Making a gorgeous and tasty cocktail full of layered flavors doesn’t get easier than this blood orange bourbon smash. The only hard part might be getting your hands on the blood oranges! But they are in season now, so get to your market and pick up a few.
Hello, all!
It’s probably no secret around here that I like using bourbon in recipes.
I add it to my Apple Pie. I splash it into my Banana Bread. And of course, I use it in my cocktails, like my Peach and Bourbon Frozen Cocktail and my Hot Apple Pie Bourbon Cocktail.
So, while I was thinking about what my next cocktail should be, my mind naturally went to bourbon, which then led to the realization that I had yet to develop a bourbon smash recipe. There will be more, don’t worry about that, but for my first one I decided blood oranges were the way to go.
- First, they are in season right now.
- Second, they are so pretty!
- Third, I always walk by the blood oranges thinking what do I do with these, and now I have something to do with them.
It’s one of my goals in life to have an awesome recipe for every single type of produce I see at the store. Not that I only want one, more recipes are better, but at least one, so blood oranges are now marked off my to-do list.
My daughter wouldn’t even try a slice of blood orange when I was cutting them up. Maybe it’s the name? š
But don’t let that stop you. They unsurprisingly taste a lot like the oranges you’re used to.
Maybe they are a little sweeter, maybe a little more bitter, but with your eyes closed they are recognizably oranges. Though why would you want to close your eyes? Then you can’t see the gorgeous color! And it’s that gorgeous color which makes this drink so much fun.
While the blood oranges and the bourbon are the stars of the show here, the supporting players are important too, to round out the flavors.
I knew the drink needed a little sweetness, and for orange juice and bourbon the best sweetener to my mind is maple syrup. Maple syrup is a beautiful sweetener with any sort of fruit, and it brings in so many of the same flavors you get in bourbon – caramel, vanilla, a subtle smokiness, that I knew it would be perfect.
Then the drink needed some zest, and mint was there to provide. A few leaves muddled into the shaker is all you need.
Next up is a zing from a sharper citrus, which is where the lime comes in. Now it was almost perfect! It just needed a little something more! That something is bitters. Only a few drops, but they make a difference.
And now you have the perfect blood orange bourbon smash.
If you try my recipe for Blood Orange Bourbon Smash, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And Iām happy to answer any questions you might have.
– Happy Drinking, Annemarie
Blood Orange Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
- 4 mint leaves
- 3 oz bourbon
- 3 oz blood orange juice, from 2-3 blood oranges
- 1 oz maple syrup
- 8 drops Angostura bitters
- crushed ice
- 2 lime wedges
- 4 oz soda water, optional
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves.
- Then add some ice cubes, bourbon, blood orange juice, maple syrup, and bitters. Shake well.
- Fill two glasses half way with crushed ice.
- Divide the bourbon mixture between them.
- Squeeze a lime wedge into each glass. Top with soda water if desired.
Notes
- Soda Water: The drink without the soda water has a very smooth, sippable flavor. With the soda water, I find it's more like a cooler. Zippy and lighter in flavor. Which you choose is up to you.
- Garnish: To make it extra special drop the lime wedge into the glass and add a slice of blood orange floating on top of the drink.
SoCalJLR says
Next time, I will use half the amt of maple syrup. Otherwise, awesome cocktail. Will try Cara Cara oranges next time around.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks for the feedback! I wonder if I should put a range on the syrup, since I like this cocktail a little less sweet too. (My tasters preferred sweeter so that’s what I went with.)
Erin says
These are so beautiful and delicious! I’ve been seeing cocktail recipes using maple syrup as sweetener but hadn’t tested it for myself yet. This one was my first and not my last!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you! I love the color of the blood oranges. I’m trying to move away from refined sugars so I’ve been using more maple syrup. It really goes beautifully with the bourbon too.
Sandra says
Gorgeous cocktail! And the perfect way to use those blood orange I saw in the store. š We loved it!
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as we did! š
nicole says
Obsessed with these colors! I love the mint and orange — how fresh!! The maple syrup gives it a taste like nothing else can! Thanks for sharing š
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks. š We really love the combination and I think you can never go wrong with maple syrup. It’s my favorite. š
Laura says
Oh my god my mouth was watering from your photos alone but then I read your amazing flavour profile of this drink and.. just.. wow. Cannot WAIT to try! It sounds like the perfect blend of caramel smokiness and citrus splash, with bitey mint and bitters to round it all off. Yum!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you! We really loved the balance of flavors here. I just picked up some more blood oranges because my husband wants to have it again. š
Jillian says
Yum this was great! I love blood orange this time of year!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! Me too. š
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! Taking pictures of blood oranges is quite fun since they are so pretty.
pam says
My store hasn’t had any blood oranges this year, I am so bummed. This drink is on my list for next time though.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Oh, I’m so sorry about your lack of blood oranges! I wish I could share some of mine with you. š
Emma S says
I love blood orange cocktails+ I usually make them with gin though I’ve never paired them with Bourbon. Great suggestion.
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’ve tried to get into gin, but I haven’t been able to yet. However, I love bourbon so that is where my mind went for this drink.