Every Halloween, we like to think of cocktails as a little bit of magic — the kind that wakes the dead or, at the very least, revives the night. This year, we’ve brewed up three hauntingly good creations featuring our signature espresso liqueur. Each one is dark, complex, and unapologetically bold — just like Mario’s.
These aren’t your average “trick-or-treat” cocktails. They’re the kind you sip slowly by candlelight, surrounded by laughter, fog, and a little mischief in the air.
Kiss of Death
There’s something irresistible about danger dressed in elegance. Kiss of Death brings together Mario’s Hard Espresso — our small-batch espresso liqueur — with blanco tequila and a spicy Bloody Mary mix. Add a touch of chocolate mole bitters and chipotle smoke, and you’ve got yourself a drink that’s equal parts ritual and rebellion.
Recipe:
- 1.5 oz Mario’s Hard Espresso
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 3 oz Bloody Mary mix (preferably spicy)
- 0.5 oz fresh lime
- 2 dashes chocolate mole bitters
- Tiny pinch chipotle for smoke
Shake gently, pour over ice in a rocks glass.
Witches Brew
Witches Brew is what happens when our espresso liqueur flirts with the bitter world of amaro. Campari, fernet, and gin collide with the rich coffee base of Mario’s Hard Espresso, while a touch of Chambord adds mystery and depth. It’s smoky, boozy, and spellbinding — a perfect Halloween ritual in a glass.
Recipe:
- 0.75 oz Campari
- 0.75 oz Mario’s Hard Espresso
- 0.25 oz fernet
- 1.5 oz genever or gin
- 0.25 oz Chambord
Add a small dry ice pellet for that eerie smoke effect (but don’t sip until it’s fully dissolved).
Frankenscream
Born from chaos, balanced by craft. Frankenscream is a tiki-inspired monster of flavor — a blend of espresso liqueur, dark and silver rum, pineapple, coconut, almond, and lime. This one doesn’t just wake the dead; it wakes your senses.
Recipe:
- 1.5 oz Mario’s Hard Espresso
- 1 oz Jamaican dark rum
- 0.5 oz silver rum
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- 0.75 oz orange juice
- 0.5 oz lime juice
- 0.5 oz orgeat syrup
- 0.5 oz coconut cream
- 1 oz brewed coffee (preferably cold)
Shake with crushed ice and pour unstrained into your favorite tiki mug. Top with extra crushed ice and whatever garnish your inner mad scientist desires.
However You Haunt the Night
Each of these cocktails celebrates what makes Mario’s Hard Espresso so unique — a handcrafted espresso liqueur made from real espresso, real flavor, and real family tradition.
Whether you’re summoning spirits or just your friends, these recipes prove that Halloween deserves more than candy. It deserves a drink with soul.
Mario’s Hard Espresso — the espresso liqueur that’s crazy delicious, all year long.
