Vampiro (cocktail) facts for kids
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail |
| Primary alcohol by volume | |
| Served | On the rocks; poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | Salt on the rim. Chili pepper (optional) |
| Standard drinkware |
 |
| Commonly used ingredients |
|
| Preparation | Pour ingredients into glass rimmed with salt. Stir. |
The Vampiro is a special mixed drink from Mexico. It gets its name, which means "vampire" in Spanish, because of its bright red color. This color comes from a special juice mixer. The drink has a mix of fruit juices, spices, and a fizzy soda. It tastes fruity, a little bubbly, and spicy all at once.
The Vampiro often uses a Mexican mixer called sangrita. This mixer already has orange juice and chili peppers in it. One way to make a Vampiro uses tequila, limes, and a citrus-flavored soda. It also includes a specific Mexican sangrita drink called Viuda de Sanchez. This drink is popular in Mexico and parts of the southern US. If Viuda de Sanchez is not available, fresh orange juice, lime juice, and a spicy seasoning called pico de gallo can be used instead.
The Vampiro is very popular in Mexico. Many people consider it a national drink. Mexicans gave it the name "Vampiro" because the red color of the Viuda de Sanchez juice looks like blood.
Contents
How to Make a Vampiro
Vampiro drinks can be made in a tall glass or a shorter, wider glass. Here are the steps to prepare one:
Preparing the Glass
First, you can add salt to the rim of the glass. To do this, spread a thin layer of salt on a flat surface. Then, moisten the rim of your glass with a little lime juice or water. Gently press the upside-down glass rim onto the salt. This makes the salt stick to the edge of the glass.
Mixing the Ingredients
Next, fill about half of the glass with ice cubes. Then, add a small amount of tequila. After that, squeeze fresh lime juice into the glass. Add a few grains of salt. Pour in citrus-flavored soda until the glass is almost full. Finally, add the spicy Viuda de Sanchez mixer. If you don't have Viuda de Sanchez, use orange juice, lime juice, and pico de gallo seasoning.
Final Step
The last step is to stir all the ingredients together. This helps to blend all the flavors nicely.
Where the Vampiro Comes From
Many people believe the Vampiro drink started in a town called San Luis Soyatlán in Mexico. A fruit stand seller named Oscar Hernández is said to have created it. He first made the drink for himself. But soon, his customers saw it and asked him to make it for them too. The drink became famous by people telling others about it. It was traditionally sold in clear plastic bags with a straw.
Different Ways to Make a Vampiro
There are a few different ways people make the Vampiro. Some recipes suggest adding a shot of tomato juice. They also include fresh orange and lime juice, and a sweet syrup called grenadine. Hot pepper sauce and freshly ground black pepper can also be added. These versions might not use the Mexican sangrita mixer. Some recipes even suggest shaking all the ingredients together and then pouring them into the glass, instead of just stirring.
In 2017, a writer named David Hammond described a special Vampiro drink. It was called the Doce Vampiro cocktail. This version was served at a restaurant in Chicago. This deep red drink mixes different ingredients. It includes pisco, tequila, lemon, pineapple, and a bitter Italian drink called Ramazzotti amaro. It also has chicha morada, which is a sweet and sour Peruvian drink made from purple corn. Hammond noted that the pisco, pineapple, and lemon give the drink bright, zesty flavors. The tequila, Ramazzotti, and chicha morada add deeper, spicier notes.
