A fruity, juicy Blood Orange Cocktail made with gin, fresh blood orange juice and finished with a sprig of thyme. Bright, refreshing and easy to make, it’s the perfect way to celebrate winter citrus — and yes, cocktails count as fun.
If you enjoy a simple, fruity drink, try this Blood Orange Cocktail. It resembles an Aperol Spritz visually but is entirely different in flavour: all juicy sweetness and bright orange character without bitterness.
Blood oranges are not only beautiful but packed with vitamin C and intense citrus flavour. Freshly squeezed juice makes a real difference in this cocktail, so I recommend using fresh fruit rather than carton juice when possible.
This recipe uses three alcoholic elements — gin, Cointreau and Prosecco — which together create a crisp, orange-forward drink with bubbles. If you want to simplify or cut cost, you can easily leave out one liqueur or use just one spirit instead.
I used blood orange gin for extra citrus depth, but any good gin will work. Cointreau adds a clean, intense orange note that lifts the drink and complements the fresh juice.
Recommendations for Reducing Cost
If you’d like to save money, make the cocktail using only one liqueur — either gin or Cointreau. Because this recipe calls for half measures of each spirit, double the measure of whichever you keep (use a full measure instead of two half measures).
How to Make a Blood Orange Cocktail – Step By Step
Begin by squeezing the juice from half a blood orange into a small jug. Add half a shot of blood orange gin and half a shot of Cointreau, then stir to combine.
Fill a glass with ice, pour in the juice-and-liqueur mixture, then top up with Prosecco. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and a sprig of thyme for aroma and visual appeal.
Tips and Variations
- If you can’t find blood orange gin, substitute your favourite gin — the cocktail will still be delicious.
- You can make this drink with regular oranges if blood oranges aren’t available; the flavour will be slightly different but still lovely.
- Don’t replace the Prosecco with still white wine — the bubbles are important to the drink’s character.
- Squeezing the orange into a separate jug and stirring in the spirits helps you pour cleanly and mix evenly.
- Fresh juice matters: avoid carton orange juice when possible unless it’s very high quality.
What to Serve with This Cocktail
Serve these cocktails with simple nibbles to start the evening — it’s always best not to drink on an empty stomach. Try marinated olives, crostini or small savory bites alongside your drinks.
More Cocktails You Might Like:
- Aperol Spritz Cocktail
- Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail
- Cointreau Rose Cocktail with Strawberries
If you try this Blood Orange Cocktail, please rate it and leave a comment about how it turned out. I enjoy hearing your feedback and ideas.
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Blood Orange Cocktail
By Emily
Ingredients
- 1/2 blood orange, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 measure (15ml) Cointreau
- 1/2 measure (15ml) Blood orange gin or gin of choice
- 1 measure (30ml) Prosecco, to top up
- 1 slice blood orange, for garnish
- 1 sprig thyme
- Ice
Instructions
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Squeeze the juice from half a blood orange into a jug.
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Add half a shot of blood orange gin and half a shot of Cointreau, then stir to combine.
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Pour the mixture over a glass filled with ice, top up with Prosecco, and garnish with a blood orange slice and a sprig of thyme.
Notes
- Substitute your favourite gin if blood orange gin isn’t available.
- Regular oranges work well as an alternative to blood oranges.
- Prosecco is recommended for sparkle — don’t swap for still white wine.
- Squeeze the orange into a jug and mix in the spirits for an even pour.
- Freshly squeezed juice delivers the best flavour; avoid carton juice when possible.
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I use extra virgin olive oil in recipes unless otherwise noted.
- For canned or jarred tomatoes I favour high-quality brands for flavour.
- Vegetable sizes are medium unless specified.
- Recipes are tested using a fan (convection) oven.
- Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as an approximation.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.