Most adults-only parties offer a selection of alcoholic beverages, and there are recipes in abundance for this type of drink – but you’ll need some libations for the teetotalers, too. Alcohol can be expensive, so if it’s not in your budget to supply for the whole party, be sure to specify on the invitations that guests should bring their own (and/or something to share). If you will be buying alcohol yourself, consider going to a wholesale store such as Costco or Sam’s Club; liquor at those places is often much cheaper. Make sure that there are plenty of designated drivers on hand!
Garnish Bloody Marys with olive "eyeballs."
Get creative with your ice! Freeze plastic bugs into ice cubes, or add red food coloring to them. For your punch bowl, pour a different-colored punch or juice into a latex glove and freeze; when it’s frozen, gently remove the glove and float the frozen “hand” in your bowl.
Jell-O shots are easy, popular party fare. The darker colors, such as black cherry or grape, are perfect in keeping with the theme – and you can garnish each one with a gummy worm as it sets. Be sure you have lots of fridge space!
From DrinkOfTheWeek.com comes the perfect martini for your Halloween bash – the Jack o’Tini:
2 oz. Vodka - chilled
1/4 oz. Bols Pumpkin Smash Liqueur
1 candy corn
Place a single candy corn at the bottom of a chilled cocktail glass. Combine vodka and liqueur in a shaker with ice, shake well, and strain into the glass.
An easy version of traditional hot cider, this recipe can be made with or without alcohol (this is the “spiked” version, and serves twelve people):