Spooky season is upon us, and it’s never too early to share in the Halloween spirit by going all-in on themed decor. A well-planned Halloween tablescape makes a cocktail party memorable. Something moody, polished, and elegant impresses guests while also showcasing spooky cocktails. Get our Halloween tablescape tips and tricks below, alongside some of our favorite Halloween cocktails.
How to Create a Halloween Tablescape
Tell a Story
What theme do you want your tablescape to have? What story do you want to tell? Should it be a modern spin on a spooky Brothers Grimm tale? A Jack Skellington or Beetlejuice black and white theme? A good story and a set theme creates the foundation for a great tablescape. And then once you have your tablescape story decided, work on creating a palette of colors. Keep to less than 5 colors to avoid a tablescape that is too busy.
Elevate What You Have
You don’t need orange and black glassware or a tablecloth printed with ghosts or goblins for guests to know which day you’re celebrating. The best Halloween tablescape – and the least stress-inducing to curate – uses staples you have and elevates them with small accessories. Set the scene as you normally would and then tell your Halloween story with small props and accessories. For instance, use store-bought moss and spread it along the table for an overgrown, haunted house look. Scatter mini pumpkins in between glasses. Arrange a winding line of black felt spiders or classic bat silhouettes around bottles and candles. No need for big props to get the job done.
Elegance Over Kitsch
Our team loves kitsch, but if you want to lean into the “adult” in “we’re adults, and we can throw a Halloween cocktail party if we want to,” opt for muted or coordinated color schemes over the traditional neon orange, purple, and green. If you do want more traditional Halloween colors, consider going matte. Other ideas to up the elegance:
- Place a few strands of fake cobwebs alongside traditional fall decor
- Use tall, tapered candles reminiscent of a haunted mansion
- Mute lights with a draped cheesecloth and include moss
Our team loves the refined, moody look of a glass cloche over an arrangement of moss, black tapered candles, and twine lights – so much so that we’re giving them away on our Instagram.
Consider Adding Spooky Cocktails
What is a Halloween tablescape without spooky cocktails? No matter your theme, a great cocktail paired with your tablescape can bring your Halloween cocktail party to the next level. Use our Organic Blood Orange Liqueur for orange and red cocktails and activated charcoal for a trendy (and spooky!) black cocktail.
Spooky Booze
- 2 oz Joseph Magnus Navy Strength Gin
- 1 oz Thatcher’s Elderflower Liqueur
- .5 Crème de cassis liqueur
- .75 oz lime juice
- Activated charcoal
- 2 oz soda water
- Blackberries, garnish
In a shaker tin with ice, add Joseph Magnus Navy Strength Gin, Thatcher’s Elderflower Liqueur, and Creme de cassis liqueur, lime juice, and activated charcoal and shake vigorously. Strain mixture into a Collins glass with fresh ice, top with soda water, and garnish with fresh blackberries.
Seven Sisters
If you want your guests to question whether they arrived at a cocktail party or stumbled upon a local coven, this black and shimmery cocktail is for you.
- 1.5 oz Joseph Magnus District Dry Gin
- 1 oz Crème d Cassis
- .5 oz Thatcher’s Organic Elderflower Liqueur
- .5 oz lemon juice
- Egg white
- Pinch of edible silver dust powder
- ½ teaspoon activated charcoal
In a shaker tin, add Joseph Magnus District Dry Gin, Creme de Cassis, Thatcher’s Organic Elderflower Liqueur, lemon juice, activated charcoal, silver dust powder, and egg white and dry shake until well incorporated. Add ice to the shaker and combine until chilled. Strain into a Nick and Nora glass and serve.
Rejected Proposal
Pair with a blood red tablescape for your horror fan friends. This cocktail is from the Shaken Not Scared Podcast, inspired by the 2008 horror film “The Strangers.”
- 2 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin
- 1 oz Thatcher’s Organic Elderflower Liqueur
- .5 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz lime juice
- Rose Lemonade (for topping)
In a shaker, add Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin, Thatcher’s Organic Elderflower Liqueur, simple syrup, and lime juice with ice. Shake! Strain into glass. Top with rose lemonade.
See the full recipe and instructions here.
Gin Goblin
A batch recipe to pair with a spooky swamp tablescape, this cocktail brings a refreshing hit of cucumber to the party.
- 40 oz brewed green tea, room temp or cold
- 3 cucumbers, save a few slices for garnish
- 16 oz mint
- 8 oz lemon juice
- 14 oz honey
- 4 oz Thatcher’s Organic Cucumber Liqueur
- 4 oz gin
- 2 kiwis for a sweeter version
- Pinch of salt
Brew the green tea or buy unsweetened green tea. In a pitcher add the green tea, lemon juice and honey. Toss the sliced cucumbers and mint in a blender. Pulse until chunky. Add half of the green tea mixture to the blender and continue to blend the cucumbers and mint with the green tea until smooth. Add the mixture you just blended into the pitcher with the rest of the green tea, Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin, and stir, until everything is combined. Serve with giant ice cubes. Garnish with mint, cucumbers and of course a spooky skeleton!
See the full recipe and instructions here.
Need some extra help turning your Halloween tablescape into something spooktacular? Enter our giveaway for the Halloween tablescape essentials on our Instagram! Bonus points if you share a photo of your Halloween tablescape designed with our tips by using #thatchersorganic on social media.
Find Thatcher’s Organic Artisan Spirits at a store near you. Join our mailing list to stay up to date with the latest from Thatcher’s. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date.
