20 Impressive Orange Juice Cocktails

The Simple Orange Is the Ultimate Cocktail Fruit

Sex on the Beach Recipe

The Spruce

Orange juice is an essential element to any well-stocked bar, there's no question about that. Without it, you can't make a screwdriver, a mimosa, or even a tequila sunrise. Orange is a versatile fruit flavor and the more drinks you mix up, the more you'll realize the importance of both the juice and the many orange liqueurs used in the bar.

The Key to the Best OJ Cocktails

If you want the best orange juice cocktails possible, squeeze the juice yourself. Many fruit and citrus juicers are available to fit any need, and oranges are inexpensive year-round, so you really can't go wrong.

On the other hand, the reality is that you're not always going to take the time to squeeze fresh orange juice. In a world filled with convenience, there are some great bottles of orange juice available. In this case, do your best to choose an all-natural, not-from-concentrate juice.

Either way, keep in mind that your choice of orange juice should not be an afterthought. Any of the cocktails that rely on this ingredient will taste better with a quality juice.

  • 01 of 20

    Bocce Ball

    Bocce ball cocktail

    Adrian Murgea/Getty Images 

    The screwdriver is one of the iconic orange juice cocktails. It is the ultimate brunch drink, unbelievably easy to mix up, and has inspired many other drinks, including the bocce ball. This delightful drink is just as refreshing, adding a little amaretto to the mix for a sweet almond background.

  • 02 of 20

    Harvey Wallbanger

    Real Harvey Wallbanger recipe

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    A retro drink from the 1970s, the Harvey Wallbanger is a whole lot of fun. It also plays off the screwdriver, but the key to this simple highball is a float of Galliano L'Autentico, an herbal liqueur dominated by vanilla and anise flavors. Use it to practice your layering skills and switch to tequila for a Freddy Fuddpucker.

  • 03 of 20

    Sour Sunrise

    Sour Sunrise With Bourbon Whiskey

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

    The famous tequila sunrise has also inspired several other drinks, all with its signature sunrise effect. The sour sunrise is a fancier cocktail that pours a shot of bourbon and adds lemon juice and simple syrup. It's also served "up" in high-class martini style.

  • 04 of 20

    Buck's Fizz

    Buck's Fizz Cocktail

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    The mimosa is great for brunch and it has spurred an entire family of mimosas over the years. You can make an excellent mimosa with triple sec or skip it and enjoy another classic cocktail known as Buck's fizz. It's lovely, refreshing, and works perfectly with any sparkling wine you have on hand.

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  • 05 of 20

    Belmont Breeze

    Dale DeGroff's Belmont Breeze Cocktail
    Blake DeGroff

    The Belmont breeze is no ordinary bourbon and OJ cocktail. It captures layers of fascinating flavors in a tall glass, including sherry, lemon, and cranberry. The mint leaves finish it off with perfection, leaving you with an extraordinary drink that's considered a modern classic.

  • 06 of 20

    Cantarito

    Cantarito Tequila Cocktail recipe, cocktail in a glass with orange and lime slices

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

    If you have fallen in love with the Paloma, the next tequila cocktail you have to try is the cantarito. It is tart, refreshing, and an amplified version of its more famous cocktail cousin. In it, the trifecta of major citrus fruits is accented with grapefruit soda to create a fascinating drink that will tantalize your taste buds.

  • 07 of 20

    Orange Creamsicle

    Orange Creamsicle Cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

    The orange creamsicle is simply a fun mixed drink. The taste resembles those ice cream treats you enjoyed as a kid, which is why this has been a favorite cocktail for decades. One of the first recipes to feature vanilla vodka, many people enjoy it today with whipped cream vodka. Either way, it is a yummy, irresistible cocktail.

  • 08 of 20

    Madras

    Madras cocktail recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    A simple mixed drink that builds off the screwdriver's ease, the madras is another icon of the fruity vodka highball family. This is a "trio" cocktail that requires just three simple ingredients: vodka, orange juice, and cranberry juice. The flavor has universal appeal, and it's a great excuse to pick up a budget-friendly vodka.

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  • 09 of 20

    Bliss on the Beach

    Bliss on the Beach Cocktail

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

    Ranking up there among the best vodka cocktails, few drinks can beat the bliss on the beach. It has long been a favorite, and after just one sip, you will discover why. Filled with a medley of flavors, including peach schnapps, crème de cassis, and orange and cranberry juices, it truly is the ultimate beach cocktail.

  • 10 of 20

    Abbey Cocktail

    Classic Abbey Cocktail

    Bill Boch / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images

    The love for orange juice in cocktails is not strictly a modern trend. The citrus fruit had a place in the bar since the early 1900s, making an appearance in brilliant drinks like the abbey cocktail. This gin martini showcases the juice equally with Lillet Blanc, adding orange bitters for a nice accent. It's another ideal brunch cocktail.

  • 11 of 20

    Monkey Gland

    Monkey Gland Cocktail Recipe

     The Spruce

    A flavorful ingredient like orange juice is ideal for masking the sometimes unpleasant aspects of liquor. The practice was prevalent in Prohibition-era cocktails when bathtub gin filled the nation's speakeasies. From that time comes the funky monkey gland cocktail with a backstory as fascinating as its taste. The contrast of absinthe against a sweetened citrus gin base is a taste you won't want to miss.

  • 12 of 20

    Hurricane

    Classic Hurricane drink recipe

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    In multi-layered recipes, orange juice is often the key to finding that perfect balance between fruit and liquor. One of the best-known examples is the hurricane. A New Orleans original, this classic includes two styles of rum and a blend of passion fruit and orange juices. It is one of the best tropical drinks created to date.

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  • 13 of 20

    Navy Grog

    Navy grog cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / Teena Agnel

    It's not surprising that the bright flavor of orange juice makes an appearance in many tropical cocktails. While not every version of the Navy grog requires orange juice, at least one modern interpretation does. In Dale DeGroff's recipe, you'll mix an old-fashioned Navy rum with curaçao, and lime and orange juices, then finish it off with bitters. It's simple but has an intricate taste that you're sure to enjoy.

  • 14 of 20

    Campari Cosmo

    Skyy Vodka's Campari Cosmo Cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

    Orange juice can be a useful ingredient in dinner-worthy cocktails as well. It is a perfect background in drinks like the Campari cosmo. The recipe mixes citrus vodka with Campari and offsets that distinct flavor with both orange juice and a liqueur. It comes together stunningly and is the perfect libation for any meal.

  • 15 of 20

    Almost a Collins

    Almost a Collins Cocktail Recipe with DRY Blood Orange Soda
    Dry Soda

    Blood oranges are a popular alternative to navel oranges, particularly in the winter months when they come into season. The sweeter, less acidic orange plays a vital role in the almost a collins recipe. This unique and refreshing drink pairs blood orange juice and soda with a fine vodka and cinnamon syrup for an easy happy hour cocktail.

  • 16 of 20

    Basil-Rosemary Orange Shandy

    Freshmade Orange Shandy

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

    When you're in the mood for a cool, refreshing beer drink, transform that fresh-squeezed orange juice into a shandy. The base of this recipe begins with a homemade orangeade sweetened with basil and rosemary syrup. It's tasty on its own, but even better when you build the shandy with a nice wheat beer.

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  • 17 of 20

    Blood and Sand

    Blood and Sand Cocktail
    David Douglas / Photodisc / Getty Images

    Scotch drinkers will appreciate the hint of OJ found in the blood and sand cocktail. Incredibly simple, all you need to do is pour equal parts of your favorite whisky, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, and orange juice. It's a lively mix that's an ideal digestif.

  • 18 of 20

    Papaya Smash

    Tequila Avion's Papaya Smash Cocktail

    Kyle Rothenborg / Perspectives / Getty Images

    When you spot papaya at the market, treat yourself to a papaya smash. It's a fantastic and fruity dinner drink featuring añejo tequila and Aperol. The cocktail includes a muddle of fresh papaya, then adds orange and lime juices. It's a great choice for summer entertaining.

  • 19 of 20

    Scorpion Bowl

    Scorpion Bowl Cocktail

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

    Drinks with a few friends is a lot more fun when you gather around a flaming scorpion bowl! Designed for a party of four, the special punch bowl with its volcano center is the perfect venue for a tropical fruit rum punch. This recipe includes fresh pineapple and mango with a good dose of orange juice.

  • 20 of 20

    Rum and Dew

    Rum and Dew Mixed Drink Recipe

    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

    Perfect for casual gatherings or when you simply want an easy, quick mixed drink, it's hard to resist this rum and dew recipe. Spiced rum is the liquor of choice, and it's poured equally with orange juice. Top it off with Mountain Dew and enjoy! It will quickly become a new favorite.