Murder Mystery co*cktails to Die For (2024)

Murder mystery parties are a killer way for your friends to explore their wild side. But, some people need a little liquid courage to play their part to the fullest. That’s where murder mystery co*cktails come in!

If the suspects are drinking strong co*cktails, the party is likely to get much more interesting.

But what are some good murder mystery drink ideas to mix together for such a killer occasion?

Tips for Hosting a Murder Mystery co*cktail Party

Whether or not you refer to it as a co*cktail party having mystery themed co*cktails will really spice up your event. But you don’t necessarily want to play bartender all night, so here are some tips that will bring great murder mystery drinks in less time.

Match Glasses To The Theme

The theme of the party should carry to all areas of decoration – including the glasses. A luxury party should have fancy glasses. But if you’re drinking a murder mystery co*cktail at an island-themed party, think about a coconut or tiki glass. ** Search the mystery “Party Tips Page >> Food and Drink ” sections for ideas on what kind of glassware or container might match YOUR theme!

Prepare In Advance

If you have to mix every single murder mystery co*cktail one at a time, you’re going to be a busy bartender! Instead, prepare as much as you can in advance. Cut up any ingredients, such as lime garnishes, so you can just grab and use them during the party.

Also, think about making large batches of murder-themed co*cktails in advance, and then keeping them in a pitcher, a fountain, a coffin, or some other container matching the theme.

Have Drink Menus Set-up For Fun

Let your guests know what they are drinking while also adding to the theme and fun! Highlight your creativity with a murder mystery drink menu that includes your fun, themed drink names! Serve Cowboys co*cktails, Blood Red Wine, Pirate’s Ale, Killer Coladas, and more!

Serve Mocktails

Whether some or all of your guests may not be drinking, murder mystery mocktails are a great way to have some extra fun without the liquor. It may even be a strategy of some players to act drunk when they’re really not. (That certainly sounds like something a killer would do!).

Mystery Themed co*cktail

The “Tommy Gin”

Ingredient list:

2 oz gin

1 oz blood orange juice (not from the victim!)

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1 oz ginger syrup

A Dash of Angostura bitters

A blood orange slice or twist, for garnish

Instructions:

• Load your co*cktail shaker with ice.
• Add the gin, blood orange juice, ginger syrup, lime juice, and a dash bitters.
• Shake it it fast, before the police have time to raid the place.
• Strain it into a chilled coupe glass.
• Garnish it with a blood orange slice.
• Serve and solve the murder!

The 1920s was home to gansters and speakeasies, and those translate dangerously well to a modern-day murder mystery party. The Tommy Gin summons up visions of murder with a deep red color, and the ginger brings out the fire in all of us. A sweet, tanginesss is added from the blood orange juice and the gin brings you straight back to the roaring 20s. Extra points if you serve it out of a bathtub!

For more 1920s murder mystery party tips, check out the Murder at the Juice Joint page.

Ingredient list:

• 2 oz of low-quality bourbon
• 1 oz cherry liqueur
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• Dash of orange bitters
• Maraschino cherry

Instructions:

• Load up your co*cktail shaker with ice cubes.
• Add the bourbon, cherry liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice, and a dash or two of orange bitters.
• Shake it like an earthquake.
• Strain into a mason jar.
• Garnish with the cherry.

There’s no better way to class down a trailer park murder mystery party than a rich drink that’s both sweet and smoky. Many of your guests may be more in the mood for a luke-warm can of beer or some boxed wine, but this is sure a step up from drinking straight out of the bourbon bottle!

Transform your home into a trailer park with more tips on our Trailer Park Tragedy page.

Empty headiIngredient list:

• 2 oz rum
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz coconut cream
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• Pineapple or lime slice

Instructions:

• Add ice, rum, pineapple and orange juice, coconut cream, and lime juice to a co*cktail shaker.
• Shake until chilled.
• Strain into a tiki glass, and add plenty of ice.
• Garnish with a pineapple slice or lime wheel.

A tropical themed murder mystery party is a great way for an easy escape to an amazing island. Too bad somebody will meet an untimely end! Keep the others in the vacation spirit with this drink that will bring out the sunshine in all of them.

Find more tropical tips on our Murder in Margaritaland page.

Ingredient list:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz blood orange juice (the bloodier the better)
• 1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
• 1/4 oz grenadine
• Angostura bitters
• Orange peel garnish
• Cherry Syrup

Instructions:

• Add ice to your co*cktail shaker.
• Add the vodka, blood orange juice, raspberry liqueur, grenadine, and a dash of bitters.
• Shake like a werewolf is chasing you.
• Strain the concoction into a chilled martini glass, or a hollowed out skull.
• Garnish with an orange peel, twisted to resemble a vampire’s fangs, and add some cherry syrup to look like blood on the glass.

Nothing says spooky like a drink made by the undead. The blood curdling flavors will bring your guests back to life, and your choice of glassware will really set the tone. Just be sure to finish drinking before dawn…

For more spooky party tips, check out our Terror in Transylvania page.

Murder Mystery Mocktails

Not all of your party guests will want to drink (is that intentional, or is there something else they’re hiding?). For that reason, you should provide at least one mocktail. Most of the above crime-themed co*cktail recipes are still delicious if the alcohol is left out, but here’s a custom one for any murderous occasion.

The “Sober Sleuth” Mocktail

Ingredient list:

• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Ginger ale or club soda
• Lime wheel

Instructions:

• Start with a co*cktail shaker, and fill it with ice.
• Add the pomegranate, cranberry, and lime juices.
• Add the simple syrup.
• Shake until chilled, strain into a fancy glass, and add ice.
• Add some ice, and top it all off with a splash of ginger ale or club soda.
• Add some flourish with a lime garnish.

The mixture of sweetness and tanginess in this mocktail will give guests the feeling of a fancy drink, without alcohol consumption. If the presentation is elaborate enough, the others might not even know…

Get More Help With Your Mystery Party Planning

These murder mystery co*cktail party tips are just the beginning. All Night of Mystery game pages have a “party tips” tab that is loaded with other ways you can make the most of your party.