When it’s cold outside, I like to offer up drink recipes that take advantage of fresh fruit for a bright and cheery mood lifter. Some of my favorites include vodka punch, a cranberry margarita, cranberry mimosa and this colorful blood orange margarita. Blood oranges are only in season for a very short period of time, which is why I try to take advantage of them when they’re in the stores! I celebrate citrus season by serving beautiful blood oranges in salads, as a snack or in cocktails like a blood orange margarita.
Blood Orange Margarita Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need blood orange juice, tequila blanco (silver tequila), triple sec (such as Cointreau), fresh lime juice, sanding sugar, salt and grenadine. You can garnish the drink with blood orange slices and mint sprigs.
How Do You Make A Blood Orange Margarita?
Start by mixing the salt and sugar together on a small plate. Dip the rim of your glass in water, then set the rim down onto the sugar mixture. Turn the glass upright, then add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add the citrus juices, tequila, triple sec and grenadine to the shaker. Seal the shaker, then shake to combine. Place ice into the prepared glass, and strain the drink into the glass. Garnish with slices of fresh blood oranges and mint sprigs, then serve.
Tips For The Perfect Drink
I recommend using freshly squeezed blood orange juice for the best results. Some stores do sell blood orange juice in the refrigerator area, or you can squeeze your own. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker at home, you can shake your ingredients in a mason jar, or just use a spoon to stir everything together. I use a measuring shot glass to make life a little easier when it comes to drink prep. Grenadine is not a traditional ingredient in a blood orange margarita. That said, it offers extra flavor, color and sweetness and I think it really enhances the drink. If you don’t have grenadine, you can substitute an equal amount of simple syrup.
Flavor Variations
This drink is delicious as written, but you can use different ingredients to customize the flavors to your taste.
Juice: If blood oranges are out of season, you can use regular orange juice instead. You can also swap out the orange juice for other types of juices such as pomegranate, cherry or cranberry for a totally different flavor. Liquor: Mezcal is a good substitute for the tequila blanco in this recipe. If you don’t have triple sec, try a different kind of orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier. Garnishes: You can use different garnishes such as candied orange peel, a curl of orange zest or fresh limes.
You must try these blood orange margaritas. It’s great for an everyday drink, but even better for holiday gatherings!
