Adding this winter fruit to the classic summer cocktail makes for a perfect pick-me-up.
I’m not sure if anyone can pinpoint any one particular cocktail and claim it to be the “most popular”, but the Margarita comes pretty close. As with many popular drinks, the exact and definitive origins of the mixture are unfortunately lost to the drunken haze of history. That doesn’t mean there aren’t fun stories and claims to its creation.
In the 1930s and 40s, there were more than a few bartenders and cantinas that planted their flag on the Margarita’s origins. Notimex, which was Mexico’s official news agency, has stated that there is one mixologist with the strongest claim to the drink’s invention. On July 4th, 1942 in Juarez at Tommy’s Place Bar, Francisco “Pancho” Morales is said to have mixed up the first Margarita. Despite the cocktails monumental popularity, Pancho left Mexico for the U.S. and became a milkman.
As for the Blood Orange Margarita’s creation… well, that’s another mystery. More than likely it was someone just like yourself. Imagine you’re stuck inside during the cold winter months, dreaming of summer. Since blood oranges are a winter fruit, they’re in season and you just happen to have a few handy. Margaritas are already mixed with triple sec, which is an orange liqueur, so adding some extra citrus flavor to it sounds like a great idea, right? Right!
When I first had a Blood Orange Margarita, I was struck by how red it was. I even half expected it to be more tart than a regular Margarita. Because of its color, it looked “spicy” to me. My tastebuds were pleasantly proven wrong, as my first sip burst with a light and refreshing fruitiness. The blood orange added some extra sweetness to the drink, but not too much. That flavor played so well with the tequila and other ingredients that I was thinking about my second one before I was even finished with my initial drink.
Since we’re in the middle of winter (it’s February as I write this), now’s a great time to hit up your local farmer’s market or grocer and grab some blood oranges, as they’ll always taste best while they’re in season. And after you’ve enjoyed this cocktail, check out Twist and Toast’s recipe to make the perfect, original Margarita.
Shaken or frozen?
Our recipe today calls for some elbow grease and shaking, with the cocktail served “up” (no ice) and a little salt on the glass rim. Since this is considered a “winter cocktail” it’s usual served that way. But if you have a blender handy, why not give the frozen version of this drink a whirl? Sure it’s cold out, but we can still sip on a frozen Blood Orange Margarita by the fire and dream of warmer weather.
What is the best tequila to use in a Blood Orange Margarita?
For this cocktail, I would use either an aged reposado or a smooth Blanco, or silver, tequila. In a lot of the tequila-based drinks I’ve written about here, I tend to lean more towards using a Blanco tequila; it’s bright and mixes really well with just about anything. But a reposado tequila works equally great in a Blood Orange Margarita. Since they aren’t aged in barrels for as long as an anejo tequila, it won’t clash with the sweet flavor of the orange, adding just the right amount of bite. Try them both out and find the flavor you like best.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz Lime juice
- 1.5 oz Blood orange juice
- 0.5 oz Triple sec
- Ice cubes
- Salt for the rim
- Blood orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Take your margarita glass and run a slice of lime around the rim, now dip the rim in salt to give it a nice salted edge.
- In a shaker, add the tequila, lime juice, blood orange juice, triple sec, and a handful of ice. Shake it up until all the ingredients are well mixed and your shaker feels cold.
- Pour your mixture into the salt-rimmed glass and garnish with a slice of blood orange
FAQs, Tips and Tricks
When I drink any Margarita on the rocks or just up, I’ll usually have them in a standard rocks or double rocks glass. They chill well, and since they’re stemless, the danger of being knocked over is minimized. If you live with a cat, you know what I mean. You can also use a traditional Margarita glass, which works great for frozen drinks. For garnish, go with a big, juicy slice of that blood orange you have and the salt, naturally. Looks fantastic when presented.
“Drink it when you make” is what I like to say, but sometimes you have to plan ahead. Especially if you’re throwing a party and don’t want to play bartender all night for your guests. Adjust your recipe batch based on how many drinks you think you’ll be serving and then plan for more, cover it up in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. Don’t store it past one day, however; citrus tends to lose its zest and brightness if stored in the fridge too long.
For a such a sweet and delicious treat, the Blood Orange Margarita has only 201 calories in it. Remember, if you’re someone that likes to have more than one (like I do), those numbers can add up before you know it.
No blood oranges? No problem! You can use Cara Cara oranges, Valencia, Navel or even pink grapefruit, which has a more sweet-sour flavor. You can also try tangerines. If you really want that red look, cranberry juice is a workable and tart-sweet substitute.
Blood orange juice is very red and unfortunately can stain your clothes or furniture. Lemon juice and club soda is a great method for getting stains out, but you have to act fast. Since accidents can and do happen, I would suggest not wearing those pants next time.
Blood Orange Margarita Variations
One of the great things about the world of cocktails is the abundance of Margaritas out there. From the classic recipe we mentioned earlier to the Blood Orange version we made today, you could probably try a new recipe/version every time you’re in the mood for one and rarely have the same cocktail twice. Maybe three times.
If you’re not sure where to start, Twist and Toast has all your Margarita needs covered! Let’s take a look at few, but remember that we have a lot more, so be sure to check out all of our recipes!
- Blue Margarita – I wrote about this one here not too long ago. The blue curacao in this drink is the perfect companion to the deep red of the Blood Orange Margarita.
- The Tommy’s Margarita – The inventor of this version, Julio Bermejo, was named the official Tequila Ambassador for North America, so he’s a man who knows his Margaritas.
- Frozen Margarita – A classic variation on the classic cocktail. One of the ultimate summer drinks.
- Mezcal Margarita – Give this recipe a spin for a more Scotch-like and smokey take on the cocktail.
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