This Blood Orange Gin Cocktail is a delightful twist on a gin sour with fresh blood orange juice and a dash of orange bitters. This cocktail recipe is beautiful and refreshing.
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Why You'll Love This Cocktail Recipe
You'll love this Blood Orange Gin Cocktail for its blend of botanical gin, vibrant flavors of freshly squeezed blood orange juice and lemon juice, and the creaminess of shaken egg white similar to my Blood Orange Pisco Sour and my Blood Orange Whiskey Sour. The addition of simple syrup and orange bitters creates perfectly balanced flavors, offering a refreshing and sophisticated cocktail experience based on a classic gin sour.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions For This Drink
- Gin - You can use your favorite gin for this cocktail, however, because of the floral notes in blood orange, I would recommend a more botanical gin.
- Freshly Squeezed Fruit Juice - For the best cocktail, use freshly squeezed blood orange juice and lemon juice just like in my Blood Orange Margarita. Fresh juice brings bright and citrusy acidity to the cocktail and balances out the flavors. You can substitute lime juice for lemon juice.
- Simple Syrup - You need a sweetener to balance the tartness of the citrus. Simple syrup is common in cocktails, but you can also use my Rich Demerara Syrup or agave syrup.
- Orange Bitters - Orange bitters are a concentrated, aromatic flavoring made from orange peels. They add complexity and a subtle bitter element to the cocktail.
- Egg White - Egg white creates a creamy texture to this cocktail and also the beautiful foam on top. You can substitute aquafaba (see below) for the egg white or omit it altogether.
*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
How To Make a Blood Orange Gin Cocktail
- Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice and dry shake vigorously for 8-10 seconds to create a frothy foam on top.
- Uncover the shaker, add a scoop of ice, secure the lid, and shake again for an additional 10-15 seconds.
- Double-strain the mixture into a cocktail glass, garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary, and enjoy immediately.
Expert Tips for This Recipe
- Quality Ingredients: Start with a high-quality gin. The botanicals in the gin contribute significantly to the flavor profile of the cocktail.
- Fresh Squeezed Fruit Juice: Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. Fresh citrus adds brightness and complexity to the drink.
- Balancing the Flavors: Pay attention to the balance between sweet, sour, and strong. Adjust the ratio of simple syrup and lemon juice to suit your personal taste preferences.
- Dry Shake: Dry shaking (shaking without ice) for the first round helps create a frothy and silky texture in the cocktail. Shake for about 10-15 seconds.
- Straining: Double-strain the cocktail to remove any ice shards and ensure a smooth texture. This is typically done by using both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer.
Egg White Substitution For This Cocktail
Aquafaba is an excellent alternative to using egg white in a cocktail. Aquafaba is the liquid in garbanzo beans and works similarly to egg white.
Substitute 1 ounce of aquafaba for the egg white in the recipe and proceed with the cocktail preparation as directed. While aquafaba introduces a subtle hint of saltiness, it tends to go unnoticed in the ultimate cocktail blend.
You can check out my notes in the recipe card regarding the USDA comments on egg whites. Not everyone is comfortable adding egg white to their drink, and that's ok.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use your preferred gin. I would suggest a more floral-forward gin that pairs well with the blood orange juice, however, any gin will work for this recipe.
While freshly squeezed juice is recommended for the best results, you can use bottled blood orange and lemon juice if fresh isn't available. Keep in mind any added sugars or preservatives in the bottled juices may alter the flavor slightly.
Orange bitters create depth and complexity to this drink. Orange bitters complement the citrusy elements in this recipe, however, you can experiment with different bitters if you would like to. Start with a small amount and adjust to your liking.
If you get a chance to make this Blood Orange Gin Cocktail, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Blood Orange Gin Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 1 large egg white
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker without ice and dry shake for 8-10 seconds (this creates the foam on top).
- Open the cocktail shaker and add a scoop of ice. Put the lid on the shaker and shake for another 10-15 seconds.
- Double strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary and enjoy immediately. Cheers!
Notes
- Quality Ingredients: Start with a high-quality gin. The botanicals in the gin contribute significantly to the flavor profile of the cocktail.
- Fresh Squeezed Fruit Juice: Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. Fresh citrus adds brightness and complexity to the drink.
- Balancing the Flavors: Pay attention to the balance between sweet, sour, and strong. Adjust the ratio of simple syrup and lemon juice to suit your personal taste preferences.
- Dry Shake: Dry shaking (shaking without ice) for the first round helps create a frothy and silky texture in the cocktail. Shake for about 10-15 seconds.
- Straining: Double-strain the cocktail to remove any ice shards and ensure a smooth texture. This is typically done by using both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer.
- *The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers it safe to use raw eggs if they are pasteurized. Bottom Line: Raw eggs may contain a type of pathogenic bacteria called Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning. However, the risk of an egg being contaminated is quite low. Please proceed at your own risk and decide if you are okay with this. I have never had an issue.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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