Delicious Blood Orange Cocktail with Raspberry
Blood oranges are in season. And like so many good things, they are available for only a short while. But this year, I’m finding that they are especially bitter {insert the “no it’s just you” joke here}. Happily, bitterness works quite well in the cocktail world, especially when combined with sweet and sour–pillars on which many a good tipple are built.
A few weeks ago, I dined with friends at Jar, Suzanne Tracht’s acclaimed chop house in Los Angeles. One of our favorite cocktails of the evening was a fruity one, infused with a gently spiced simple syrup. The color, a deep blushing magenta, came from a couple of spoonfuls of tart cranberry jelly. I was smitten with the concoction, as was everyone in our party.
Inspired, I made my own spice-infused simple syrup, and made those bitter blood oranges into an amazing blood orange cocktail partnered with raspberries and a spoonful of sweet & tart kumquat marmalade. The results were smashing, just as I hoped.
Serve this on Valentine’s Day…or any day, really. Cheers!
Did you love this blood orange cocktail as much as I did? Here are some other recipes that you are sure to enjoy:
- An Easy Cocktail Recipe for Holiday Parties
- Violet Champagne Cocktail – The Elizabeth Taylor
- A Great Cranberry and Gin Cocktail
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and star rating below (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) and post a picture and tag us on Instagram using the hashtags #agirldefloured #deflouredrecipes! Thank you!
Blood Orange Raspberry Smash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 peppercorns
- 1 whole star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2, ¼ inch slices of blood orange quartered
- 4 raspberries
- 1 tablespoon kumquat marmalade or other citrus marmalade
- 2 ounces vodka or white tequila
- sparkling water
- sugar for the rim optional
Instructions
- Put the sugar, water, peppercorns, star anise and cinnamon stick in a small pot and heat over medium high. Bring to a simmer for a few minutes, stirring gently, until sugar is melted. Set aside to cool completely. Refrigerate in a lidded jar if making well in advance (it will last at least a week in the fridge).
- Rub the rim of one low ball glass with the cut blood orange and dredge rim through a plate of sugar. Fill the glass with ice. Set aside.
- Place the blood orange slices, raspberries and kumquat marmalade in a cocktail shaker. Smash thoroughly with a muddler (or a thick handle of a spatula). Add 2 ounces of cooled simple syrup, and 2 ounces of vodka or tequila. Add 2 handfuls of ice, cover and shake vigorously.
- Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass and garnish with a blood orange slice and/or some raspberries. Top with sparkling water, to taste.
Nutrition
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I used my own cranberry cherry compote and it came out fabulous!
That sounds so yummy!