Blood Orange Cosmopolitan Recipe “Last Kiss”

Written By Rochelle J

💋 The Last Kiss — A Blood Orange Cosmopolitan with a Dark Twist

Some cocktails are pretty… and then there’s The Last Kiss — a drink that’s beautiful, bold, and just a little dangerous. 🍸

This Blood Orange Cosmopolitan takes the elegance of a classic Cosmo and gives it a Halloween twist — deep crimson hues, a black lava salt rim, and flavors that balance citrusy brightness with sultry sweetness.

It’s the perfect drink for Halloween parties, date nights, or any occasion that calls for something party-perfect for every season- just leave the lava rim off the cocktail and add a citrus twist or dried blood orange slice to serve this cocktail year-round!

🍊 About the Cocktail

The Last Kiss was inspired by one of my favorite Halloween costumes — Poison Ivy — dramatic, glamorous, and admittedly…more than a little villainous.

The cocktail mirrors her personality: sweet, seductive, and layered with a bit of bite. The Blood Orange gives it a rich, blood red tone, while the lime juice and orange liqueur keep it crisp and balanced.

Add a rim of black lava salt and it becomes an unforgettable signature sip that’s as striking as it is delicious, with the perfect party-vibes to keep your guests sipping in style!

💋 The Last Kiss Recipe — Blood Orange Cosmopolitan

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Serves: 1 cocktail

✨ Ingredients

🍸 Instructions

1️⃣ Rim the Glass:
Dip the rim of your martini glass into a small plate of lime juice, then press it into the black lava salt to coat. For extra drama, use a paint brush to “paint” half of the rim, and use that half to dip into the salt. The honey will grab a larger amount of the salt, but also leave some of the rim free for guests that would like some salt-free sips.

2️⃣ Shake It Up:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, Cointreau (or Triple Sec), fresh lime juice, and Blood Orange juice or purée.

3️⃣ Adjust Sweetness:
If you prefer a slightly sweeter cocktail, add a splash of simple syrup and give it one more shake. The Monin Blood Orange puree has some natural sweetness to it, however different brands will provide a varying amount of tartness. Always taste test your creations, finalize the recipe according to your palate, and write down your recipe! This will also help when batching and serving large quantities to guests.

4️⃣ Serve & Garnish:
Strain into your prepared glass. Garnish with a slice of dried blood orange for extra drama (easy to make in a dehydrator, or purchase here!)

💄 Boozy Mermaid Tips

🌿 Make It Pop: The darker the Blood Orange purée, the more dramatic the color contrast will be against the black salt rim. You can also add some edible glitter to the sea salt to really add a pop. I use silver edible glitter when mixing with black lava salt, as it doesn’t stain guest’s teeth and still looks totally glam! (It’s available on Amazon here)

🍸 Batch It: Hosting a party? Multiply the recipe in a carafe and store in the refrigerator before your event (do not shake the cocktail, just measure and batch together before ice and shaking) When guests arrive, simply pour 4-5 ounces of the mixture into shaker, shake and serve! With a large Boston style shaker and pint glass, you can serve 2-3 cocktails at once. PRO tip: If you have a very large event and no bartender to help serve the drinks, you can “craft batch” this cocktail by batching the cocktail, whisk together thoroughly, and add 1 oz water for every cocktail you are batching. This is adding the proper average dilution that shaking would add with the ice. Shaking to order is ideal due to the puree and citrus, so be sure to taste test if you are going to dilute rather than shake! (and serve VERY cold)

✨ Style It: I love pairing this drink with dramatic glassware (think gold-rimmed or faceted martini glasses). The reflection makes the red glow even richer. Future tip: gorgeous glassware & barware can take the stress out of every cocktail being picture-perfect, as the glassware and drinkware does the work for you! This also can be helpful for cocktails that don’t have the wow factor on their own, or turn a muddy color on their own.

💋 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re channeling your inner Poison Ivy, planning a spooky soirée, or simply want a cocktail that stands out, The Last Kiss is one you’ll come back to again and again.

It’s proof that creativity, presentation, and a splash of imagination can transform even a classic drink into something extraordinary.

Rochelle J
Next

Blueberry Lavender Lemon Drop Martini - the Lit Fairy Halloween Cocktail