Vampire’s Kiss

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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 fermented grains or potatoes and water, which are distilled and then infused with lemon peels to develop a clean, citrus flavor.

Raspberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with raspberries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet-tart, berry flavor.

Cranberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cranberries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a deep, tart flavor.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a deep, sweet-tart flavor.

Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with cherries, cloves, cinnamon sticks, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a fruity, spiced flavor.

Red Food Coloring: This is a liquid or gel dye used to color foods and drinks.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Absolut Citron Lemon-Flavored Vodka
• 🔗 Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur
• 🔗 Clear Creek Distillery Cranberry Liqueur
• 🔗 Liber & Co. Real Grenadine Syrup
• 🔗 Crude Bitters & Sodas “Attawanhood” Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters
• 🔗 Watkins Red All Natural Food Coloring

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed glass with a shallow, wide bowl that’s used for serving shaken cocktails and sparkling drinks without ice.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 Libbey Capone Speakeasy Coupe Glass

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