Halloween is rapidly approaching this week and we would be remiss if we did not point out some drinks recipes for the discerning party host. Of course most party guests are primarily going to be concerned with the actual alcoholic beverages being available to them. They will be happy so long as the spirits abound, whether or not they look Halloween-ish. So if decorating the booze is not your style I wouldn't worry.

       However if it IS your style (and it is ours because honestly how often do you get an excuse to serve people things that look disgusting and expect them to be delighted by it and not revolted) then we have a few recipes we can recommend your way.

       Many of the recipes we found looking over this involve the use of black vodka which I had not heard of before this year though it has been around for at least 4 or so. Blavod is one example. I have not tasted it so I cannot tell you how it affects the taste of the drink, although I think it's safe to say that most people will be expecting something disgusting or insane if you actually use this in a cocktail so where's the harm in trying :)

Eyeball Martini

3 oz. Vodka or Gin

(Gin does make the true martini, but vodka is certainly allowed if its more to your liking)

Dash Dry Vermouth

Stuff 2 radishes with olives for the eyeballs after first shaving parts of the red skinned radish down.

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and then pour into a chilled martini glass that can also be decorated as you choose. Of the course the eyeballs alone are more than enough gross for one drink.

The Headless Horseman

This drink could really make any number of strange looking cocktails because it uses black vodka. So really almost anything you make with it will look Halloween-gross perfect. Again there is a debate about the difference of flavor in black vodka versus a clear, but if you are going for a strange looking brew it certainly beats food coloring alone!

2 oz black vodka

3 dashes of bitters

Ginger Ale to taste

Pour the vodka and bitters into a glass, fill with ice and then pour in ginger ale. The recipe suggests a blood orange garnish but by all means use whatever gross thing you like for your own!

Spooky Screwdriver

2 oz black vodka

3 oz no pulp orange juice

Pour orange juice over ice and then gently pour black vodka overtop to create the orange/black layered effect.  Make sure to include a stirrer to blend the two once it is time to drink Because otherwise the taste of the vodka might overwhelm your guests entirely.

The other drink in the image is called a Black widow and works the same way as the screwdriver except it uses Red Bull. I am not a huge fan of energy drinks and alcohol mixing but if you are then this might be the drink for you.

Check out these cocktails and thousands more  at Divine Dinner Party. Bottoms up on Halloween!