Grim Reaper Margarita: A Hauntingly Good Halloween Cocktail!
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The Grim Reaper Margarita is the ultimate Halloween cocktail, perfect for those who love a spooky twist on their drinks!
This bewitching blend of tequila and raspberry liqueur, with a gold shimmer and a splash of Sprite, will send shivers down your spine…in the best way!
It’s not just a cocktail—it’s a showstopper for your Halloween party!
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Where is the Cocktail Recipe Card?
The printable recipe card is toward the end of this post. We recommend reading through the blog post for tips, substitutions, and serving suggestions.
Grim Reaper Margarita Cocktail Recipe:
Number of Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
What is a Grim Reaper Margarita?
Thanks to the Skeleton Glasses we used, the name of this red cocktail immediately came to us. Imagine the Reaper’s hand reaching out of his cloak to hand you a Grim Reaper Margarita!
We love Unique Margarita Recipes and Halloween Cocktails, and if you’re the same, you need to shake up this drink post haste!
The Grim Reaper Margarita blends the smooth warmth of Gold Tequila with the sweetness of Raspberry Liqueur and a dash of sweet and sour for balance.
The contrast of the eerie red hue from grenadine and the sparkle of gold luster dust gives the drink a ghostly, unforgettable appearance. For effervescence, the creepy libation is topped with Sprite. We think you’ll agree—it is an Underwordly cocktail for the spooky season!
For an even more dramatic effect, try Using Dry Ice In Drinks for Halloween. And don’t forget to check out our annual series, Crafty October, for more awesome Halloween ideas.
What To Serve With This Cocktail
The Reaper Margarita will shine at any Halloween party or spooky gathering, but it’s also a fantastic treat for a themed dinner or cocktail night.
Pair it with spicy appetizers like Cajun Crab Cakes, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, or Spicy Chicken Satay, and you’ve got a killer combo!
For desserts, think of something fruity or citrusy to complement the drink’s tartness, like Mini Lemon Bundt Cakes, or even something richer, like a slice of Black Velvet Spiderweb Cheesecake; it’s the perfect blend of trick and treat!
If you’re hosting a Halloween dinner, scroll past the recipe card to see our Halloween Dinner Party Menu suggestions!
Cocktail Ingredients
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers such as Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Gold Tequila—Rich and smooth with caramel undertones. If you prefer Silver Tequila, it can be substituted in this Margarita.
- Raspberry Liqueur—Adds a fruity and slightly sweet flavor to the mix.
- Sweet and Sour Mix—Balances the drink with tartness and sweetness. You can make your own by dissolving 1 cup of sugar in 1 cup of water over heat, mixing in 1 cup each of freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, and refrigerating in a sterilized jar or bottle for 2-3 weeks.
- Grenadine—A non-alcoholic pomegranate syrup that provides both flavor and color.
- Gold Luster Dust—Adds a shimmering, magical effect perfect for Halloween. Also known as cake shimmer.
- Sprite—Or any brand of lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish—We used Maraschino Cherries, fresh pineapple wedges, and leaves. You could also use fresh raspberries if they are available locally.
Cocktail Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker—If you don’t have one, use a jar with a tight-fitting lid to shake your drink.
- Cocktail Skewers—For skewering cocktail garnishes like cherries.
- Cocktail Glasses—We used some skeleton hand glasses for the creepy vibe, but any kind of glass, including Margarita Glasses, will do the job!
Mocktail Variations
Grim Reaper Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
For a kid-friendly mocktail of the Grim Reaper, shake 3 oz Cran-Raspberry Juice with 1 oz Grenadine Syrup and 1 teaspoon of Gold Luster Dust in a cocktail shaker with ice until combined. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top up with Lemon-Lime Soda. (Makes 1 Grim Reaper Mocktail)
Virgin Reaper Margarita with Non-Alcoholic Spirits
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives such as Lyres (UK and USA), Strykk (UK), and Ritual (US & Canada).
- Instead of Gold Tequila, use a Non-Alcoholic Gold Tequila
- Instead of Raspberry Liqueur, use Cran-Raspberry Juice
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
Cocktail Variations
Here are some variations of the original cocktail recipe you might like to try:
- Spicy Reaper Margarita: Muddle some jalapeño slices in the cocktail shaker before combining the other ingredients. You can also replace the Gold Tequila with a Spicy or Chili Tequila.
- Frozen Reaper Margarita: Blend all the ingredients with crushed ice to create a slushy, frozen version. You can do the same with the Reaper Mocktail.
- Smoky Reaper Margarita: Use Mezcal instead of Tequila to introduce a smoky flavor, enhancing the drink’s eerie feel.
- Blackberry Reaper Margarita: Swap out Raspberry Liqueur for Blackberry Liqueur (and a drop of black food coloring), then garnish with fresh blackberries for a dark, haunting twist.
Big Batch of Grim Reaper Margaritas
Here’s how you can make a big batch of margaritas for a party or gathering:
If you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct, and you can make as much as you need to.
To make Grim Reaper Margaritas for a crowd, mix together:
- 2 parts Gold Tequila
- 1 part Raspberry Liqueur
- 1 part Sweet and Sour Mix
- 1 part Grenadine
- 2 parts Sprite
- Gold Luster Dust—as much as you need to create the shimmering effect.
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers or pitchers, or go retro and serve it from a punch bowl!
Add plenty of ice to your serving container to keep the cocktail chilled.
Saving Leftovers
While it’s best to enjoy the cocktail fresh to savor its flavors, you may have some left at the end of your party—don’t let it go to waste!
- Transfer it to an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Or, to make it last longer, turn it into Grim Reaper Margarita Granita!
- Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.
- Transfer the cocktail to a shallow freezer-safe container and freeze it for 6 hours (or overnight). If desired, add some simple syrup or another sweetener.
- Use a fork to break the frozen cocktail into small pieces. Serve and enjoy!
- Or pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Use the cocktail cubes to chill and flavor future cocktails without diluting the drink.
Setting Up Your Halloween Cocktail Bar
When setting up your bar or cocktail serving area, don’t forget:
- Ice Bucket—Filled with ice. Remember a scoop or tongs.
- Cocktail Glasses—Any glass is fine for a cocktail, but a Halloween one is even better!
- Cocktail Napkins—Patterned napkins are fun, but plain Halloween colors like black, orange, or purple work just as well.
- Cocktail Stirrers/Swizzle Sticks—Fun and functional!
- Cocktail Sticks/Picks—Skewer fruit onto cocktail picks for guests to garnish their drinks.
- Cocktail Decorations—Add additional cocktail kitsch with umbrellas, straws, etc.
How Do I Make Grim Reaper Margaritas?
The printable recipe card is below—please leave a star rating and quick review to share your experience with others!
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
Grim Reaper Margarita
Ingredients
For the Margarita
- 4 oz Gold Tequila
- 2 oz Raspberry Liqueur
- 2 oz Sweet and Sour Mix
- 2 oz Grenadine
- 2 tsp Gold Luster Dust
- 4 oz Sprite
For Garnish
- 2 Fresh Pineapple Wedges
- 2 Maraschino Cherries
- Fresh Pineapple Leaves
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Add the Gold Tequila, Raspberry Liqueur, sweet and sour mix, grenadine, and gold luster dust into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well for 15-30 seconds to combine.
- Strain into two 8-oz glasses filled with ice.
- Top up with Sprite and gently stir.
- Garnish each glass with a wedge of pineapple, a couple of pineapple leaves, and a maraschino cherry
- Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
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Halloween Dinner Party Menu Suggestions
The beverage is covered, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a spooky menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Jalapeño Popper Mummies
- Soup: Bloody Mary Soup
- Salad: Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing & Croutons (add black olive “spiders”)
- Main Dish: Air Fryer Steak with Roasted Garlic Compound Butter
- Side Dish: Air Fryer Rosemary Garlic Potatoes
- Dessert: Haunted Halloween Ghost Cupcakes