The Vampire’s Kiss cocktail is a blood red vodka martini with a spooky twist! It’s deliciously impressive and perfect for parties.
Need an impressive drink with a spooky twist? Try the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail! This blood red drink is simply a berry-flavored vodka martini that’s masquerading as a sinister Halloween cocktail. Give it a sip and it’s sweet tart with a fruity berry finish! Dress it up with a red sugar rim and if you’d like, add a cube of dry ice. It bubbles and boils with a constant stream of smoke: which makes it over-the-top fun! It’s great for Halloween or anytime you need a ghoulish sip. (PS You can make the same drink as a Valentine’s Day cocktail and call it Love Potion No. 9!)
What’s in the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail?
The Vampire’s Kiss cocktail is a bright red cocktail that’s made with vodka and raspberry liqueur. It often includes champagne, but there’s no standardized definition to this drink. This spin passes on the champagne in favor of fresh lemon juice and cranberry juice (save that bubbly for these champagne drinks instead). Here’s what you’ll need:
- Vodka
- Chambord, a popular raspberry liqueur
- 100% cranberry juice: make sure to buy unsweetened, not cranberry juice cocktail!
- Lemon juice
- Grenadine, a pomegranate-flavored red cocktail syrup
- Dry ice, optional (read all the safety information below first!)
You’ll simply shake up the ingredients, strain it into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a chunk of dry ice! The way that the dry ice makes the smoke wisp into the air is the best party trick. Keep reading for more about the special ingredients and how to work with dry ice.
Why to buy Chambord
Chambord is a raspberry liqueur with a beautiful gold and purple round bottle that makes you feel like a professional bartender. Is it necessary to add to your collection for the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail? We think so: it makes a great drink. Here’s more about it:
- Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur made in France. Despite the fancy historic looking bottle, the brand started in the 1980’s! But it’s inspired by a raspberry liqueur recipe from the 1680’s.
- What does Chambord taste like? It tastes rich and fruity, with raspberry and citrus notes.
- How much does Chambord cost? A small bottle costs about $20 (in the US).
- What else can you make with it? The most popular cocktails are the fruity French Martini and the refreshing Chambord and Champagne. Or use it instead of crème de cassis in a Kir Royale (it’s even better, in our opinion).
Grenadine: storebought vs homemade
If you’re an avid home bartender, you’re already stocking grenadine in your collection. This cocktail syrup is often mistaken as cherry-flavored, but it’s actually made with pomegranate! Most purchased grenadine is artificially colored and flavored, which makes the brightest color. But you can also make your own at home. Try our Homemade Grenadine recipe made from pomegranate seeds!
Safety tips for dry ice!
Dry ice isn’t required for the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail: but it does make it a lot more fun! Dry ice can be intimidating the first time, but it’s very simple. Just keep in mind the following safety tips (or read more in our Dry Ice Handling article):
- DO NOT touch dry ice! Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, which forms at temperatures below 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It can give you frostbite because it is so cold. Use gloves when handling it, and use tongs for dropping it into drinks. Holding it for more than 10 seconds is considered very dangerous.
- DO NOT drink dry ice! Tell your guests not to drink the dry ice! The ice cube settles to the bottom of the drink and should disappear in about 5 minutes. You can technically take sips of the drink since the dry ice is in the bottom: just make sure not to let it slide to the top of the glass.
Working with dry ice for the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail
Where do you find dry ice, and how to handle it once you’ve got it at home? Here are a few tips for make the Vampire’s Kiss:
- Dry ice is available at most grocery stores. It’s sold in large blocks. Here’s a store finder.
- Buy the dry ice 1 to 2 hours before you plan to serve. Dry ice does not last in the freezer, so you’ll need to use it as quick as possible. Once you get it home, place the plastic bag of dry ice in a cooler with the top off. Keep away from children and pets.
- Right before serving, drop the plastic bag on the ground to make large chunks. This is an easy way to break it up without touching it.
- With goggles and gloves, break it into small chunks with a screwdriver or ice pick. The ideal size is 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks: heavy enough to sink in the drink but small enough to disappear after a few minutes.
- Wrap the chunks in a towel and place in a cooler with the top off until serving. Remember not to place it into the freezer!
Once you’ve done it once, it’s a breeze! Let us know what you think of the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail and if you try it with dry ice. It’s the best party trick!
More Halloween drinks
Want more drinks with a Halloween theme? We’ve got them! Here are a few top Halloween cocktails to try:
- Try the Witches Brew, a tasty bright green drink (also with dry ice!)
- Make a big bowl of Halloween Punch (and spike it!)
- Try a Halloween Margarita or Halloween Sangria
- Opt for the rum-based Zombie Cocktail
- Go for a Corpse Reviver, a classic 1930’s drink
- Try a Death in the Afternoon with absinthe and champagne
Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
The Vampire’s Kiss cocktail is a blood red vodka martini with a spooky twist! It’s deliciously impressive and perfect for parties.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce* Chambord
- ½ ounce 100% unsweetened cranberry juice (not sweetened or cranberry juice cocktail)
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Granulated sugar and additional grenadine, for the sugar rim (optional)
- 1 small dry ice cube, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the rim: Place granulated sugar in a single layer on one plate. On another plate, add some grenadine. Spin the rim of the glass in the grenadine until it coats the entire rim. Then dip the glass rim into the plate with the sugar to coat it.
- Make the drink: Add the vodka, Chambord, unsweetened cranberry juice, lemon juice, and grenadine to a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls regular ice cubes and shake until cold. Strain the drink into the prepared glass.
- Break the dry ice into 1-inch chunks (if using): Do this as close to the time you’ll be serving the drinks as possible, though you can buy the dry ice a few hours in advance. Start by dropping the plastic bag with the dry ice on the ground several times to allow it break into large chunks. Remember never to touch the dry ice with your bare hands! Put on goggles and gloves. Use a chisel to break the dry ice into smaller pieces using a screwdriver or ice pick. The ideal size is 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks that are large enough to sink to the bottom of the drink, but small enough to disappear in a few minutes. Wrap the small chunks in a towel and place them in a cooler with the top off until you’re ready to serve the drinks. Do not place the dry ice in the freezer.
- Add the dry ice: Using tongs (do not touch the dry ice!), add a 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunk of dry ice to the glass, which will sink to the bottom and immediately make a smoking effect. The ice cube will disappear in about 5 minutes. Do not drink the dry ice! Wait until the cube disappears before enjoying your drink (or you can take sips with the dry ice in the bottom). Review these Dry Ice Handling instructions.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
**Dry ice is available at many grocery stores and comes in a large block. Buy it a few hours before you plan to serve the drinks (it does not store in the freezer). Read more about Dry Ice Safety here.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Vampire’s Kiss cocktail
Let us know if you have any questions!
★★★★★
Can I make the Vampires Kiss cocktail
In advance in a punch bowl for a party
Yes! I wouldn’t do it more than 8 hours ahead as the fresh lemon juice starts to lose taste. For easy scaling, you can change “ounces” to “cups” for an 8x recipe.