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    Home > Holidays and Events > Halloween

    Witches Blood - A Halloween Cocktail

    Last Updated: Jun 28, 2025 · First Published: Sep 19, 2018
    Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts · Comment: 17 Comments

    15936 shares
    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved!
    4.29 from 32 votes
    Pin image with an overhead view of the witches bloody cocktail with writing at the top
    split pin image with two pictures of witches blood cocktail and writing in the middle
    Pin image showing a close up on cocktail with writing at the bottom

    This Witches Blood Halloween Cocktail is perfect for whipping up in a big batch for a crowd.

    An easy to make cocktail that mixes vodka, whiskey and lemon together to create a twist on a whisky sour recipe, but with the added sweetness of cherry.

    head on showing the black sugar rim and the spider garnish on this halloween cocktail

    Serve a pitcher of this at your Halloween party, or add it to a punch bowl with some plastic spiders floating in it for a simple creepy effect.

    Or serve in a sugar rimmed martini glass for a dramatically spooky sip. The possibilities are frightening!

    overhead showing the dramatically red colour of this halloween cocktail

    Can I use black vodka in this cocktail?

    You sure can, in fact black vodka gives it a much spookier and dramatic feel. I tried this with black vodka and I loved the affect. You can see from the pictures below that black vodka really deepens the color, it is truely a witches blood color!!!

    But I wanted to ensure this was easily accessible and that everyone could easily make this so I have left the black vodka as optional, as it is still quite hard to find here.

    It was a bit of a boozy afternoon 😉 whilst I tested out the black vodka and took the photos....I'm surprised they are in focus - no really I did finish the photos before I drank the final batch.

    martini glass with the cocktail using black vodka, it is a much deeper darker burgundy color

    How do you rim the glasses?

    If you are serving this witches blood cocktail to a small group then you can serve it in the sugar rimmed glasses. I chose martini glasses as they always make me feel like it could be a movie. But a small tumbler or whisky glass would work too.

    Want to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    To rim the glasses, run a cut piece of lemon around the top of the glass, then dip the wet glass into a saucer of sugar. I used black sanding sugar here, but red would be wonderful too.

    You will need a wedge of lemon and approximately ½ teaspoon of sugar for each glass.

    I can't find colored sugar for my glasses!

    If you don't have coloured sugar then try this trick that I used last year with my Witches Brew Halloween Cocktail.

    • Squeeze some lemon juice into a saucer
    • Add some food coloring, be generous you want the colour to be quite intense.
    • Mix it with a cocktail stick.
    • Dip the glass into the saucer.
    • Dip the coated glass into a saucer of fine sugar.
    • The food colouring will seep into the sugar giving it an coloured hue.
    a rusty table with black potion bottles and spiders then two martini glasses of witches blood halloween cocktail

    Enjoy x

    For more Halloween recipes why not try:

    • close up on a smoking sprig of rosemary in a bourbon cocktail
    • sq image focusing on a rice krispies brain on an old dirty wooden board with bloody splats
    • a black bowl willed with red penne and frankfurter fingers
    • Close up of a purple cocktail in a shot glass with sugar rim

    If you try this Halloween Cocktail, please leave a 🌟star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I really appreciate it, and it helps others to know that the recipe is trustworthy. 

    Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.

    Get the Recipe

    sq image showing the top of the halloween cocktail sat on a rusty table with a black plastic spider and mouse

    Witches Blood - A Halloween Cocktail

    Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    This Halloween cocktail is perfect for whipping up in a big batch for a crowd. An easy to make cocktail that mixes vodka, whiskey and lemon together to create a twist on a whisky sour recipe, but with the added sweetness of cherry. Serve a pitcher of this at your Halloween party, or add it to a punch bowl with some plastic spiders floating in it for a simple creepy effect. Or serve in a sugar rimmed martini glass for a dramatically spooky sip. The possibilities are frightening!
    4.29 from 32 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Cocktail
    Cuisine Modern Australian
    Servings 14
    Calories 156 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    To make a smaller quantity use the slider above to reduce the quantities

    • ½ cup cherry schnapps
    • ½ cup vodka - see note 1
    • 1 cup whiskey
    • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
    • 4 cups cherry soda - see note 2

    Instructions
     

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    • Pour the cherry schnapps, vodka, whisky and lemon juice into a pitcher.
    • Stir well with a cup of ice.
    • Gently pour in the cherry soda and stir carefully to combine.

    To serve:

    • Either pour into punch bowl for guest to help themselves or serve in sugar rimmed glasses with a spooky spider garnish. (see note 3)

    Notes

    1. If you can find black vodka it would be great here, it makes the color much more dramatic. You could add a drop of black food coloring to normal vodka if you want the darker color. (see post for pictures) 
    2. The darker your cherry soda the darker your cocktail will be. I bought a black cherry soda for these photos.
    3. How to sugar rim a glass:
      • Squeeze some lemon juice into a saucer
      • OPTIONAL STAGE: Add some food coloring, be generous you want the colour to be quite intense.
      • Mix it with a cocktail stick.
      • Dip the glass into the saucer.
      • Dip the coated glass into a saucer of fine sugar.
      • The food colouring will seep into the sugar giving it an coloured hue.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 21gSodium: 17mgPotassium: 5mgSugar: 20gVitamin C: 2.2mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.1mg

    Nutrition is per serving

    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout

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      Non-alcoholic Eye of Newt Punch
    15936 shares

    Comments

    1. Christine says

      October 12, 2024 at 12:31 am

      the writing is horrible so why is there so much of it? just list down the recipe.

      Reply
      • Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

        October 14, 2024 at 6:50 pm

        Hi Christine,

        I am sorry you feel this way, but I write information and hints before the recipe so that people can make the recipe clearly and easily. It helps people who might have questions about ingredients or techniques, because I am not on here 24/7 to help. But the writing before the recipe can help people.
        There is a jump to recipe button for those who don't want the help.

        I have to say being told to stop writing and just give the recipe is very much like someone saying "Just sit down and shut up I don't care what you have to say, I just want to use you to help myself". Maybe something to think about? 🤷🏻‍♀️

        Have a great day
        Cx

        Reply
        • Camacho says

          November 01, 2024 at 2:07 pm

          5 stars
          That Christine person is a jerk!!!!! sheeesh
          Why are there people like that?
          Your page is very nice and so is the witches blood ma'am, have a happy Halloween from Portland Texas

          Reply
          • Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

            November 02, 2024 at 8:09 am

            Happy Halloween to you too 👻
            And thank you 🙂
            Cx

            Reply
    2. Christopher Pierson says

      October 18, 2021 at 10:04 am

      What other alcohol could be used instead of the whisky?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 24, 2021 at 8:20 pm

        Hi Christopher,
        I haven't tried it so I don't know for sure but I feel a brandy should work. (it is usually great with cherry)
        I hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply
    3. Malene says

      October 09, 2021 at 4:43 am

      I made this to our Halloween party last year and have been asked to make it again this year. I couldn't get cherry soda in Denmark so I used a raspberry soda instead along with a cherry wine I already had.
      But do you have a suggestion for a non-alcoholic version, since we have kids and a pregnant joining?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 09, 2021 at 11:29 am

        Hi Malene,
        So pleased everyone enjoyed it enough to want it again this year 🙂

        I think for a mocktail drink with a similar colour, I would perhaps use some raspberry soda (or cherry soda if you find it this year), lime juice, a little cola and maybe a touch of vanilla to round out the lime.

        I would do:
        ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
        4 cups cherry soda (or raspberry soda)
        1 cup cola
        1/4 tsp vanilla extract

        I think that could be a really fun mocktail.
        or I do have a non-alcoholic punch made for halloween: Eye of Newt Punch

        I hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply
    4. Jordan Allori says

      October 19, 2020 at 10:09 am

      I am wanting to do this but I cannot find cherry schnapps or cherry brandy anywhere. Not much cherry anything, really. I already have everything else and don’t want to make something else, do you have any recommendations for what to use instead??

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 21, 2020 at 9:58 am

        I think maybe a sweet sherry could work instead of the cherry schnapps/brandy.
        It would change the taste, but I think it would still be delicious.
        Hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply
    5. Jennifer D says

      October 08, 2020 at 1:10 am

      The only cherry schnapps I can find is Sour Cherry schnapps. Is this going to work for the recipe?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 14, 2020 at 8:58 am

        I think it will work still, but it will have a tarter flavor.

        Reply
    6. Pam says

      October 03, 2020 at 4:40 am

      Looked high and low and googled. Can’t find anyone who makes Cherry schnapps. Dekyper makes cherry pucker or cherry bandy. Any chance it’s a miss print?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 14, 2020 at 9:04 am

        Hi Pam, I find cherry schnapps here in Australia, but my sister makes it with a cherry brandy in the UK and says it tastes amazing. So you can definitely swap that out.
        Hope that helps 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    7. Agatha Lungi says

      October 02, 2020 at 11:06 pm

      Hi, I found your recipe and I want to make this for my Halloween party... I was surprised to whiskey being mixed with vodka, and I just wanted to know the whiskey of choice? I don't drink much of that so I am unsure of what to buy..
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 14, 2020 at 9:11 am

        Hi Agatha,

        It is a bit of a heady mix! Think a Long Island ice tea strength cocktail.
        For this recipe I just buy a basic blended whisky (or bourbon)
        In the US I would say something like Evan Williams or Rebel Yell would be a good cheapish option.
        I do know a friend that made it with Jack Daniels and was very happy. But I would go for a cheaper option as the flavor is masked by the cherry soda somewhat.
        Hope that helps.
        Cx

        Reply
    8. Joe says

      September 21, 2018 at 1:05 am

      What whiskey would you recommend?
      Thank you

      Reply
    4.29 from 32 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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    I'm Claire and I love food!!


    I dream about food and I am happiest when I am in the kitchen cooking. Whether that is dinner for my family, snacks for drinks with my girlfriends or testing new recipes for my site, the kitchen is my happy place. Sprinkles and Sprouts is where I share it all and I am so happy you are here.

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