Pour something spooky
Halloween and whisky have more in common than you might think. The festival has its roots in the Celtic celebration of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season in Scotland and Ireland. Robert Burns wrote a poem about it. So cracking open a good Scotch on the 31st is practically a tradition.
For the peat lovers, this is your night. Big Peat's annual Halloween edition is always worth tracking down - a vatted malt from Islay's heaviest hitters, with label art that gets more creative every year. Ardbeg Wee Beastie lives up to its name with five years of raw, uncompromising Islay smoke. And Compass Box Peat Monster does exactly what it says, but with more finesse than the name suggests.
Beyond whisky, Halloween is a good time to explore the stranger corners of the drinks cabinet. Crystal Head Vodka in its skull-shaped bottle is an obvious crowd-pleaser for parties. Dead Man's Fingers do themed editions each year that are fun without being gimmicky, and Blood Oath bourbon brings a dark intensity that suits the mood perfectly.
If you are hosting, Smokehead Sherry Blast works brilliantly in a punch bowl - mix it with ginger ale, a squeeze of lime and a few dashes of Angostura, serve it from something suitably sinister, and you have a Halloween cocktail that actually tastes good. The sherry cask finish adds enough sweetness to keep non-whisky drinkers interested.
And for the Johnnie Walker fans - the White Walker edition was made for Game of Thrones but works just as well for Halloween. It is a lighter, sweeter blend designed to be served cold, which makes it a good option for guests who find straight whisky a bit much.