Blood Orange Cocktails Two Ways: Gin Sour & Moscow Mule

by Miriam & Zoey In cocktail, drink 4 Comments

Winter is here, and citrus season is as well! With our markets filled with a variety of different citrus, we were immediately drawn to blood oranges. They are juicy, cute, and we’re going to use them in cocktails! The blood orange exterior looks much like a traditional orange, but when cut open, a deep red interior is revealed. It’s distinctive colour makes this citrus so fun to get creative with, especially with Valentine’s Day approaching. These oranges are both sweet and tart in taste, and for this reason, they ultimately pair incredibly well with liquor! 

Living in Toronto, we have the fantastic opportunity to explore the local alcohol scene. To get our hands on some local gin, we just needed to take a walk in our neighbourhood. Providing the perfect base to our sour, we use Collective Art’s Distilling Artisanal Dry Gin. The sour’s mix of the blood orange’s dark red and the lemon’s pale yellow makes for a beautiful pink drink that you and your loved one will swoon over. Adding the rosemary simple syrup provides the fresh and sweet flavour that brings balance to this cocktail. Finally, the secret ingredient to mimic the foamy topping typically found in a sour comes from aquafaba. Wait… aqua-what?? Aquafaba is the liquid that is usually poured out from a can of chickpeas, but this liquid gold is gaining popularity in the vegan food scene and becoming somewhat of a staple, and is perfect for a drink like this!

Our mule is refreshing to drink and bursting with flavour. Made with only three main ingredients, anyone can whip up this simple drink. The blood orange adds a dash of colour and tartness, and the ginger and mint pull the drink together with two fresh and bright flavours. When the mule is served up in a signature copper mug, it will leave you and others wanting another one!

If you’re someone who is looking for a simple, yet tasty beverage, our blood orange Moscow mule is for you! If you’re looking to impress that special someone or maybe a group of friends, go for it with our blood orange gin sour! Either way, go get your hands on some blood oranges and let us know if you’re team mule or team sour or if you’re like us, both!

Don’t forget to tag us in your creations – @smallkitchenbigplates

Blood Orange & Rosemary Vegan Gin Sour

  • Servings: 2 cocktails
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A vegan twist on a gin sour, this version is made with aquafaba to add the foamy topping. Rosemary simple syrup adds a flavourful depth of sweetness to complement the tangy blood orange and lemon.

Ingredients

    Rosemary Simple Syrup
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 sprig rosemary
    Blood Orange Gin Sour
  • 3 ounces gin
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed blood orange juice (1 large blood orange)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
  • 2 tablespoons rosemary simple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons aquafaba
  • Ice
  • 1/2 blood orange, sliced for garnish
  • 2 rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and combine the maple syrup, water, and rosemary sprig. Bring the mixture to a simmer for 5 minutes and then turn off heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. Once the simple syrup is cooled, get your shaker cup and add the gin, blood orange juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and aquafaba and dry shake for 15 seconds.
  3. Add ice into the shaker cup and shake for two minutes to get the aquafaba nice and foamy.
  4. Add ice to two rocks glasses and strain drink into glasses.
  5. Garnish with slices of blood orange and a sprig of rosemary and drink up!

Notes

  1. You will have leftover simple syrup which you can store in a jar in the fridge for up to a month.
  2. A good habit to get into is to save the aquafaba whenever you open you open a can of chickpeas and pop it into the freezer so you always have it on hand (it will last 3-4 months like this). When you want to use it, defrost it overnight it the fridge and it will be ready to go!


Blood Orange Moscow Mule

  • Servings: 2 cocktails
  • Print

Made with just a few simple ingredients, this fun variation of a mule combines juicy blood oranges with the refreshing and classic flavours of ginger beer and mint.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces vodka
  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed blood orange juice (2 blood oranges)
  • 8 ounces ginger beer
  • Ice
  • 2 mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill two copper mugs with ice.
  2. Add 2 ounces of vodka, 1/4 cup of blood orange juice, and 4 ounces of ginger beer to each cup and stir well.
  3. Garnish each drink with a sprig of mint and enjoy!

Notes

  1. Use Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer if you want that extra little hit of alcohol like we did, or any non-alcoholic ginger beer will taste just as good!

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