Halloween’s honestly my favorite excuse to break out spooky drinks. Nothing gets people talking like a Bloody Vampire with vodka cocktail.
This easy recipe shows you how to make a bright red, tasty drink that’s perfect for any Halloween party. Every year, someone asks me for Halloween cocktail ideas, and this one always seems to steal the show.
This Halloween drink calls for basic ingredients, but the look is so creepy and the taste is surprisingly great. If you’re looking to impress your guests with Halloween cocktails that are actually fun to drink, try this one.
Grab your vodka, and let’s make something unforgettable.
Bloody Vampire With Vodka Cocktail Recipe
I love making the Bloody Vampire with Vodka cocktail. It’s just fun, honestly, and it’s simple enough to whip up for a crowd.
With vodka, fruity flavors, and some creative garnishes, it’s got that spooky look and a sweet-tart taste that’s hard to beat.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker: I use this to get everything mixed and cold, fast.
- Martini glass: Wide glasses show off the color and the rim—plus, they just look cool.
- Jigger or shot glass: For measuring (otherwise, I always over-pour).
- Small plate: For the red sugar or corn syrup rim.
- Bar spoon: For a gentle stir when needed.
- Strainer: So there’s no ice or pulp in the final pour.
- Ice: Gotta keep things chilled.
- Tongs: For garnishes or dry ice—safety first.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka (plain or berry flavored—both work)
- 0.5 oz raspberry liqueur (Chambord’s my go-to for that deep red)
- 2 oz cranberry juice (not from concentrate, if you can)
- 1 oz grenadine (for color and a hit of sweetness)
- 0.5 oz lemon juice (fresh is always best)
- Red sugar (to rim the glass)
- Light corn syrup (helps the sugar stick)
- Ice cubes (enough to fill the shaker)
- Splash of lemon-lime soda (optional, for a little fizz)
- Pomegranate seeds (garnish, if you have them)
- Red food coloring (for extra drama, if you want)
- Small piece of dry ice (optional, but the smoky effect is wild)
Instructions
- Put corn syrup on a plate and dip the rim of your glass.
- Dip the sticky rim into red sugar and let it dry for a minute.
- Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Pour in vodka, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice, grenadine, and lemon juice.
- Shake it up for about 20 seconds.
- Strain into your rimmed martini glass.
- Add a splash of lemon-lime soda if you want some bubbles.
- If you’re feeling dramatic, carefully drop in a small piece of dry ice with tongs (wait for it to stop smoking before sipping).
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds or maybe a raspberry for a pop of color.
Notes
Sometimes I swap in berry vodka for a twist, but plain vodka does the trick too. Fresh juice really does make a difference—real lemon juice and good cranberry juice go a long way.
Dry ice is fun, but don’t mess around with it: never touch or swallow it, and always wait until the smoke is gone. Safety before spooky.
If I’m out of red sugar, I just mix white sugar with a couple drops of red food coloring and dry it out. Tossing a few pomegranate seeds on top looks great and adds a tangy bite if someone nibbles while sipping.
Want it lighter? Just top with more lemon-lime soda. You can really tweak this Bloody Vampire with Vodka for any mood.
Equipment
- Martini or coupe glass
- Jigger or shot glass
- Small plate for sugar rim
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka plain or berry flavored
- 0.5 oz raspberry liqueur e.g. Chambord
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz grenadine
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup for rimming
- 1 tbsp red sugar for rimming
- Ice cubes to fill the shaker
- 1 splash lemon-lime soda optional, for bubbles
- 1 tsp pomegranate seeds optional garnish
- 1 –2 drops red food coloring optional, for deeper color
- 1 small piece of dry ice optional, for visual effect
Instructions
- Add corn syrup to a small plate and dip the rim of your glass into it.
- Dip the sticky rim into red sugar. Let it set for 1 minute.
- Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Strain into your prepared martini or coupe glass.
- Add a splash of lemon-lime soda if desired for a fizzy finish.
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds or a fresh raspberry.
- Serve immediately, and enjoy the spooky vibes!
Tasting Notes
First sip of the Bloody Vampire with vodka cocktail? That blood-red color is impossible to ignore. It’s got that storybook vampire vibe, which is honestly half the fun at a Halloween bash.
The taste is smooth and crisp from the vodka, but there’s a definite tang from all the fruit juice. It kind of reminds me of a vampire’s kiss cocktail, only creepier—perfect for the season.
I love how the vampire blood cocktail gets that “chilling” look without going overboard. The flavors and the color really set this creepy cocktail apart from your average fruit drink.
The balance of sweet and tart is right where I like it. I’d bet anyone who tries this blood cocktail will agree—it’s way more than just a party trick.
It brings exactly the spooky twist I want in a vampire cocktail..
Substitute
Sometimes I just want to mix things up with my Bloody Vampire with vodka cocktail. There are plenty of easy ways to tweak this drink, especially if I’m missing an ingredient or two.
Equipment:
- Shaker
- Glass
- Stirrer
Ingredients:
- Tomato juice (V8 works if you’re feeling adventurous)
- Vodka (honestly, gin, rum, or even tequila can be fun swaps)
- Lemon juice (lime is a solid backup)
- Hot sauce (skip it for less heat, or toss in a pinch of chili powder if you’re feeling bold)
For a playful vampire vibe, I’ll sometimes throw on red licorice or even gummy fangs as a garnish. It just looks so festive, especially if it’s Halloween.
If I’m craving something sweeter, I might splash in some cranberry juice or a bit of grenadine. It kind of reminds me of mixing up a hocus pocus cocktail or witches brew—those wild colors and flavors are half the fun.
Instructions:
- Pour all the liquid ingredients into your shaker.
- Shake everything up with ice.
- Strain it into your glass.
- Add candy or gummy fangs on the rim for a little flair.
Honestly, I love messing around with different combos to see what actually tastes good.
