South Florida Bartenders Share Their Favorite Candy and Drink Pairings

For Cocktail Week 2015, we surveyed area bartenders and liquor pros on aspects of the bar world and will reveal these responses to you all week long. Since Halloween is upon us, today we ask — what's your favorite drink and candy pairing?

Will Rivas (Bazi and Macchialina) — Snickers and a Negroni!

Ervin Machado (Louie Bossi’s Ristorante, Bar and Pizzeria) — I drink my Last Word with a Sour Punch Straw.

Alexander Aportela (Finka Table & Tap) — I drink my Last Word with a Sour Punch Straw.

Carlos Cruz (Seaspice) — Sour Patch while having a fresh cranberries sangria with apple cider.

Mike Calcara (Better Days) — It's Halloween, do you seriously expect me to practice self control? Fine. If you insist....baby Snickers and Jameson, all day long.

Daniel Najarro (Bagatelle Miami Beach) — I hate candy but if I have to have something it will be Patron Cafe.

Jose Gill (American Social Brickell) — PB&J Martini

Jamal Giles (SUGARCANE raw bar grill) — I'm not a fan of Halloween candy, but if I had to pick, I guess it would be mini snickers. I love the combination of salty and sweet, and if I'm pairing, it it's going to be with Don Julio repaosado tequila!

Steve Minor (MO Bar + Lounge) — Cotton Candy w a sour apple martini (J/K). Candy Corn and a nice apple cider, bourbon based punch.

Joel Mesa (Bulla Gastrobar) — My preferred Halloween candy and pairing would be caramel corn or candy corn with a nice Bourbon old-fashioned.

George Strom (SUSHISAMBA Miami Beach) — SSkittles (Which actually go well with a Passionfruit Caipriroska)

Isaac Grillo (Repour Homemade Cocktails) — Th I love to drink a baked banana daiquiri with a nice aged rum like Afrohead, while sucking on a fire or strawberry jolly rancher! It's amazing how all the rancher flavors have a unique affect on this already amazing cocktail.

Jessica Kirk (Wood Tavern) — Frozen Reese’s peanut butter cups with a Blanton’s Old Fashioned!!

Ben Potts (Beaker & Gray) — Candy corn and Bourbon neat.

Alex Alfonso (Premier Beverage) — Pumpkin infused old fashioneds with candy corn. Also known as "white girl old fashioneds"

Gabe Urrutia (Beam Suntory) — Kit Kat and a Knob Creek Old Fashioned

Danny Zeenberg (Ritz Carlton South Beach) — Salted Caramel old fashioned and snickers.

Jeremiah Goll (Sunset Lounge Bar) — I don't mix the two personally, but for friends I would probably do a watermelon martini with fruity gummy bears.

Martin Garcia (The Pool & Beach at Thompson Miami Beach) — I love candy corn, which we're going to pair with our new Pumpkin Spice Coolatta that has Absolut vanilla vodka, all-natural pumpkin puree, all spice and condensed milk. We'll serve a little pile of candy corn on the side. It's a crowd-pleaser.

Peter Lopez (Kuro at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) — I've got to go with candy corn; it’s the first candy that comes to mind when I think of Halloween. I’ll take those with a Bourbon Smash or Old Fashioned any day.

Rob Ferrara (Lure Fishbar and The Rum Line) — My favorite Halloween Candy and drink pairing would be Southern Tier Pumking Beer (it tastes just like pumpkin pie) and a homemade caramel apple.