This Blood Orange Old Fashioned cocktail is a modern and slightly sweeter take on a classic. With notes of citrusy blood orange and rich brown sugar, this easy cocktail is perfectly tangy, refreshing, and looks stunning on any holiday table.
I love a classic old fashioned, but this winter-inspired version is a bit sweeter than the classic, making it a great option for everyone to enjoy at the holidays.
Blood oranges are one of our favorite winter produce items, and this is a perfect use if you have a few in the fridge! Give this recipe a try for Thanksgiving or Christmas – we're pretty sure the whole family will want seconds.
Jump to:
Why We Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: It only takes a few minutes (and a few basic ingredients) to whip up one of these beautiful drinks.
- Unique flavor profile: This cocktail features a unique and unexpected combination of flavors from strong whiskey, sweet and tangy blood orange juice, and rich brown sugar simple syrup. It's something different and proves to be a perfectly balanced drink.
- Perfect for entertaining: You can measure and mix all of the ingredients and store in the fridge until the day of your event, making your holiday occasion super easy to pull off! Plus, this stunning cocktail will impress all of your guests (everyone goes crazy for the dehydrated orange slices)!
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make these blood orange old fashioned cocktails:
Ingredient Notes
- Blood orange juice: Blood oranges are typically available in most grocery stores from around November-April. It's typically best to use freshly squeezed, but we also love using this store-bought blood orange juice when we can find it! If you can't find any blood oranges, feel free to sub with Cara Cara or another variety of orange.
- Bourbon / whiskey: Bourbon is typically the preferred spirit for an old fashioned, but regular whiskey will do just fine. Since you're mixing it with blood orange juice and simple syrup, you don't have to break the bank with super expensive bourbon – something less expensive will do.
- Brown sugar simple syrup: Our recipe for this easy simple syrup (that comes together in 15 minutes) adds extra rich flavor to this cocktail. You can also substitute with pure maple syrup or regular simple syrup.
- Bitters: A traditional Old Fashioned is made with angostura bitters, which add an intense spiced, herbal note to the drink. All you need is a few drops! We particularly love these bitters – they have so many unique flavors that add a ton of depth to cocktails. We used orange bitters in ours for extra orange flavor.
Instructions
(1) Add whiskey or bourbon, blood orange juice, brown sugar simple syrup, and 2 dashes of bitters to a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake well for at least 10 seconds.
(2) Strain the cocktail into a glass with a large ice cube. Enjoy garnished with a dehydrated blood orange slice or a blood orange peel.
Tips and FAQs
- Ice cubes: we suggest using a large square or circular ice cube for this cocktail instead of crushed or regular ice. The larger the ice cube, the more surface area and the slower it will melt, which will prevent this drink from getting watered down.
- Storage: you can make a few batches of this blood orange old fashioned and store in a pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just make sure to stir well again before pouring to make sure the syrup is evenly incorporated.
- Garnishes: We love to garnish this cocktail with a blood orange peel or dehydrated or fresh blood orange slice. For fun holiday flair, you could also garnish with a sprig of thyme or rosemary.
- Bourbon or whiskey? Bourbon is more traditional for an old fashioned, as the drink allegedly originated in Kentucky, a state famous for its bourbon. We suggest using bourbon in this Blood Orange Old Fashioned, but it will still be great with any whiskey variety.
- Make ahead: you can make the brown sugar simple syrup up to a few weeks before serving this cocktail. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can also squeeze the blood orange juice up to a day ahead of time for extra quick assembly.
Bourbon is a type of whiskey that must be made in the US, is distilled from at least 51% corn, and aged in new white oak-charred barrels. Other types of whiskey can be made from grains like corn and rye, and they do not have the same strict rules as bourbon. Bourbon is the most popular variety of American whiskey and generally has a sweeter flavor profile compared to other whiskies.
Blood oranges are typically a bit more floral and tart tasting than a regular navel orange, with notes of cherry and raspberry. We think they tend to have a richer and more distinct flavor, which really takes this cocktail to the next level.
More Fall Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy
Tried this recipe? Leave a comment with a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ below. You can also snap a photo and tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram. We can't wait to see what you're cooking!
Cook with us often? Tell Google you want Crowded Kitchen recipes near the top of your results.
Blood Orange Old Fashioned
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Blood Orange Old Fashioned cocktail is a modern and slightly sweeter take on a classic. With notes of citrusy blood orange and rich brown sugar, this easy cocktail is perfectly tangy, refreshing, and looks stunning on any holiday table.
Ingredients
Blood Orange Old Fashioned:
- 1 ½ ounces bourbon or whiskey
- 2 ounces blood orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ ounce brown sugar simple syrup (can use maple syrup or regular simple syrup)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Blood orange peel or dehydrated blood orange slice for garnish (optional)
Brown sugar simple syrup:
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Simple syrup:
- Add both types of sugar and water to a small pot over medium high heat. Bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.
Cocktail:
- Add whiskey or bourbon, blood orange juice, brown sugar simple syrup, and 2 dashes of bitters to a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake well for at least 10 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a glass with a large ice cube. Enjoy garnished with a dehydrated blood orange slice or a blood orange peel.
Notes
Brown sugar simple syrup: Our recipe for this easy simple syrup (that comes together in 15 minutes) adds extra rich flavor to this cocktail. You can also substitute with pure maple syrup or regular simple syrup.
Ice cubes: we suggest using a large square or circular ice cube for this cocktail instead of crushed or regular ice. The larger the ice cube, the more surface area and the slower it will melt, which will prevent this drink from getting watered down.
Storage: you can make a few batches of this cocktail and store in a pitcher in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just make sure to stir well again before pouring to make sure the syrup is evenly incorporated.
Make ahead: you can make the brown sugar simple syrup up to a few weeks before serving this cocktail. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can also squeeze the blood orange juice up to a day ahead of time for extra quick assembly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Shaker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 13.6 g
- Sodium: 0.1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.9 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
Stacey Conley says
A new yearly tradition with this one. Did pitchers this time. Still delicious
Stacey Conley says
Made this for our thanksgiving gathering- everyone liked it so much we had to make a second round.
Emu says
It was good! I always add more dashes of bitters than specified.
Lexi says
So glad you enjoyed!