One of my all-time favorite films is Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow. It is, of course, his rendition of Washington Irving’s 1820 novel, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Believe me when I tell you, there’s no better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with this boozy ginger-spiced bourbon Halloween cocktail inspired by the cold, dark, yet stunningly beautiful feel of the film.
so The Sleepy Hollow story goes…
As the story goes, Ichabod Crane, a New York City detective, is sent to the distant remote town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders…The local town legend tells of a ghostly headless horseman who rides in the night claiming heads for his grave. It is this horseman and his severing and collecting of heads that terrorizes this small town’s people…
Spooked yet? Let’s get into the good part…the drink!
Sleepy Hollow Halloween Cocktail Inspiration from My favorite horror movie
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The inspiration for this delicious spiced horror movie themed cocktail comes from the dark, bloody, and sometimes whimsical style of the film. However, I more specifically took my cue from the recurring red symbolism of the cardinal. I also drew some inspiration from the twisting, winding tree of the dead where Ichabod Crane would eventually unearth all the collected heads… A perfect muse for this easy, boozy, and delicious Halloween bourbon cocktail.
In the beginning of the film, Ichabod Crane releases his caged cardinal bird as he is getting ready to depart for his investigations at Sleepy Hollow. Later in the film, he presents Katrina Van Tassel with a cardinal and birdcage optical illusion toy.
mix this hauntingly good horror movie halloween cocktail inspired by the sleepy hollow film>>
For this easy Halloween bourbon cocktail, a little whiskey gets warmth from crushed ginger and a bit of cinnamon.
When mixed up, this easy Halloween cocktail boasts a toasty and fragrant medley that smells like fall. You’ll wanna keep this tasty little number on your list of yummy Halloween Horror movie cocktails or overall spooky cocktails to serve up this season!
Garnish this festive Halloween themed cocktail and serve up along with your favorite Halloween appetizers at the party table. Serve it up with spooky treats like these spooky spiced cookies, these scary spider brownie bites, or even these delicious pumpkin maple donuts to get the happy hauntings started!
in a cocktail shaker, crush some fresh ginger
Toss in 2 slices of fresh ginger and muddle until crushed.
add maple syrup to sweeten our Bourbon Whiskey Halloween Cocktail
Splash a little maple syrup along with a little pinch of cinnamon. For that extra flavorful fall taste, try using 100% pure maple syrup in your cocktail. Any of these would work quite well!
add bourbon to your Sleepy Hollow Halloween Cocktail
Splash in lemon juice and cranberry juice. Add in a splash of bourbon and fill the cocktail shaker the rest of the way with ice. Cover and shake vigorously until combined.
strain, garnish, and serve Sleepy Hollow Whiskey Halloween Drink
Double strain your cocktail into a coupe or martini glass. This basically means you can use a fine mesh strainer, as you pour, to catch all the little bits of ginger.
This creates a silky and super velvety finish for your deliciously haunted bourbon whiskey Halloween cocktail. All the more delicious!
If you’re looking to serve this fun craft Halloween cocktail in the fashionable victorian style of the Sleepy Hollow film, then serve in a dainty etched coupe glass. These Cole Porter Ritz Bar Coupe Style Cocktail Glasses make worthy vessels for a hauntingly delicious libation like this one.
How cool would this delicious cocktail look served up on this eerie dark raven blackbird Halloween theme table decor?!
Can you see it all coming together now? Our Halloween festivities are becoming more hauntingly beautiful and enchanting by the minute!
I like to garnish this delicious bourbon Halloween cocktail with a little sprig of dried thyme as if to mimic all the twisting and winding branches from the spooky tree in the film…
The pinches of cinnamon and the crushed ginger will continue to infuse this bourbon whiskey Halloween drink as it sits. It will release warm fall flavor into the cocktail as you sip.
Have fun serving up this delicious spiced bourbon Halloween cocktail at a fun Halloween party with a dark and crimson theme like the one we’ve explored here!
I can’t think of anything better than this boozy, yet properly sweet cocktail bursting with autumn flavor. Methinks the headless horseman would approve! If only he had a head to see it.
Need another tasty way to stay in the Halloween spirit? Kick back with this super simple and tasty Orange Halloween Vodka Fizz or these boozy magical Hocus Pocus movie-themed mimosas!
We were mentioned as an expert on the Redfin blog! Check out the article we were featured in: How to Throw a Killer Halloween Party: 6 Steps to a Perfectly Spooky Soiree
Sleepy Hollow Bourbon Halloween Cocktail Horror Movie Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices Fresh Ginger
- 2 oz Your Favorite Bourbon - I used Four Roses
- 3/4 oz Maple Syrup - Pure
- 1 pinch/sprinkle Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 1/4 oz Cranberry Juice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add 2 slices of fresh ginger. Muddle until crushed.
- Now add in maple syrup and splash in lemon juice, cranberry juice, and bourbon along with a pinch of sprinkled cinnamon.
- Fill the shaker 3/4 of the way with ice and put the lid on. Shake vigorously until everything is completely chilled and combined.
- Double strain this mixture (using a mesh strainer) into your martini or coupe cocktail glass and top with a sprig of thyme, if available. Enjoy chilled.
