Halloween in Vegas? Sounds like a party to us! And this year, you can really embrace the spirit of the season with thematic cocktails that not only taste great, but have some ingredients that might just give you the heebie-jeebies.
Photo by: Courtesy
Creepy crawlies in cocktails aren’t necessarily a new concept, with insect-infused liquors existing across the world for decades, if not centuries. Anyone who watched George Lopez in the early aughts will remember the surreal scene in which Lopez indulges in “the worm,” a weevil larva found in the bottom of mezcal bottles, and hallucinates. (Which, by the way, won’t actually happen if you do get your hands on one.) But in Vegas, you don’t have to make it to the bottom of a bottle of mezcal to imbibe with insect inclusions; you just need to head to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort.
At the iconic wax figure museum, check out the Haunted Hotel experience (open through Halloween), and order the Uninvited Guest, a mix of vodka, raspberry liqueur, blue curaçao, lemon-lime soda and ... salted crickets! (Eek!) In normal circumstances, we’d tell you that if your drink comes with some floating pests to send it back and leave that bar quickly, but these are food-grade, totally-safe-to-consume critters that add to the fright of the night. If the thought of bugs in your drink gives you the ick, try the Death by Doctor, made with Dr. Pepper, spiced rum and amaretto.
Another spooky sip awaits at The Lock, a speakeasy hidden within The Cabinet of Curiosities at Horseshoe Las Vegas with an ingredient that might just weird you out. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves—before you get to the Lock, there’s already some majorly cool Halloween vibes to take in.
Photo by: Patrick Rivera
Sit a spell in The Cabinet of Curiosities and explore the expansive oddities displays, filled with items that have their own spooky, unsettling or mysterious stories. And while you scan QR codes and learn all kinds of fun facts, there’s a whole set of Halloween cocktails to enjoy from the bar, which are different from what you’ll find beyond the safe door that secures this venue’s moody speakeasy. For something that looks the part but only includes very normal, delicious ingredients, have the Vampire’s Special, made with vodka, amaretto, orange juice and a splash of club soda, served with a raspberry purée-filled syringe to stir.
OK, now let’s get a little freaky in The Lock. Ask the bartender for the Quoth the Raven and behold the sparkling, yet murky drink that will arrive. That color is provided by squid ink, of all things. Once again, this cephalopod-sourced ingredient is safe for consumption (and actually quite common in various cultures)—it just looks a bit bizarre. But worry not, this drink will taste great with its mix of gin, creme de violette, lemon juice and raspberry puree. And don’t let the sparkles alarm you; that’s just edible purple glitter. For something that looks supernatural but tastes great, sip the Witch’s Hex, made with tequila, lemon juice, yuzu syrup and passion fruit purée.
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