Dracula’s Kiss Cocktail

A vampire twist on a classic drink, this Dracula’s Kiss is the spooky version of a cherry Coke. Serve it with lots of ice and two “puncture marks” (cherries).

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About Dracula’s Kiss Cocktail

Sometimes, the best holiday drinks are just a fun twist on a classic, and that’s the case for this Dracula’s Kiss cocktail.

Because ultimately, this drink is merely a jazzed-up spiked cherry Coke with some fun garnishes. You can make it simple (as pictured) or go the extra mile and drizzle some grenadine down the glass for a more “bloody” look.

But no matter how you serve it up, this drink will be an easy win with your guests. It’s a tried and true classic with some fun spooky flair.

What’s in a Dracula’s Kiss cocktail?

To whip up this classic drink with a vampire twist, you’ll need to gather the following ingredients:

• Black cherry vodka – This gives the cocktail a slightly tart and fruity flavor. The dark cherry theme aligns with the imagery of Dracula and his association with night and darkness.
• Grenadine – Adds sweetness to the cocktail and creates a deep red hue.
• Coke – Provides effervescence and depth to the drink. Its dark color complements the black cherry vodka and makes the red of the grenadine stand out more, emphasizing the “blood” effect.
• Maraschino cherries with stems – These are reminiscent of the “puncture marks” from Dracula’s bite. They provide a fun visual tie-in to the vampire motif, and a sweet treat at the end of the drink.

What kind of Coke should you use for a cocktail?

The answer can vary from person to person, but as a general rule, I’d recommend sticking to either “regular” Coke (and any flavor you might like, such as Vanilla Coke) or possibly Coke Zero, depending on your guests and their preferences. Overall, “regular” sodas have a fuller, rounder sweetness due to their sugar content and they tend to maintain their carbonation better in cocktails like this.

Diet sodas are not typically used in mixed drinks as they have a different sweetness profile, which may not blend as well with vodka or grenadine. For the best results, I would not recommend Diet Coke for this cocktail unless someone specifically requests it.

What kind of vodka should you use?

You could spike this drink with any vodka, but this particular recipe calls for black cherry vodka – which, depending on the stores in your area, may be difficult to find.

So, if you’re unable to track down black cherry vodka, you could also use cherry vodka or raspberry vodka. Or, if flavored vodka isn’t your thing, you could use your favorite straight vodka and add a touch more grenadine to balance it out.

Can you make a big batch of this cocktail?

Yes! This drink has no special “effects” (such as layering, gradients, etc.), so it’s perfectly safe to mix this drink and serve it in a big batch.

And in order to make a big batch, all you need to do is measure this drink in parts.

Recipes measured in parts allow for adjustable drink sizes. The measurements they give you (1 part, 1/2 part, etc.) are so you can keep the ratio of the ingredients correct.

For example, let’s say you wanted to make one drink – this typically means you’re using 1 standard shot glass for measuring. So then, when the recipe says “1 part”, you would interpret that amount as “1 standard shot glass” full. If the recipe says “1/2 part”, you’d fill the shot glass halfway so that it’s “1/2 standard shot glass.” OR, let’s say you wanted to make enough drinks for a few friends. When making the drink, you could interpret “1 part” as “1 cup” (or “1/2 part” to “1/2 cup.”)

Given the above, to measure this Dracula’s Kiss cocktail in parts, you would need:

• 1 part black cherry vodka
• 1/2 part grenadine
• 5 parts Coke

Notes & tips for this cocktail

• Before mixing, ensure that all ingredients, especially the Coke, are well-chilled. This will help keep the drink cold and prolong carbonation.

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How to make a Dracula’s Kiss cocktail

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Fill a tall glass with ice, then pour in the black cherry vodka.

Step 2 – Next, pour in the grenadine.

Step 3 – Going slowly, pour in the Coke. The goal is to pour slowly enough that the drink mixes a little but that most grenadine still sinks to the bottom. This will give the drink a red ombre look and go with the “Dracula” theme.

Step 4 – Garnish the drink with two cherries (like two “puncture marks” from Dracula!) and serve it with a stirring straw. The idea is to serve this drink “unmixed” for the cool ombre look, but give the drinker the option to mix as they wish for the taste.

Step 5 – Serve and enjoy!