A Delicious Blood Orange Margarita Recipe

Name: Bloody Margarita
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 ounces tequila; 1 ounce blood orange juice; 1/2 ounce lime juice; 3/4 ounce orange liqueur

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Blood orange margarita — Getty Images/A485

Prep: 3 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 3 mins

Serving: 1 serving

Yield: 1 cocktail

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When you see "bloody" in a drink's name you'll likely think of a tomato juice cocktail like the Bloody Mary. That is definitely not the case for this bloody margarita. Instead, it is a blood orange margarita that features the wonderful flavor of a blood-red citrus fruit.

Blood oranges are a little sweeter than the more common varieties of the fruit. The taste is more like an orange with a hint of raspberry. Blood orange juice is getting easier to find, though it's certainly not as readily available as the average orange juice. It is worth hunting down.

What Are Navel Oranges?

The oranges are a perfect match for your favorite tequila and a premium triple sec like Cointreau, and the cocktail is very easy to mix up. It makes a fantastic winter margarita because that is when blood oranges are in season, so keep an eye out for them.

1 1/2 ounces tequila
3/4 ounce premium triple sec
1 ounce blood orange juice
1/2 ounce lime juice

Gather the ingredients.
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Serve and enjoy.

Recipe Variation

As with most margaritas, feel free to serve this one on the rocks over fresh ice or toss it in the blender with 1 cup of ice.

Tips

The best bloody margarita comes from freshly squeezed blood orange juice. They're about the size of a navel orange and should yield 2 to 3 ounces, so one fruit should be enough for a few margaritas.
Markets should have the fruit from December through April.
Bottled or concentrated blood orange juice can be found year round and that is the next best option. It's not common, so you will have to look a little harder. You might have luck at natural food grocers, specialty markets, or in the organic or health food section of larger supermarkets.
If you find the juice, check the expiration date and stock up while you can. In the past, some great companies have given up on this juice because it doesn't have high demand. Also, you can expect to pay more for blood orange juice than your typical orange juice, but it is worth it.

Blood Orange Juice Alternatives

If you cannot find fresh blood oranges or the juice, there are alternatives. You will need to make some adjustments in the recipe to find a good balance of flavor. And yet, sampling your bloody margarita experiments is not a bad job to have! Enjoy the experience and you'll find a mix that works really well.

Stirrings Blood Orange Martini Mixer: Blood orange juice and key lime juice concentrates are mixed with cane sugar to make a decent alternative to blood orange juice. It's available as a 750ml bottle (the same size as the average liquor bottle) so it will last quite a while and is one of the more affordable options.
Monin Blood Orange Syrup and Puree: One of the best-known syrup producers, Monin offers both a blood orange syrup and a fruit puree. Either would be a good substitute, though you will need to make adjustments from the recipe because both are thicker than a juice. Start with about 3/4 ounce, shake the margarita, and add more if needed.
Blood Orange Puree: Most often found at specialty grocers or those concentrating on gourmet food, it is possible to find a blood orange puree. Again, you'll need to make adjustments to the recipe to suit your taste. It is also possible to add water to a puree to create a juice using your blender. Depending on the puree, you may want to strain out any pulp.

How Strong Is a Bloody Margarita?

Just like the original margarita, the blood orange margarita is a pretty strong drink. On average, you can expect its alcohol content to fall in the 21 percent ABV (42 proof), or about half the strength of a straight tequila shot.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
179	Calories
0g	Fat
10g	Carbs
0g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	179
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 10g	4%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 20mg	101%
Calcium 6mg	0%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 81mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.