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Vampire Cocktail with Licorice Spider Garnish – Halloween Drink Idea

This Vampire cocktail is pure fun, easy to make and sure to get your adult Halloween party started in a spooky way.

If you want to go all out, you could even dress up like a vampire while drinking this cocktail. 

The whimsical licorice spider makes the perfect garnish for this Halloween drink.

I love experimenting with spooky Halloween cocktails. They put us in a child-like mood and give us a chance be more like a kid again – while enjoying an adult beverage!

Red drink with a spider garnish, skull and witches hat.

Try one of these Halloween themed drinks this year:

Here are a few other ideas for Halloween drink ideas:

Like so many other seasonal drinks, the Halloween cocktail garnishes are what sets the mood of the drink, and this Vampire cocktail is no exception.

The fruity drink is garnished off with some licorice spiders climbing over the edge of the glass and the black sanding sugar makes the perfect rim accent.

Once the drink is finished, the tart spider with his edible candy eyes gives a nice sweet touch finish to the cocktail.

This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link.

This Vampire drink has a spooky black licorice spider trying to climb into the fruity drink. See how to make the cocktail and the garnish at Always The Holidays. 👺🍸😈 Click To Tweet

How to make the Vampire cocktail

Vampires like to drink blood, so it’s only appropriate that our drink has a cranberry base. The cranberry juice makes this cocktail spooky, sweet, tart, and delicious!

If you’re as big of a cranberry fan as we are, make sure you check out our post with cranberry facts, and our cranberry relish recipe!

To make the vampire cocktail, you will need these ingredients:

  • 2 ounces of good quality vodka
  • 2 ounces of cranberry juice
  • splash of ginger ale
  • Black sanding sugar
  • martini glass and cocktail shaker

Moisten the rim of a martini glass with and dip it into some black sanding sugar. Give it a good swirl and it’s ready for your drink.Black sanding sugar on martini glass.

Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice and add the vodka, cranberry juice and ginger ale.  Give it a good shake and pour into a martini glass that has the rim dipped into black sanding sugar.

Let’s make the licorice spider garnish for our vampire cocktail.

The vampire cocktail takes just a few minutes to prepare, and the cute licorice spider can also be made quickly.


To make the spiders and glass rim coating, you’ll need these supplies:

  • Black licorice wheels
  • Edible candy eyes
  • Black gel frosting

Witch hat, black gel frosting, licorice wheels and edible eyes.

Twist off some thin strips of licorice from the licorice wheel. Then cut the strips into pieces about 4 inches long with one piece about 6 inches long.

You’ll need 9 strips for each spider – 8 for the legs and one to twist around for the body. Each spider will also have two edible candy eyes.

Witch hat, licorice strips and edible eyes.

Lay out four licorice strips on each side and pinch them together with your left hand. Wrap the one longer piece of licorice around the join to made the body of the spider.

Don’t worry that it just lays there, flat. You’ll be draping it over the glass rim to make it look more spidery!

Licorice spider with witch hat

Add a dab of black gel frosting on the back of each edible eye and use tweezers to attach them to the spider body.

frosting, licorice spider and witch hat.

Place the spider over the edge of the vampire cocktail and arrange the legs like it is trying to get out. So much fun!

Spider garnish in a vampire cocktail with black rim.

This Halloween inspired cocktail is fruity and tart and has a smooth finish. The spider is tangy from the licorice flavor and has a slightly sweet taste and extra crunch from the edible candy eyes.

It’s fun and whimsical and sure to put your party guests in an eerie and hair-raising mood.

Pin this vampire cocktail for later

Would you like a reminder of this vampire drink recipe? Just pin this photo to one of your Halloween boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch our video on YouTube.

Red drink with skull and witch hat with words "vampire cranberry cocktail with spider garnish."

Yield: 1 drink

Vampire Cocktail with Licorice Spider Garnish

Vampire cranberry cocktail with licorice spider garnish

This vampire cocktail is fruity and fun. Top it off with a licorice spider garnish to put your guests in a spooky mood.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 2 ounces cranberry juice
  • splash of ginger ale

For the spider garnish

  • 2 licorice wheels
  • 2 edible eyes
  • 1/4 tsp gel black frosting
  • 1 tbsp black sanding sugar

Instructions

To make the garnish

  1. Moisten the glass rim and dip into the black sanding sugar.
  2. Pull the licorice from the wheel in strips.
  3. Cut the strips into 8 pieces - 4 inch long. Cut an additional strip 6 inches long.
  4. Lay the strips out four on each side and overlap the join.
  5. Wrap the 6 inch piece around the join to make a body.
  6. Place a dab of frosting on the back of each edible eye.
  7. Attach the eyes to the spider body.

For the vampire cocktail

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker 1/2 full with ice.
  2. Pour in the vodka, cranberry juice and ginger ale.
  3. Shake well and pour into a martini glass with a black rim.
  4. Position the spider legs over the edges of the glass rim.



Notes

The calorie content is for the drink itself. If you eat the spider garnish, it adds about 50 extra calories.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 161Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 0g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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