This was a great cookbook. Very easy-to-follow recipes. I can't wait to try these recipes. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This book is Halloween party fuel in hardcover. "Spooky Cocktails" isn’t just a collection of themed drinks... it’s a blood-spattered invitation to channel your inner mixologist mid-slasher flick. It’s lush, dramatic, a little extra, and exactly the kind of festive chaos that makes me want to dig out my fog machine and start haunting the punch bowl.

You get the classics like Moscow Mules, Bloody Marys, and Old Fashioneds, but they’re dressed for the occasion. Ghoulish names, eerie garnishes, and enough dry ice to summon a spirit. But then McLafferty goes full graveyard shift with it. Port in an Old Fashioned. Popcorn-washed rum (yes, that’s a real technique) adds movie-night chaos in a glass. A Ramos Gin Fizz that’s practically a séance in a glass. It’s the kind of creative flair that makes you cackle while you stir.

And look, I expected the cocktails to be fun. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d appreciate the practical witchcraft. There are mixing tips. Ingredient notes. Batch prep guides for large crowds. Even a whole section on how to fix a drink if it’s too sour or too sweet. It’s got the bones of a seriously good bartender guide wrapped in a skeleton costume.

Visually, this thing is stunning. Every page is a spooky season inspiration. Skull graphics. Pumpkin accents. Glassware that feels like a coven curated it on Etsy. And every recipe gets its own full-color photo that dares you to try it. The aesthetic alone deserves a spot on your Halloween bar cart all year.

There’s a mocktail section too, and it’s not just an afterthought. These aren’t sad juice boxes in fishnets. They’re glam, gothic sips with as much drama as the cocktails. Non-drinkers and sober babes, you are welcome here.

If I had one tiny bone to pick... some of the drinks are more classic than creepy. Like, yes, I love a Bloody Mary, but give her a name like Witch’s Brunch Bloodbath and let her live her best monster movie life. That said, the themed sections (shoutout to Haunted Cities and Creature Features) absolutely bring the vibe.

This one’s an easy 4.5 stars, thanks to the potion-level creativity, moody visuals, and sheer fun of it all. McLafferty didn’t just write a recipe book... she conjured a party spellbook, complete with garnishes that could summon the spookiest crew with a single sip.

Thanks to Cider Mill Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go make a Midnight Margarita"and cue up "Practical Magic."

I loved this for spooky season. So many get ideas for cocktails and pictures to get great ideas. I would love to have a hard copy to keep in my kitchen. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
4 star

Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Spooky Cocktails is a fun and creative take on classic (and not so classic) cocktails for Halloween celebrations. Some offerings are traditional cocktails like a Moscow mule, sangria or dark n stormy. I was pleasantly surprised with the fun options a lot of recipes had a unique twist to an old standby, like adding port and rum to an old fashioned or popcorn washed rum. Each option has an introduction, usually some history, an ingredient list with easy to follow instructions. Most included a note or variation at the bottom. McLafferty even included a non alcoholic section. My favorite part is that each drink includes a spooky photo, the pictures are fun and beautifully done. I highly recommend this for at home cocktail enthusiasts beyond just those looking to spice up their next spooky party.

Lots of good advice for beginners and many many classic recipes for all the occasions. And you can make them all year round !

Spooky themed drinks are my go to! There are so many good ones in this book, my personal favorites are the Black Magic Margarita and Bloody Fang Sangria. The recipes are easy to follow and the images are to die for!

I think this is a great cocktail book for everyday use, even though the aim is to be spooky. The only truly spooky thing about these drinks are their names. Each recipe has a picture, which I love, and they look easy to follow along with. I also really appreciated the opening pieces of general mixing tips, like how to adjust sweetness or the best ways to make drinks for large crowds.

As a lover of all things spooky, this themed selection of drinks is something I would buy from the cover/title alone.
The author has combined classic cocktail recipes with little bits of horror lore and history lessons to create an informative guidebook.

I’m always looking for new and creative ways to present and make my cocktails, and this book definitely didn’t disappoint.

I appreciate the range of cocktails represented throughout and the thought put into each and every one including presentation.

I’ll definitely be trying a few of these on my future girls nights

Spooky season can be all-year-round with Spooky Cocktails. The graphic design leans into the spooky theme, with lots of black and orange. Each recipe page features skulls in the corners and a tree and jack-o-lanterns in the background, with fonts evoking B-horror movies. Leans into the cheese.

This cocktail book is most useful if you like gin cocktails - there are 20 gin-based cocktails, versus 5-10 for most other spirits. That said, there is a diversity of spirits represented, something for everyone. Most recipes also list variations, giving you lots of options to customize the drink to fit your preference. There are also interesting, complex non-alcoholic drink recipes. Although I do drink, I'm honestly most excited to try some of the non-alcoholic drink recipes.

I LOVE that this book has a comprehensive index, not a given with cocktail books. I also appreciate the author's decision to exclude activated charcoal and dry ice. They're ubiquitous in "spooky" cocktails and just not worth it.

I'm full in the spirit of summer-ween with this fun and spooky cocktail book.

First off I want to say that the pictures, images and graphics in the book alone are incredible! Not only do they highlight the drinks and make my mouth water but create a yearning for fall vibes. Is it too early to start decorating my house?

The recipes themselves are simple and easy to follow. They are laid out well on the page with stunning photos of what you will be making. I appreciate the attention to detail in highlighting specific glassware to really showcase the drink.
Some of the drinks even have options for different ways to serve, such as the midnight margaritas has two variants for frozen and regular.

I love the different categories the drinks fall into, such as haunted cities, to horror movie films notable characters and creature features. The mocktail section is really appreciated as well

I can't wait to try them all as we head into spooky season. So far my favorite might be the Ramos Gin Fizz or from the mocktails section, the nightmare tonic. so many fun drinks and a little something for everyone no matter what your flavor is.

I also can't thank Clair McLafferty enough for providing the conversion table in the back of the book!! Life changing!

Thank you so much to netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

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!