Top 5 Halloween Garnish Ideas That Will Wow Guests (and Don’t Break the Bank)
Halloween is one of the best excuses of the year to get theatrical behind the bar. Guests are out in full force looking for spooky serves, Instagrammable cocktails, and that little extra boo! factor. Worry not, the good news is that you don’t need to blow your budget on gimmicky props or complicated ingredients to make it happen!
Here are five low-cost garnish ideas that will turn your Halloween cocktails from ordinary to scarily good.
1. Mysterious Scented Smoke Bubbles
Forget pricey, unsafe dry ice. A simple Flavour Blaster bubble filled with scented smoke effect gives your cocktails instant theatre. Guests get the magical “pop!” moment, and you get all the spooky atmosphere without the health and safety nightmares. Plus, each bubble costs around 5¢ - cheaper than most fresh fruit garnishes.
Top tip: add a Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg or Elderberry aroma to tie in with autumn flavours!
2. Bloody Good Garnishes (with Fruit Purée)
Don't splash out on expensive syrups, a simple squeezy bottle of raspberry or cherry puree is a healthier and more affordable alternative to give that blood drip effect inside of a glass. Simply add to the inside or squeeze around the rim of the glass for a gruesome serve. Looks chilling, tastes delicious, and costs pennies per serve!
3. Candy Corn Rims
Okay, we know candy corn is a bit like marmite - you either love it or hate it, but rimming a martini or coupe glass with crushed seasonal sweets gives drinks an instant Halloween glow up. Cheap, cheerful, and guaranteed to get phones snapping.
4. Ghoulish Garnish Shapes
Use a mini cookie cutter to cut citrus peels or apple slices into simple halloween shapes such as bats, pumpkins and moons etc. It’s a super affordable way to jazz up a garnish you’re already using. A bag of limes goes a long way when you add a little spooky creativity!
Pro Tip: save any cut out scraps and infuse them into your chosen spirit for a custom flavoured spirit to add to your signature serves!
5. Glow in the Dark UV Garnishes
Did you know tonic water glows under UV light thanks to an ingredient called quinine? Why not freeze tonic ice cubes with gummy sweets inside, and you’ve got a garnish that literally lights up your drinks! The cost? Basically the same as your regular ice prep. The effect? Absolutely electric.
Halloween is all about atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean draining your margins. With these budget friendly ideas, you can thrill your guests, fill your socials with spooky content, and keep your accountants happy at the same time!
So go on… get spooky, get smoky, and remember: a little garnish goes a long way when it comes with a theatrical twist! Cheers to that!
Now you've got your garnishes nailed down, you'll need a drink name! Here's 100 Halloween Drink names to add to your spooky menu!
