Blood Orange Whiskey Cocktail Recipe

We’re big whiskey and bourbon lovers here in The Chunky Chef household, and while my husband prefers his whiskey neat, I prefer mine in a cocktail.

This fun drink is a perfect blend of sweet and tart, with a smooth smoky warmth from the whiskey.

So if you’re looking for the perfect way to unwind after a long day, a drink to sip while you sit around the fire outside, or a fabulous cocktail for a party… this blood orange whiskey cocktail is the drink you’re looking for!

Plus there are plenty of ways to change this recipe up if you’d like, and I’ve included a large batch version in the “chef tips” right below the recipe instructions, in case you’re having a party and/or don’t want to make just 2 cocktails at a time.

What do I need to make this recipe?

• Blood oranges – blood oranges look mysterious, but you can find them in most grocery stores.
• Whiskey – this is the base of the drink, warm and smoky in flavor.
• Simple syrup – this is purely for sweetness, to counteract the acidity and bite from the alcohol. Simple syrup can be bought, or made (check out the “variations of this recipe” heading below for more info on making your own.
• Lemons – I highly recommend using fresh lemons to get the lemon juice for this recipe.
• Lime juice – just as with the lemons, I do recommend using fresh limes (I had just run out before this photo, so they’re not pictured).

How to make blood orange whiskey cocktails:

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
2. Juice oranges. Fresh blood orange juice is hard to replicate, so I do highly recommend using fresh blood oranges.
3. Add lemon juice. Fresh is best.
4. Add lime juice. Fresh is best.
5. Add whiskey.
6. Add simple syrup and shake. It doesn’t take long, just shake for about 15-20 seconds.
7. Strain into glass. I like to serve this in rocks or double old fashioned glasses.
8. Garnish and serve.

Variations of this recipe

• Whiskey – there’s no need to break the bank on a bottle of whiskey for this cocktail recipe, since it’s mixed with other bold flavors. We typically use Gentleman Jack, but please use your favorite.
• Simple syrup – this is sold in the cocktail aisle where they sell bitters and other mixers, or you can make your own. Just combine equal parts water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and bringing it to a low boil. Boil until all the sugar has dissolved, then cool and use.
• Blood oranges – juicing fresh blood oranges will give you the best flavor, but if you’re in a pinch, you could use bottled juice. However, my local grocery store doesn’t carry bottled blood orange juice, so it might be something that would be hard to get your hands on.
• Citrus juice – as mentioned above, fresh lemon and lime juice is highly recommended, but if all you have available, you can use bottled lemon and lime juice. Just know that it will alter the flavor a bit.
• Sugared rim – I love to add fun little flairs to simple recipes like this, and a sugared rim is a great addition! You can use granulated sugar or be a little extra and use a sanding sugar (I love to use a black sugar for Halloween parties). Add some of the sugar to a plate. Run a bit of water, simple syrup, or an orange wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim in the sugar.

Making a whiskey cocktail ahead of time

If you’d like, feel free to make this drink up to 24 hours ahead of time!

Just keep it covered in a pitcher or jar in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add it to a cocktail shaker with some ice and give it a good shaking.

Pour over ice in the serving glasses, top with garnishes, then serve.

Storage

Any leftover cocktails should be stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed within 1-2 days.

You’ll want to fill a cocktail shaker with ice and give the leftover cocktail a quick shake to mix it all back up before serving.