Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail

October 04, 2025

The Vampire’s Kiss cocktail is a blood-red vodka martini with a sweet-tart berry flavor! It’s perfect for Halloween parties and any occasion that calls for a little drama.

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.

As someone who’s made hundreds of cocktail recipes, I’m often disappointed by Halloween drinks that are too sweet or artificial. But this one has a delightfully sweet tart flavor with a fruity berry finish! If you’d like, add a cube of dry ice. It bubbles and boils with a stream of smoke, which makes this drink over-the-top fun!

You can also make the same drink as a Valentine’s Day cocktail and call it Love Potion No. 9!

Key ingredients for the Vampire’s Kiss cocktail

The Vampire’s Kiss cocktail is a bright red cocktail made with vodka and raspberry liqueur. It often includes champagne, but there’s no standardized definition to this drink. My version of this recipe passes on the champagne in favor of fresh lemon juice and cranberry juice (so you can save that bubbly for 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.

Ingredient spotlight: Chambord

Chambord is a French black raspberry liqueur with a beautiful gold and purple round bottle that makes you feel like a professional bartender. It brings a sophisticated berry flavor that cheaper raspberry liqueurs just can’t match.

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. At around $20 for a small bottle, it’s an investment, but it’s a worthwhile one. Beyond this drink, I use it in French Martinis and the sophisticated Chambord and Champagne.

What does Chambord actually taste like? The flavor is intensely concentrated raspberries with subtle citrus notes and just enough sweetness to balance the tartness.

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 my Dry Ice Handling article):

DO NOT touch dry ice with bare hands. Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, which forms at temperatures below 110°F. 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

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:

Buy dry ice 1 to 2 hours before serving. Most grocery stores sell it in large blocks (here’s a store finder.). Store in a cooler with the top off.
Using safety googles and gloves, drop the sealed bag on the ground a few times to break it into large chunks, then use a screwdriver or ice pick to break it into ½-inch to 1-inch pieces. Store the chunks wrapped in a towel in a cooler with the lid off: never in your freezer.

Storage and make-ahead tips

Can you prep the Vampire’s Kiss ahead? Yes and no. I don’t recommend making the full cocktail more than 8 hours in advance, as the fresh lemon juice loses its bright flavor over time. However, you can prep several elements:

Mix your dry ingredients (sugar for the rim) and store in an airtight container
Pre-rim your glasses and let them dry completely
Measure and combine a large batch of vodka, Chambord, and grenadine in a container; store in the fridge until ready to shake
Add the cranberry and lemon juice right before serving for optimal flavor.

Frequently asked questions

What if I don’t have Chambord?

While Chambord really makes this drink special, you can substitute another raspberry liqueur in a pinch. The flavor and color might be slightly different, but it’ll still work. Crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) is another option, though it will give you a slightly different berry flavor profile.

Is the dry ice safe?

Yes, when handled properly. Use gloves and tongs, never touch it with bare hands, and wait for the ice to completely dissolve before drinking. The ice sinks to the bottom and typically disappears within 5 minutes. You can take sips while the dry ice is still present: just be careful not to let the cube slide toward your mouth.

Can I skip the sugar rim?

Of course! The sugar rim adds a festive touch and provides a nice textural contrast, but it’s totally optional. I sometimes skip it when I want a cleaner, more sophisticated presentation.