This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Vampire’s Kiss is a modern cocktail of unknown origin. Around the blogosphere, drinks of the same name call for a neutral grain spirit and a mix of berry flavors, so for our more sophisticated take on the popular Halloween recipe, we leaned on those traits and landed on this brightly hued version. It’s made with citrus vodka, raspberry and cranberry liqueurs, lemon, pomegranate syrup, cherry and baking spice-flavored bitters, and a dash of food coloring just for fun.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Lemon Vodka: This is a type of vodka made with lemon, grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. We used Absolut Citron Lemon-Flavored Vodka because it has a fresh citrus flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka.
Raspberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with raspberries, sugar, and alcohol. We used Chambord Liqueur because it has rich notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, Cognac, vanilla, citrus peel, honey, and spices. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Wild Raspberry Syrup in place of the raspberry liqueur.
Cranberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cranberries, sugar, and alcohol. We used Tattersall Distilling Cranberry Liqueur because it’s high quality and has a delicious tart flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Cranberry Syrup in place of the cranberry liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters: This is a food product made with cherry, cloves, cinnamon, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Crude Bitters & Sodas “Attawanhood” Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters.
Red Food Coloring: This is a dye that adds color to foods or drinks. We used Watkins Assorted Food Coloring.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Tasting Notes
The Vampire’s Kiss has berry aromas and a relatively dry, tart flavor that features citrus and just enough sweet berry flavor to be palatable, and it also has a slightly spicy finish that features tart cranberry along with more lemon.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We have to admit, this drink and its presentation is a little on the kitschy side for our taste, but we thought it was a ton of fun. The Vampire’s Kiss was honestly really delicious too, and it’s a must-have for your costume party this year. Bartender beware though… it is on the slightly strong side.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This simple riff on a Cosmopolitan came to us by way of several food blogs, at least its inspiration did before we changed the recipe to better suit our audience. While far from complex, the use of cranberry liqueur, homemade grenadine, and bitters adds just enough zest to keep it from tasting too much like a Vodka Cranberry. Since we were trying to stay on theme, we did use a drop of red food coloring in order to get this brilliant red color; while I would normally be against this, the festive Halloween season holds a special enough place in my heart to make it worth it. Besides, bar guests love a pretty color in a glass!”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“When I first added this cocktail to our calendar, it didn’t hit me that this is very similar to a Cosmopolitan. It wasn’t until my first sip that I had the realization, and it was at that point that Alex suggested we add in some bitters for more complexity. I’m glad we did because the cherry and baking spices added a lot more depth to an otherwise simple drink. As Alex said, we did end up having to use a drop of red food coloring to get the hue just right, which I don’t love doing, but we’ll make an exception for holiday drinks sometimes. Try it with or without because it’s a solid drink either way!”
Recipe
Add vodka, raspberry liqueur, cranberry liqueur, lemon juice, grenadine, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Drop in food coloring, then stir gently for 2-3 seconds.
(Optional) Garnish with vampire teeth.
Ingredients
Directions
Add vodka, raspberry liqueur, cranberry liqueur, lemon juice, grenadine, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Drop in food coloring, then stir gently for 2-3 seconds.
(Optional) Garnish with vampire teeth.
Make It a Mocktail: Use STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka, Monin Premium Wild Raspberry Syrup in place of the raspberry liqueur, and Monin Premium Cranberry Syrup in place of the cranberry liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Shop Glassware & Tools
Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.
More Halloween Cocktails
If you like this Halloween-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Witch’s Brew Lemonade: A gin cocktail made with lemonade, blue curaçao, lemon juice, and a rosemary sprig
Poison Apple: A rye whiskey cocktail made with cinnamon syrup, cranberry juice, apple cider, lemon juice, and apple slices
Empress Corpse Reviver No. 2: A gin cocktail made with triple sec, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, absinthe, and an orange twist
Dr. Jekyll’s Monster Margarita: A tequila cocktail made with triple sec, black raspberry liqueur, lime juice, agave syrup, and black salt
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-04-03.
