Halloween at Butler’s: Dark, Spooky & Delicious Drinks

Halloween is undoubtedly our favourite time if year and it's the perfect excuse to put something a little darker, stranger and more mysterious in your glass. Luckily throughout the year we are always stocking the shelves with dark, quirky and mysterious bottles that are perfect for the spooky season. We have a great selection for you this year that covers a diverse range of styles and needs.

So, if you’re hosting a Halloween party, settling in for a horror film or simply looking for something a little different to drink as the nights draw in, here are some of our favourite Halloween-ready drinks.

 

 

Hunt's Crowman Cider – £3.95

We’ll start with something suitably eerie from the UK. Hunt's Crowman Cider takes its name from the mysterious Crowman and is a great choice for anyone looking for something refreshing and easy-going rather than a serious bottle of wine. Their ciders are made organically with passion and care, using traditional methods and ZERO chemical input, allowing their farm to be a haven for nature and their products to be free from toxic residues which are far scarier than any horror movie. Their apples ripen naturally and are only harvested when fully mature and falling from the tree, giving maximum sugar levels and full development of the many subtle flavour components.

At £3.95, it’s also an easy one to stock up on for Halloween gatherings. Crack one open, put your feet up and let the spooky season begin.

 

 

The Fledge & Co Souzao 2025 – £19.99

South Africa might not be the first place you think of when it comes to Halloween, but this striking red certainly fits the bill.

The Fledge & Co Souzao 2025 comes from the Klein Karoo, a fascinating and rugged part of South Africa. Souzao is a Portuguese grape that has found an interesting home in South Africa, producing deeply coloured, characterful wines.

Expect dark fruit, spice and plenty of personality, the sort of red that works beautifully alongside autumnal food. Perfect for slow-cooked dishes, grilled meats, rich stews or a hearty Halloween feast. There’s a raw beauty to it, echoed in the striking label artwork, bold, expressive and slightly rebellious, yet crafted with real finesse.

 

 

Loyane L'Eclipse Rouge Sans Sulphite Ajouté 2023 – £17.50

The name says it all: L'Eclipse feels perfectly suited to a night of darkness and mystery.

Produced in La Loyane an area historically occupied by wolves. This French red is made without added sulphites and offers a fresh, fruit-driven style that's easy to enjoy. It’s a good choice if you want something with a little Halloween atmosphere without going too heavy.

At £17.50, it’s a great bottle for sharing over a relaxed autumn evening, particularly alongside pizza, charcuterie, roasted vegetables or a selection of cheeses.

 

 

The Black Craft Shiraz, Smalltown Vineyards 2023 – £16.75

For something with a suitably sinister name, look no further than The Black Craft Shiraz.

From Smalltown Vineyards in Australia, this is a rich, dark-fruited Shiraz that fits perfectly into our Halloween line-up. Shiraz is naturally well suited to the season, with its combination of ripe fruit, spice and generous texture. This Shiraz is sourced from the finest available vineyard sites across the premium Northern Barossa Valley including for the most part Greenock, Western Ridge and Ebenezer. Aged 11 months in a variety of oaks, all American and French, new and old, around 35% new.

This is a great option for a Halloween dinner, particularly with barbecued or roasted meats, burgers, sausages and rich, smoky flavours. The darker the better!

 

 

Valravn Old Vine Zinfandel 2022 – £29.50

Named after a mythical raven-like creature from Danish folklore, Valravn is another bottle that seems to have been made for Halloween.

This Old Vine Zinfandel from California is big, bold and packed with dark fruit character. Zinfandel's ripe, generous style makes it particularly good with smoky, spicy and barbecue flavours, perfect if your Halloween celebrations involve a feast rather than just sweets. Careful winemaking enhances the wine’s natural richness and vibrancy: the grapes are hand-harvested, gently handled, and undergo a cold soak to build aromatic intensity. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak, using a mix of barrel sizes and ages to balance structure with purity of fruit.

This is the bottle to bring out when you want something a little more special.

 

 

Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal – £64.75

And finally, something for those who really want to embrace the mysterious side of Halloween.

Los Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal is named after the ancient Zapotec term for Agave Espadin, Doba-Yej, this mezcal is meticulously crafted from agave sourced from the towns of Matalan, San Dionisio, and Yautepec in Oaxaca. Harvested only when fully mature, the agave piñas undergo a traditional process, starting with cooking in stone-lined pits. Subsequently, the cooked piñas are hand-milled with a wooden mallet or through a horse-drawn tahona. It showcases the distinctive smoky character that makes mezcal such a fascinating spirit and Los Siete Misterios works with traditional Mexican distilling practices and a range of different agave varieties, with Doba-Yej offering an excellent opportunity to explore the category.

The smoky, earthy character makes it a natural choice for Halloween, particularly served neat for sipping, or used as the base for a suitably smoky cocktail.

This is definitely one for the more adventurous drinker and makes a striking addition to any home bar.

Something Spooky for Everyone

Halloween doesn't have to mean kids, costumes and sweets. With everything from refreshing British cider, characterful wines and smoky mezcal, there are plenty of ways to get into the spirit of the season and Butler's is here to help, hop online or drop into the shop to make this season the spookiest yet.

So turn down the lights, put on your favourite Horror film and pour yourself something suitably mysterious.

Happy Halloween from Butler’s!