Vampiro Cocktail

History & Origin

The vampiro is an emblematic Jalisco cocktail born from the Jaliscan custom of drinking tequila accompanied by sangrita, a tradition dating back to the early 20th century in the cantinas of Guadalajara and tequila-producing towns like Tequila, Amatitán and Arandas. Sangrita (meaning "little blood") was originally created as an accompaniment for blanco tequila: a spicy, citrus chaser to cleanse the palate between sips of the spirit. It is said the first sangrita was simply orange juice with chilli de arbol and salt, prepared by the wives of jimadores (agave cutters) to accompany homemade tequila. Over time the recipe became more sophisticated with the addition of tomato juice, onion, lime and various spices. The vampiro was born when someone decided to mix both elements in a single glass with ice, rather than drinking them separately. The name "vampiro" refers to the blood-red colour of the drink. Unlike the margarita, which was popularised internationally, the vampiro remains a deeply Mexican cocktail, more appreciated within the country than abroad.