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Got blood oranges? These brilliant blood orange cocktails pair the vibrant fruit with gin, vodka, tequila, and more.
When it comes to beautiful fruit, the blood orange is right up there! It’s fiery red color and gently sweet flavor make it ideal for adding to recipes of all kinds. When we have an abundance, we turn to drinks! The subtly sweet orange flavor with hints of cherry and raspberry make any cocktail more intriguing.
Here are the top blood orange cocktails to try when you’ve got an abundance of the fruit or juice! Try the blood orange margarita for a stunning spin on everyone’s favorite drink, or the classic Blood and Sand, a 1930’s classic cocktail with an unlikely liquor pairing.
Our top blood orange cocktails
Try this tasty Blood Orange Margarita! Combining the citrus with tequila and lime makes a brilliant bright orange red drink that’s perfectly balanced and sweet tart. In all of our margarita recipes, this one’s a favorite.
Ingredients: Blood orange juice, tequila, Cointreau, lime, simple syrup
Here’s a zingy blood orange cocktail that makes the most of this unique citrus fruit: a Blood Orange Martini! This drink matches the floral citrus from the blood orange with the tang of lime juice, making a balanced, drinkable flavor.
Ingredients: Blood orange juice, vodka, lime juice, Cointreau, simple syrup
Here’s arguably the easiest blood orange cocktail out there: the Blood Orange Gin and Tonic! There’s nothing better than a cocktail you can mix up right in the glass, right? Much as we love a good margarita or martini…this one’s even easier to make.
Ingredients: Blood orange juice, gin, tonic water
Here's a unique 1930's blood orange cocktail: the Blood and Sand! It’s similar to a Manhattan or Martinez, but with with Scotch, blood orange juice and cherry liqueur. Instead of spicy and boozy like most Scotch cocktails, it’s the exact opposite! It’s light and semi-sweet, with a balanced and cherry-forward flavor.
Ingredients: Blended Scotch, cherry liqueur or cherry brandy (like Cherry Heering), sweet vermouth, blood orange juice
Another blood orange cocktail? A fusion of the best of Italian and Mexican cuisines in margarita form! This Mediterranean version of the classic cocktail swaps out orange liqueur for amaretto, and the almond essence adds a distinctly Italian vibe.
Ingredients: Tequila, blood orange juice, amaretto, lime juice
Next in our blood orange cocktails: the Garibaldi! This Italian cocktail has so much going for it: first of all, it's got only two ingredients! There’s a little textural little flair with a foamy topping. The flavor comes out balanced and refreshing, with bitter, sweet and tangy notes all intermingling in the perfect sip.
Ingredients: Blood orange juice, Campari
Everything’s better with bubbles, right? Try this Blood Orange Mimosa! Blood orange juice gives the glass a fiery red color and crisp flavor. It’s bubbly, it’s refreshing, and it’s downright fun. (Note: Replace the orange juice with blood orange juice in the linked recipe.)
Ingredients: Blood orange juice, Prosecco or champagne
Last up in our blood orange cocktails: the Golden Dream! One sip and you’ll be instantly intrigued: in fact, it tastes like a boozy Creamsicle! It’s creamy with a strong orange flavor: and the finish isn’t too sweet, with subtle notes of herbs, licorice and vanilla. (Note: Replace the orange juice with blood orange juice in the linked recipe.)
Ingredients: Galliano, Triple Sec or Cointreau, blood orange juice, heavy cream
More ways to use blood oranges
Want to use this vibrant fruit outside of these blood orange cocktails? Here are a few fun ways to use this unique citrus fruit:
- Try them cut into rounds in this beautiful Citrus Salad
- Bake them into a cornmeal cake in this Upside Down Orange Cake
- Freeze the juice into a delicious Blood Orange Granita
- Make a tasty mocktail out of Blood Orange Rosemary Water
Blood Orange Cocktails: Margarita & More!
This blood orange margarita is the perfect way to use this vibrant fruit! Add tequila and lime for a stunning citrus cocktail.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) tequila blanco or reposado*
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) blood orange juice
- ¾ ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) Cointreau
- ¾ ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) fresh lime juice
- Kosher salt, flaky sea salt, or Himalayan pink sea salt, for the rim (optional)
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
Instructions
- Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt (or for a festive look, use Margarita Salt).
- Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake until cold. Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with ice, garnish with a blood orange slice, if desired.
Notes
*To make a pitcher of 8 servings, mix together in a pitcher: 1 ½ cups tequila, 2 cups blood orange juice, ¾ cup Cointreau, and ¾ cup lime juice. Add three handfuls of ice and stir until cold. Pour into individual glasses.
More cocktail recipes
There are so many drinks to try outside of these blood orange-centered beverages! Here are 300+ cocktail recipes for every occasion:
- Classics: Try Classic Cocktails or Great Cocktail Recipes.
- Easy: These Easy Mixed Drinks and Cheap Drinks have just 2 to 3 ingredients.
- Fancy: Opt for the best in Craft Cocktails or Upscale Drinks to Impress.
- The Big 5: Try all our cocktails with Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Tequila or Rum.
Let us know if you have any questions!