Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail for Halloween
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Halloween is the perfect excuse to shake up a spooky drink, and this Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail is just the thing to set the mood. With its deep red color, sweet-tart fruit flavors, and a black sugar rim, this cocktail looks dramatic but is simple to make at home. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just want a fun cocktail for the season, this drink is festive, flavorful, and easy to pull together in minutes.
My version of this classic Halloween cocktail is different from the other ones out there. I tried several last Halloween and they all tasted like kids fever medicine. Way too much grenadine for me. So this year I decided to create my own Vampire’s Kiss recipe, keeping the classic vodka, cherry and raspberry flavors, but changing things up to taste much more fresh and less medicinal.
Tart cherry juice and homemade raspberry syrup bring rich, fruity flavor while fresh lemon juice adds brightness to keep it refreshing. Vodka provides the base without overpowering the drink, allowing the fruit and citrus to shine. The black sugar rim and (optional) plastic vampire teeth garnish are playful touches that make this cocktail extra fun for Halloween parties.
This cocktail is also versatile – easily adjusted for a mocktail or batched for a crowd. See my notes below for how to do both!
Ingredients
See recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Vodka – Plain vodka works best for this recipe. I use Tito’s brand anytime I need plain vodka for a cocktail because it’s easy to find and isn’t overly expensive.
- Tart Cherry Juice – This is a key ingredient in this recipe, so don’t swap it out for any other kind of juice. 100% tart cherry juice brings a fresh cherry flavor to the cocktail.
- Raspberry Syrup – While you can buy raspberry syrup in the store, I highly recommend making it yourself at home with fresh or frozen raspberries. It’ll take about 10 minutes and taste better than anything you can buy.
- Lemon – We have very few ingredients in this cocktail, so squeeze a fresh lemon for this cocktail. You’ll need about half of a lemon per drink.
- Black Decorating Sugar – This is optional, but highly recommended. If you can’t find black, swap this out for red sugar which is easier to find in the bakery section of most grocery stores. Black sugar is often found with the Halloween baking supplies in the fall.
How to Make a Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail
Rim a coupe or martini glass with black sugar.
Combine vodka, cherry juice, raspberry syrup, and lemon in a shaker with ice.
Shake well and strain into your prepared glass.
Garnish with vampire teeth. Sip and enjoy!
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Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounces tart cherry juice
- 1.5 ounce raspberry simple syrup
- 0.5 ounce fresh lemon
- Black decorating sugar, garnish
- Plastic vampire teeth, garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the decorating sugar into a shallow dish.Black decorating sugar
- Run a slice of lemon around the rim of a martini glass or coupe glass and dip the rim into the sugar.
- Set the glass aside.
- Combine vodka, tart cherry juice, raspberry syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker half filled with ice cubes.2 ounces vodka, 1 ounces tart cherry juice, 1.5 ounce raspberry simple syrup, 0.5 ounce fresh lemon
- Shake well.
- Strain into your prepared glass.
- Gently place vampire teeth on the inside of the glass so they hang off the rim.Plastic vampire teeth
- Sip and enjoy!
Notes
Making Homemade Raspberry Syrup
Using only three ingredients – water, sugar, and raspberries (fresh or frozen) – you can easily make raspberry simple syrup at home. Head over to my Raspberry Syrup Recipe page for all the details.
Make a Pitcher of Cocktails
Entertaining a crowd? Follow the amounts below to make a pitcher of 8 Vampire’s Kiss Cocktails.
- 16 ounces (2 cups) vodka
- 8 ounces (1 cup) tart cherry juice
- 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) raspberry syrup
- 4 ounces (½ cup) fresh lemon juice
- 4 ounces (½ cup) cold water
Combine everything into a large pitcher. Stir well and chill until ready to serve. Pour into cocktail glasses rimmed with sugar.
Note: The water in this recipe replaces the ice from shaking the drink. You only need to chill and pour these drinks.
Make it a Mocktail
Shake up this recipe as directed, leaving out the vodka. After pouring the mixture into a sugar-rimmed cocktail glass, top with 2 ounces of sparkling water. Stir gently and enjoy!
Don’t Miss These Halloween Cocktails
I love a good holiday-themed cocktail, and Halloween is no exception! Try my Bloody Ghost cocktail with vodka, a Blackberry Bourbon cocktail, or one of my Halloween gin cocktails like this Wicked Witches Brew cocktail or Vanishing Ghost cocktail.
