Vampire’s Kiss

This post contains affiliate links. See my 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 this more sophisticated take on the popular Halloween recipe, its creator Alex Sukopp, bartender of the retired Instagram account Sips From Scripts, 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. I used Absolut Citron Lemon-Flavored Vodka.

Raspberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with raspberries, sugar, and alcohol. I used Chambord Liqueur.

Cranberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cranberries, sugar, and alcohol. I used Tattersall Distilling Cranberry Liqueur.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters: This is a food product made with cherry, cloves, cinnamon, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Crude Bitters & Sodas “Attawanhood” Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters.

Red Food Coloring: This is a dye that adds color to foods or drinks. I 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. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I 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. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright red color

• Aroma: Mixed berries

• Taste: Dry, tart flavor that features citrus and sweet berries

• Finish: Slightly spicy alcohol burn with tart cranberry and citrus notes

Kendall’s Take
“This festive riff on the iconic Cosmopolitan adds cherry and warm baking spices to the mix for some extra depth and Halloween cheer. The touch of red coloring enhances the visual appeal, while the layered flavors keep it both approachable and celebratory. Whether you choose to add the color and slightly kitschy vampire teeth garnish or not, the Vampire’s Kiss is a bright, flavorful cocktail that fits right into any spooky season lineup.”

Recipe