A sweetly tart vodka blood orange cocktail that’s simple to make and a crowd pleaser! This cocktail is made with freshly squeezed blood orange juice, lime juice, and a combination of vodka and Pimm’s. It’s a refreshing cocktail perfect for blood orange season.
When I feel like a refreshing cocktail, this is my new go-to drink! It’s not too sweet, thanks to the tart flavor of the blood orange juice, and freshly squeezed lime. But it’s not too tart either. It has a really nice balance of flavors, which makes it the perfect drink during the spring season when blood oranges are at their peak of freshness!
This recipe makes two cocktails, but you can easily make a larger batch for a group. I just love the deep purple color!
I used orange-flavored vodka since I had it on hand, but regular vodka works too. Pimm’s is a liquor that has a fruity and spiced taste that compliments the orange juice nicely. If you don’t have Pimm’s you can use an extra shot of vodka or triple sec! YUM! Welcome your new favorite orange-flavored cocktail!
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💗 Why You’ll Love This Vodka Blood Orange Cocktail
- Great for a party
- Not too sweet
- Not too tart
- Perfectly balanced
- Easy to make
- Beautiful presentation
🍊 Ingredients and Notes
Blood Orange Juice: I highly recommend squeezing your own fresh blood orange juice. Blood oranges are in season between December and April. If you are outside of this season, you may need to use regular orange juice for this drink.
Lime Juice: You’ll need 1-2 limes juiced depending on the size and juiciness of your limes.
Vodka: Regular or orange-flavored vodka can be used. You may even use blood-orange vodka!
Pimm’s: A popular English liquor. If you don’t have Pimm’s you can use an extra shot of vodka or Cointreau.
Maple Syrup (optional): For a touch of extra sweetness you can use maple syrup or simple syrup. However, if you don’t want the added sugar, go ahead and leave it out.
📋 Instructions: Vodka Blood Orange Cocktail
Step 1: Juice oranges until you get ½ a cup of juice. You’ll need 2-3 oranges.
Step 2: Juice ¼ cup of lime juice. You’ll need 2-3 limes.
Step 3 (optional): Using a metal strainer, strain the orange juice and the lime juice to eliminate the pulp.
Step 4: Add a cup of ice to a cocktail shaker. Add the blood orange juice, lime juice, 2 ounces of vodka, and one ounce of Pimm’s. Add the optional maple syrup. Secure the lid, and shake well.
Step 5: Run a slice of blood orange around the rim of two martini glasses. Dip the glasses in a bowl of sugar to create a sugar rim. Pour the shaken cocktail into the glasses, and garnish with a blood orange slice. Enjoy!
💭 Expert Tips
- If you prefer no pulp in your cocktail, strain the juice through a metal strainer before adding it to your cocktail glasses.
- Make a larger batch. Double or triple the recipe, and keep in a pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- If you don’t have blood orange juice use regular orange juice or grapefruit juice as a substitute.
- Leave out the maple syrup for a less sweet finish.
- Use simple syrup instead of maple syrup if you prefer.
❓ Recipe FAQS
Blood oranges are less sweet than regular oranges. They have a bright red or purple color when you cut them open, and produce a subtle sweetness with hints of grapefruit, cherry, and raspberry.
Use blood oranges in your favorite salads, juice for fresh drinks, make a salad dressing with them, or simply enjoy them all on your own. They pair nicely with other tart fruits such as limes, but also with sweet flavors like peaches, and strawberries. I enjoy pairing it with fennel which has a licorice flavor in this winter salad. It also tastes nice with chocolate for dessert. Or pair with nuts like almonds, and hazelnuts, alongside other fresh fruit and crackers for a beautiful appetizer plate.
Yes, there are many different brands that produce blood orange vodka. For example, 3 Howls, Effen, and Skyy all make flavored vodka with blood orange. If you simply want an orange-flavored vodka you can use Smirnoff, Grey Goose, or Kettle One.
📖 Variations and Substitutions
Triple Sec: Pimm’s is not always readily available. If you don’t have it you can use triple sec which has an orange flavor.
Garnishes: Get fancy with your garnishes by using a sprig of mint, rosemary, lime wedge, or orange peel curl.
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Recipe
Vodka Blood Orange Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup blood orange juice 2-3 oranges freshly squeezed
- ¼ cup lime juice 2-3 limes freshly squeezed
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Pimm's
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Juice oranges until you get ½ a cup of juice. You'll need 2-3 oranges.
- Juice ¼ cup of lime juice. You'll need 2-3 limes depending on how juicy the limes are.
- Using a metal strainer, strain the orange juice and the lime juice to eliminate the pulp.
- Add a cup of ice to a cocktail shaker. Add the blood orange juice, lime juice, 2 ounces of vodka, and one ounce of Pimm's. Add the optional maple syrup. Secure the lid, and shake well.
- Run a slice of blood orange around the rim of two martini glasses. Dip the glasses in a bowl of sugar to create a sugar rim.
- Pour the shaken cocktail into the glasses, and garnish with a blood orange slice. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you prefer to pulp in your cocktail, strain the juice through a metal strainer before adding it to your cocktail glasses.
- Make a larger batch. Double or triple the recipe, and keep in a pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- If you don’t have blood orange juice use regular orange juice or grapefruit juice as a substitute.
- Leave out the maple syrup for a less sweet finish.
- Use simple syrup instead of maple syrup if you prefer.
- If you don’t have Pimm’s you can use triple sec which has an orange flavor.
- Get fancy with your garnishes by using a sprig of mint, rosemary, lime wedge, or orange peel curl.
Jamie
So refreshing! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Anjali
I absolutely love cocktails that have pimm’s in them, especially in the spring and summertime! This recipe was so delicious – not to sweet and super refreshing – great for a springtime drink!
Mirlene
Going to make this for my hubby and myself for our upcoming date night. I love anything with vodka, specially oranges!
Casey
Made these for girlfriends last weekend and they were a hit! LOVE blood orange!!
Tristin
I definitely had to try out this drink before I can no longer get blood oranges at the market. It was refreshing and my husband is hooked!