Easy Blood Orange Margarita Recipe

A Blood Orange Margarita is a variation on the classic tequila-based Mexican cocktail known as a Margarita. This tangy cocktail features tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and a salted rim on the glass. Fresh blood orange juice gets added to this mixture, giving the drink an extra punch of citrus flavor and a mesmerizing orange-red color.

To make a Blood Orange Margarita, you’ll need the following ingredients:

1. 1. Blood orange juice: Blood orange season usually lasts from December to May, depending on where you live. Procuring a bottle of one hundred percent blood orange juice is difficult. Embrace seasonality and use a simple home juicer to juice some fresh blood oranges from your local farmers’ market or grocery store.
2. 2. Lime: Fresh lime juice adds extra acidity to this citrusy cocktail.
3. 3. Orange liqueur: An orange-flavored triple sec like Cointreau provides sweetness to balance the lime juice. If you don’t have Cointreau, try using Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored Cognac) or agave syrup.
4. 4. Tequila: Great cocktails get built on a foundation of quality liquor. Tequila, made from the agave plant, has a distinct, somewhat herbaceous flavor that goes well with a sweet, fruity liqueur and the acidic citrus kick of lime. Choose a mellow reposado for this cocktail, which provides a nice counterbalance to the acidic tang of the blood orange juice. Tequila blanco, or silver tequila, will work in a pinch.

Consider these possible substitutions and additions to a Blood Orange Margarita:

1. 1. Just add heat. Add a ring or two of sliced jalapeño to your Blood Orange Margaritas to introduce some spiciness to your cocktail.
   
2. 2. Use fresh limes. Skip the Margarita mix. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to making the best Margarita. Keep extra limes on hand for garnish.
3. 3. Use mezcal. This cousin of tequila is complex and smoky, adding depth and character to your Blood Orange Margarita. Learn more about Mezcal cocktails.