Blood Orange Margarita

Ratings: from .

PREP TIME 10 min

Cocktail Type

Margarita

Great for

Winter

Difficulty

Easy

Blood Orange Margarita with Rosemary

We wish every happy hour started with a Blood Orange Margarita cocktail. This juicy cocktail is packed with all the bittersweet flavours you can wish for, making it a perfect aperitif that everyone will love. It may have a few more ingredients to gather than your average 3-ingredient sippers, but it’s an all-in-one wonder that’s easy to whip together in a matter of minutes.

 

QUICK TIPS

01

Ruby grapefruit juice would be a winner in this cocktail too. The colour is so glorious! 

02

Check the sweetness: if it’s too tart, up your sugar syrup or reduce your lime juice. 

03

Add a salt rim, it elevates the flavour and brings that extra Insta-appeal to your drink. Add some zest too.

INGREDIENTS

MAKE FOR

1 Person

45 Ml

1.5 Oz

1.5 Parts

22.5 Ml

0.75 Oz

0.75 Parts

7.5 Ml

0.25 Oz

0.25 Parts

22.5 Ml

0.75 Oz

0.75 Parts

Blood orange juice
22.5 Ml

0.75 Oz

0.75 Parts

Lime juice, freshly squeezed
7.5 Ml

0.25 Oz

0.25 Parts

Sugar syrup
To garnish, a blood orange slice
To garnish, salt for the rim
Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

01

Wet the rim of a rocks glass or tumbler with a little juice

02

Dip it in a saucer of salt to coat

03

Fill the glass with ice and set aside

04

Half fill a shaker or mason jar with ice

05

Add all the ingredients and shake until icy cold

06

Strain into the glass

07

Garnish with a blood orange slice tucked onto the rim and enjoy super chilled

What is a blood orange?

The crimson-streaked flesh of blood orange is sweeter than a regular navel orange and a little less acidic with hints of berry flavour. These bold flavoured oranges are generally much juicer than their navel relatives and made up of a softer structure, so when you are making drinks with blood orange, you’ll see they easily collapse when juicing. The iconic dark red hue comes from the presence of anthocyanins, a pigment common to flowers and berries but usually rare in citrus. Blood oranges are in season in the cold winter months and start fruiting a month earlier than the navels, usually in December.

Blood Orange Margarita recipe

This beauty is one of the best Cocktails for beginners, as you literally chuck all your ingredients together and give it a good shake for an icy chill. Our Blood Orange Juice cocktail is built with the same blocks as the OG Margarita, which is one of those classic Mexican cocktails most people know. Made with tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, the blood orange version also adds a dash of Campari (yum), freshly squeezed blood orange juice and a little sugar syrup for sweetness. Make sure you grab a good quality tequila like Cabo Wabo or Espolòn as this recipe calls for a smooth unaged blanco to add a good balance. For the orange liqueur, choose one that offers serious bitter orange notes like Grand Marnier for adding an extra depth of flavour to drinks with blood orange.

How to salt the rim of a Margarita glass

The finishing touch of a Blood Orange Margarita cocktail is a salt rim. Do this first before pouring your drink by tipping some sea salt onto a saucer, rubbing a wedge of orange or lime around the edge of a rocks glass or tumbler to wet it before twisting the rim in the salt.

A salt rim elevates the flavour and brings that extra Insta-appeal to your drink, since we all tend to feast with our eyes first, right?

Fresh blood orange juice alternatives

If fresh oranges aren’t at your fingertips to juice for blood orange drink recipes, a 100% pure carton of juice will still be divine. Shop bought juices can be sweeter, so you may need to reduce the amount of sugar syrup in the cocktail. You can always substitute the blood orange with regular OJ – just remember you’ll lose a little sweetness along the way so add a little more sugar syrup.

Why is Campari a great addition to your Margarita?

When you add Campari to your Blood Orange Margarita, you’re bringing an extra layer of complexity to the drink. This iconic Italian aperitif adds a bittersweet note that plays beautifully against the sweetness of the blood orange and the sharpness of the lime. It’s a brilliant way to elevate a classic Margarita, making it feel just a bit more sophisticated. If you’re new to Campari, don’t worry—the bitterness mellows out with the other ingredients, creating a balanced, crave-worthy cocktail.

Also see: Drink Like an Italian (8 Campari Cocktails to Try)

Can I use agave syrup instead of sugar syrup?

If you want to give your Blood Orange Margarita a more traditional Mexican twist, swap out the sugar syrup for agave syrup. Agave syrup has a more neutral sweetness than sugar syrup and enhances the flavour of the tequila. It’s also a great option if you prefer a less-processed sweetener. Just be sure to use light agave syrup to keep the balance right in the drink.

Learn more: Easy Syrup Variations for Cocktail Making

More cocktails to try if you love a Blood Orange Margarita

  • Classic Margarita: The original version of the Blood Orange Margarita, made with tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur. It’s a timeless favourite for a reason!
  • Paloma: Another Mexican classic, made with tequila and grapefruit soda. It’s simple, fresh, and full of zesty flavour.
  • Tequila Sunrise: A colourful, layered drink made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, creating a beautiful sunrise effect in the glass.
  • Negroni: A beloved Italian cocktail made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It’s perfect if you want to explore more drinks with Campari.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This Blood Orange Margarita is a tangy drink that’s perfect for sipping on a cold winter’s night when you’re dining on comfort food that is slightly on the heavier side. The bold mix of the tangy juice and the Campari cuts through heavy foods so well.

When choosing a tequila for your Margarita, go for a blanco or silver tequila like Espolòn. Blanco tequilas are unaged, meaning they provide a clean, crisp flavour that pairs perfectly with the fruity and tart notes of blood orange. Avoid aged tequilas like reposado or añejo for this cocktail, as they can overpower the freshness of the other ingredients.

Yes, you can omit the Campari if you prefer, but it does add a lovely bittersweet balance to the drink. Without it, the cocktail will be more on the sweet and tangy side. You could also try substituting another bitter liqueur if you’re looking for a similar vibe.

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