During the winter, dramatic deep crimson blood oranges are in season, so making a Blood Orange Vodka cocktail should be the top of your list. Tangy cocktails with blood orange juice feel like a first-class upgrade from classic OJ with all the added sweetness that blood oranges bring. They are sweeter than regular oranges, adding another flavour dimension, while the bold colour makes for pretty drinks. Get muddling with this quick and easy recipe that will wow your dinner party guests.
Blood Orange Vodka Cocktail
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Take a handful of ice and add to your mason jar or shaker
02
2.
Pour all your ingredients over the ice
03
3.
Cover and shake for 30 seconds, or until well chilled
04
4.
Strain and pour into Collins or high ball glass, filled with a handful of ice
05
5.
Garnish with a thin slice of orange, tucked down the side of the glass, and enjoy!
Blood Orange Vodka cocktail recipe
This zesty recipe is made at the drop of a hat, with no fancy mixing techniques involved, nor hard to come by ingredients. Our Blood Orange Vodka Cocktail is a lux version of the Screwdriver (OJ and vodka), blending fresh juice with a decent vodka like a SKYY. For extra zest, why not try it with SKYY’s Blood Orange infused Vodka? To finish the cocktail, add a dash of orange liqueur — something fabulous like Grand Marnier, which is a wickedly delicious blend of fine cognac and bitter orange – and, for extra tang, add a little freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice and a splash of bitters. This cocktail is big on citrus flavours, so balance the tang with a little simple syrup, if you like.
If you are using shop bought juice, make sure you choose a pure orange juice that’s made with 100% blood oranges for the best results. If you are juicing at home, one blood orange yields about 90ml, a perfect amount for one cocktail. If you fall in love with this tangy flavour and are looking for other cocktails with blood orange juice, just swap out regular orange juice in any of our Orange Juice cocktails or try our Blood Orange Margarita cocktail. Olé!
How to garnish the Blood Orange Vodka cocktail
- If you have blood oranges to spare, the simplest blood orange garnish for this bold crimson coloured drink is a thin slice of the orange tucked into the side of the glass
- A really classy way to elevate this lux drink is with a gorgeous and fragrant sprig of rosemary
- For funky ice cubes, freeze sprigs of rosemary in your ice cube trays with water, which makes a beautiful garnish along with your thin slice of orange
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Citrus based cocktails are so simple to make if you follow the simple rule of using a ratio of 1 part vodka or spirit to 2 parts juice. Depending on your taste, play around with this mix depending on how strong like your drink. Remember, the best cocktails will be the ones made with freshly squeezed juice — it renders the sweetest drink, but don’t fret if you only have shop bought, just pick one that’s 100% pure juice and add some fresh herbs for extra flavour. Topping up with a little sparkling or soda water is also a good addition to citrus cocktails if you prefer a lighter drink.
If you are wondering what to mix with blood orange vodka, try mixing it with other tangy juices like cranberry or apple juice. Obviously mixing it with orange or blood orange juice is sublime too. It also makes fabulous spritzers - just top it up with soda water and change it up with a dash of juice at hand. Peruse some cocktail ideas for more tantalising inspo.
