3 Halloween Rum Cocktails to Raise Your Spirits

Halloween. The one night of the year when putting eyeballs in your drinks and challenging your mates to questionable decisions is actively encouraged.

Whether you’re throwing a full-blown Halloween party, having a few mates round or just looking for an excuse to get creative with your rum collection, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve put together two Halloween rum cocktails that look the part and taste even better, plus one seriously fiery challenge for anyone who reckons they can handle the heat.

So dust off your cocktail shaker, round up your crew and prepare to raise a few spirits.

1. The Skull Ripper 

Tropical rum meets a fiery little kick. What could possibly go wrong?

Don’t let the name put you off. The Skull Ripper is a deliciously tropical combination of coconut and pineapple rum, fresh lime and a hint of chilli, all dressed up for Halloween with a blood orange garnish and a spicy rim.

It’s basically a tropical holiday with a slightly sinister twist.

What you’ll need:

• 25ml Pirate’s Grog Toasted Coconut Rum

• 25ml Pirate’s Grog Pineapple Spiced Rum

• 15ml fresh lime juice

• 25ml coconut water

• ¼ tsp harissa paste or a little fresh chilli, to taste

• Lemonade to top

• Tajín seasoning for the rim

• Blood orange slice to garnish

How to make it:

1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it into Tajín seasoning.

2. Add the coconut rum, pineapple rum, lime juice, coconut water and a small amount of harissa or chilli to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

3. Give it a good shake until chilled.

4. Strain into your prepared glass over fresh ice.

5. Top with lemonade and garnish with a slice of blood orange and a little fresh chilli.

Make it extra spooky: Go big on the blood orange garnish. The deep red colour looks suitably sinister against the tropical cocktail. A little extra chilli on top and you’ve got yourself a drink worthy of its name.

Watch here: See how to make The Skull Ripper on Instagram.

2. The Black Pearl 

Every pirate needs a Black Pearl. Ours just happens to come with an eyeball floating in it.

Dark, fruity and a little bit dramatic, this Halloween rum cocktail combines our aged rum with Chambord, pomegranate juice and ginger beer for a deliciously rich, berry-packed drink.

Throw in a touch of edible shimmer and a homemade lychee eyeball garnish, and you’ve got a cocktail that looks like you’ve gone to considerably more effort than you actually have.

We won’t tell anyone.

What you’ll need:

• 25ml Pirate’s Grog Spiced Rum

• 25ml Chambord raspberry liqueur

• 75ml pomegranate juice

• Ginger beer to top

• A pinch of edible shimmer

• Lychee, blueberry and grenadine for the eyeball garnish

• Cocktail stick to secure the garnish
  

How to make it:

1. Prepare your glass with a dark-coloured rim if you’re feeling particularly theatrical.

2. Add the rum, Chambord and pomegranate juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

3. Shake until thoroughly chilled.

4. Strain into your prepared glass and top with ginger beer.

5. Add a pinch of edible shimmer and give it a gentle stir.

6. Finish with your homemade lychee eyeball garnish.

How to make the lychee eyeball garnish:

This is where things get a little gruesome. In the best possible way.

1. Take a peeled, pitted lychee (tinned lychees work perfectly) and pop a fresh blueberry into the hollow centre.

2. Secure the blueberry in place with a cocktail stick.

3. Drizzle a little red grenadine over the lychee, letting it run down the sides to create a suitably bloody effect. Raspberry syrup works too.

4. Balance your creation on the rim of your glass for the finishing touch.

And there you have it. A disturbingly realistic eyeball that takes about 30 seconds to make.

Make it extra spooky: Serve in a coupe glass with a dark rim and a little edible shimmer for an extra eerie effect.

Watch here: See how to make The Black Pearl on Instagram.

3. The REAPER Challenge 

Think you’re brave? Meet REAPER - The World’s Hottest Chilli Rum.

Forget apple bobbing. This is the Halloween party challenge your mates will actually remember.

Made with the infamous Carolina Reaper chilli, Pirate’s Grog REAPER is not your average bottle of rum. It’s a full-blown test of bravery, bottled.

You know that one mate who claims they can handle anything spicy? The one who orders the hottest curry on the menu and makes sure everyone knows about it?

Yeah. This one’s for them.

How to take on the REAPER Challenge:

1. Round up your bravest crew members.

2. Pour a shot of Pirate’s Grog REAPER (no more than 25ml per person).

3. Get everyone to take the challenge together.

4. See who can keep the best poker face when the heat kicks in.
   

For the full Halloween experience, line up the shots, get the cameras rolling and see who earns the ultimate bragging rights.

The question is, who’s all talk and who’s actually got what it takes?

Dare to take on REAPER? Discover Pirate’s Grog REAPER - The World’s Hottest Chilli Rum, and bring the heat to your Halloween party.

So, What’s Your Halloween Poison? 

Something tropical with a fiery twist? A dark and fruity cocktail complete with a floating eyeball? Or a face-off with the World’s Hottest Chilli Rum?

Whatever your Halloween plans, we’ve got the rum for the occasion.

Give these Halloween rum cocktails a go, tag us @piratesgrog in your creations and let us know which one gets your vote.

And if you’re brave enough to take on the REAPER Challenge, we’d very much like to see the evidence.

Happy Halloween, crew. Drink responsibly, and may the bravest pirate win.