Blood Orange Margarita: The Citrus Cocktail
Start with some fresh blood oranges and tequila — you'll need these for the base of your margarita. Add lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup. Next, dip the rim of a glass into water so the salt sticks more easily. Fill your glass with ice cubes until it's nearly full. Then pour your margarita mixture over the top — and voilà!
Blood oranges are a treat in their own right. With their rich crimson colour and sweet, tangy flavour, they’re the ideal way to chase away the winter gloom. But add them to a margarita? It’s like the sun finally breaks through after what feels like endless days of grey skies. The blood orange margarita is great any time of year (although it’s particularly lovely in autumn), but it’s especially perfect when you’re after a change from your usual routine.
This cocktail is ideal for those who enjoy a fruity drink but don’t want it too sweet or heavy-handed with the alcohol—it’s got just enough to give you a pleasant buzz without being too much! So, when you’re hosting your next party or dinner gathering, why not whip up a round of these wonderfully refreshing cocktails?
Ingredients for a Blood Orange Margarita Recipe
The main ingredients in this cocktail are blood orange juice, tequila, and orange liqueur. If you’re not familiar with blood oranges, they boast a deep red colour and a rich sweet-tart flavour, and they’re commonly used in juices and desserts. A typical recipe for this cocktail includes:
- 120 ml / 4 parts of Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila
- 120 ml / 4 parts of blood orange juice (roughly 4 blood oranges)
- 30 ml / 1 part of agave nectar or simple syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of orange liqueur
- 1 lime, cut into wedges (to be squeezed)
- Ice
- Salt
The blood orange margarita is a very popular cocktail that’s quick and easy to prepare at home, as it requires just a few simple ingredients that you can easily find in any local off-licence or supermarket.
The key ingredient in this cocktail is the blood orange juice. You can juice a fresh blood orange yourself, or buy it pre-made from the shop. Some people prefer the convenience of store-bought juice, but others swear by using fresh fruit for a fuller, more vibrant flavour.
How to Prepare the Blood Orange Cocktail
It all begins with some fresh blood oranges and tequila, which you’ll use to create the margarita base. Next, add lime juice and orange liqueur for a bit of a kick, along with a touch of simple syrup to balance the sweetness.
Once your margarita base is mixed, set it aside while you prepare the rim of your glass with salt. When that’s done, dip the rim of the glass into a little water to help the salt stick, then dip it into sugar (this will ensure it sticks even better).
Next up: ice! Fill your glass with ice cubes until it’s almost full. Then, pour your margarita base over the ice, and voila! You’ve got yourself a refreshing Blood Orange Margarita!
Tips for Preparing the Perfect Blood Orange Mix
Here are some expert tips on how to prepare this cocktail that will help you enjoy this drink in the best possible way and very easily:
- Use 100% agave tequila, such as the Olmeca Altos family. It has a smoother taste and is a better choice for you than cheaper tequilas.
- Go for fresh blood oranges, as they have more flavour than their canned counterparts. If fresh blood oranges aren’t available, frozen ones will do—just ensure they’re at least partially thawed.
- Be sure to chill your glass before serving! This will prevent the drink from tasting watered down once the ice begins to melt.
- For the best flavour, let your margarita sit overnight after mixing. This allows all the flavours to blend together beautifully!
Alternative Takes on the Blood Orange Margarita
The classic Blood Orange Margarita is a delightful blend of sweet and tangy. But did you know there are several exciting variations to try? Here are a few different ways to enjoy a blood orange twist:
Blood Orange Margarita Float takes this cocktail up a notch by adding a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream to your margarita. It’s a decadent treat that’s both refreshing and indulgent, perfect for those who want to blur the line between cocktail and dessert.
For something a little lighter, try the Blood Orange Margarita Fizz by adding a dash of club soda to your blood orange margarita. The fizz creates a bubbly, easy-to-drink cocktail that’s ideal for a relaxed afternoon, offering all the flavor with a refreshing effervescence.
The Blood Orange Margarita with Lime and Pineapple Juice keeps it simple but oh-so-tasty. This version combines the sharpness of a traditional margarita with the sweet, tropical twist of pineapple juice, creating a refreshing and balanced flavor that transports you to a sunny beach with every sip.
The Frozen Blood Orange Margarita presents itself as an utterly delightful frozen treat that brilliantly combines fresh blood orange juice with tequila and orange liqueur, served over crushed ice to create a velvety, luscious dessert-style beverage that’s absolutely ideal for entertaining guests or cooling down during sweltering summer afternoons.
If you wish to savour more cocktails similar to the Blood Orange Margarita, fruity and brilliant, we present you with a selection brimming with variety. The Coconut Margarita offers a tropical take on the traditional Margarita, blending the zesty flavour of lime with velvety coconut milk and tequila.
For those seeking brightness, the Lemon Margarita provides a zingy and citrusy interpretation of the classic Margarita. Meanwhile, the Prickly Pear Margarita stands out as a vibrant and colourful cocktail, prepared with the juice of the prickly pear cactus, tequila, and triple sec. If these variations have inspired your cocktail creativity, there’s a whole world of mixology waiting to be discovered in our collection of the best cocktail recipes.
Olmeca Altos Reposado, the Best Tequila to Make this Cocktail
The choice of tequila can truly make or break your Blood Orange Margarita, which is precisely why Olmeca Altos Reposado stands as the superior option for this vibrant cocktail. This exceptional tequila boasts a remarkably smooth character that’s absolutely divine for sipping neat, yet it’s crafted entirely from 100% blue agave, ensuring authenticity and premium quality in every drop.
Its careful maturation process in American white oak barrels imparts a delicate, honeyed flavour profile that harmonises beautifully with the citrusy notes of blood orange without overwhelming the drink’s natural complexity. This refined aging process creates subtle vanilla and caramel undertones that complement rather than compete with the fruit’s tartness, resulting in a cocktail that’s both sophisticated and refreshingly balanced.
The Blood Orange Margarita represents more than just a cocktail—it’s a celebration of seasonal flavours and premium craftsmanship that transforms any gathering into a memorable occasion. Whether you’re hosting an elegant dinner party or simply treating yourself to a well-deserved indulgence, this exquisite drink embodies the perfect marriage of traditional Mexican spirit-making and contemporary mixology, delivering a sophisticated yet approachable beverage that never fails to impress.
