Vampiro Cocktail (Vampiros Mexicanos)

This blood chilling Vampiro Cocktail is a refreshing Mexican cocktail featuring tequila, Sangrita, grapefruit soda, and lime. Serve it in your favourite glass with plenty of ice and a Tajin spice rim.

Cocktail hour is always close at hand at our home. There are so many delicious classics, it’s difficult to choose which one is my favourite. However, I’ll never refuse a perfectly refreshing Pina Colada or Passion fruit kissed Zombie Cocktail. When it comes to cocktails, do you love the classics or love shaking new things up?

Vampiro Cocktail (Vampiros Mexicanos)

Even though Halloween falls on a Monday this year, we still look forward to our Halloween night traditions: A comforting bowl of chili for dinner, Rocky Horror Picture Show on the TV, and a cold cocktail with a creepy theme.

This year I’ve chosen the ever popular ‘vampire’ theme because vampires have an otherworldly appeal, just like this Vampiro Cocktail. Who can resist a blood red cocktail with a spicy ring of Tajin seasoning rimmer rising up from beyond the grave?

This Mexican style Vampiro is as easy to make as taking candy from a baby. There’s only one spirit involved, and that’s tequila. I mean, all the best Mexican cocktails contain tequila am I right? Come to think of it, this the sweet spicy taste of this cocktail is similar to a slightly savoury Spicy Margarita.

What is a Vampiro Cocktail?

A Vampiro cocktail is a refreshing lightly carbonated Mexican cocktail that contains either tequila blanco or tequila reposado as the only spirit. Other common Vampiro ingredients include (but are not limited to) fresh lime juice, Squirt (a refreshing grapefruit soda), and Sangrita mix.

This thirst-quenching cocktail tastes similar to a fruity spicy Bloody Mary, if it was made with tequila. It is said to be the creation of a fruit stand owner named Oscar Hernández who originally served the cocktails in a plastic bag with a straw.

Vampiros Mexicanos are served with plenty of ice in a Tajin rimmed rocks glass or taller cocktail glass. The Tajin rim adds plenty of spice to the cocktail but it’s the Sangrita which makes this cocktail extra special. It’s worth sourcing Viuda de Sanchez which is the most popular brand of Sangrita mix in Mexico and the Southern US.

Ingredients in a Vampiro Cocktail

The most basic ingredients in a homemade Vampiro Cocktail are fruit juice, spices, fruit soda, fresh lime juice, and tequila. There aren’t many ways to deviate from this basic formula. However, there are a few ‘short cut’ ingredients that can be purchased and are widely popular.

• Tequila
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Squirt
• Sangrita
• Tajin

Let’s talk tequila. It is not necessary to buy top shelf tequila for a mixed drink. Keep the good stuff for sipping! Most Vampiro recipes call for Blanco (or unaged) tequila, however, I prefer the taste of a slightly aged or reposado tequila in this cocktail and in my margaritas. Try to choose one that does not have a strong oak flavour.

Fresh lime juice and Squirt soda both add refreshing citrus flavours to this cocktail while the Squirt also adds the carbonation. The Squirt soda has such a lively grapefruit flavour that I recommend buying and enjoying it on its own or as a Paloma cocktail (with tequila).

What is Sangrita?

As mentioned earlier, Sangrita (Spanish for little blood or bloody) is an essential ingredient in a Vampiro Cocktail because it adds both flavour and a vibrant red colour. Sangrita is also enjoyed as part of a three coloured ‘banderita’ (little flag) cocktail shot trio, along with shots of lime and tequila.

The most popular Sangrita brand is Viuda de Sanchez which looks like a Bloody Mary mix but is quite different in flavour. It is a sweet and slightly savoury concentrated blend of orange juice, spices, and de Arbol chilies. It does not contain alcohol.

If you cannot find Viuda de Sanchez or another pre-made Sangrita, you can make your own by processing 1 cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon lime juice, de Arbol chilies, and 1/2 cup pico de gallo (or tomato juice) together in a blender. Add a pinch of salt and sugar to taste.

What is Tajin Seasoning?

Tajin is a ‘unique blend of mild chili peppers, lime, and sea salt’. It makes the perfect fiery rim for spicy and fruity cocktails like margaritas and Vampiros. It is delicious sprinkled onto fruits such as pineapple, mangos, oranges, and watermelons or on corn, potatoes, and avocados.

Despite its bright red colour, Tajin is not overly spicy but adds a flavourful warmth to any dish or cocktail. Since it contains salt, you do not need to add additional salt if you use it as a Vampiro or Margarita rimmer.

How to Make a Vampiro Cocktail

There are two ways to make a Vampiro. The most common version is made in a short rocks glass, contains plenty of ice, and is uniform in colour. The second is a layered cocktail presented in a Collins or Hurricane cocktail glass.

For both versions, start by preparing the glass with a Tajin rim. Place 4 tablespoons Tajin in a shallow bowl. Next, moisten the rim of the glass with either water or fresh lime juice and place it in the Tajin upside down. Rotate the glass to get uniform coverage.

To make the uniform version, begin by filling a rocks cocktail glass with ice. Pour two ounces tequila over the ice followed by one ounce of fresh lime juice, and 4 ounces Sangrita into the glass. Lastyly, top with 2 ounces Squirt. Stir to combine and serve.

For the tall glass layered Vampiro Cocktail, pour 4 ounces Squirt into a Collins or Hurricane glass. Fill the glass 3/4 with ice, leaving room at the top. In a separate glass, mix two ounces tequila with one ounce of fresh lime juice and 4 ounces Sangrita. Stir. Carefully pour the tequila mixture over the back of a spoon and into the Squirt filled cocktail glass. Serve.

If you make this Vampiro Cocktail (Vampiros Mexicanos) recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe, please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making! Thank you so much for reading my blog.