gatherings, seasonal drinks, or just want to add a little magic to your mixology, Spooky Cocktails is a total treat.

Really good advice all around and fun, Halloween-inspired recipes. I will definitely be trying these out!

Spooky, creepy, and perfect cocktails to add fear to your menu! I loved the dark images and bubbling, smoking, and colorful drinks. This one is definitely going into my Halloween cocktail party rotation.

I received this cocktail recipe book as an ARC read through NetGalley
I really enjoyed all the options provided, and the unique recipes! The recipes were perfectly themed. I enjoyed the pictures provided. The instructions were easy to follow. I also enjoyed the page on how to fix cocktails if they did not turn out how you expected. I’d never heard of any of those options, and as someone who has certainly messed up a cocktail or two, I found them very helpful!

I loved this quirky cocktail recipe book so much! I loved the graphics and the beautiful coloured pictures as well as the wonderful recipes. Definitely something to consider if you’re having a Halloween themed party or celebration! I think this would be a great book for behind any bar.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.