Blood Orange Margarita

Skip the orange liqueur and shake up a Blood Orange Margarita that’s all about the fresh fruit juices. It’s bright, clean, and ready in 15 minutes.

When blood oranges are in season, this Blood Orange Margarita is exactly what you should be making with them. The flavor hovers between a sweet orange and fresh raspberries, floral and a little tart, and it makes for a margarita that tastes like real fruit rather than a mixer.

A happy accident prompted me to make my first batch of these margaritas, when I bought a handful of blood oranges by mistake. I’ve learned after making them several times, that it’s best to leave out the triple sec or Cointreau that’s in most margaritas. Orange liqueur has a syrupy sweetness that takes over. Instead, just a touch of agave nectar gives you just enough sweetness to balance the tart lime and blood orange without covering them up.

Recipe at a Glance

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Total time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 1 margarita
• Skill level: Easy

Blood Orange Margarita Ingredients

• Tequila: Use whatever version you like best. Blanco competes less with the citrus flavors. Reposado is great if you want to add a little warmth.
• Blood orange juice: Squeeze fresh oranges for this cocktail. One large blood orange usually gives you the two ounces you need, you may need two smaller oranges. If you can’t find fresh blood oranges, 100% bottled blood orange juice is a reasonable swap.
• Lime juice: Use freshly squeezed lime juice. Bottled lime juice won’t taste the same.
• Agave nectar: I think agave nectar is the perfect sweetener for margaritas. You can use either light or dark, depending on the style of tequila you’re using. Maple syrup works too.
• Margarita salt: Coarse salt is best for rimming the glass. It doesn’t have to be branded margarita salt though, kosher salt works well too.
• Ice: Use fresh ice in both the shaker and the glass.

Why This Recipe Works

• No orange liqueur: This cocktail is all about fresh citrus juices and tasty tequila, no need for syrupy liqueur.
• Agave nectar instead of sugar: Because it’s a liquid sweetener, agave nectar not only adds complex sweetness, it also dissolves into cold drinks better than granulated sugar.
• Balanced acidity: The ratio of lime to blood orange adds a sweet-tartness that still lets the tequila flavor come through.

How to Make a Blood Orange Margarita

Spread a thin layer of margarita salt in a wide, shallow dish and run the flesh of a lime around the rim of your serving glass. Dip the rim in the salt to coat and fill the glass with ice.

Fill a cocktail shaker half way with ice, then add the tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice, and agave nectar. Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds and strain into your ice filled, salt rimmed glass. Garnish with an orange slice if you like and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Make it spicy: If you like spice, add the ingredients to your cocktail shaker along with a few fresh jalapeño slices before adding the ice, give it a nice muddle, then add ice and shake.
• Make it blended: Add all the ingredients plus 1 to 1.5 cups of ice to a high powered blender and blend until smooth.
• Add a splash of vanilla: A dash of pure vanilla extract adds nice depth to the drink that’s hard to put your finger on but really works. It works best if you’re using a Reposado tequila.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Good news if you are entertaining: you can combine all of the liquid ingredients (including the agave nectar) up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it in an airtight container. When you’re ready to serve, shake with ice, and strain as usual.