Orange Blossom Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/11/23
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

According to "The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book," there are two versions of the orange blossom: one "up" like a martini and one on the rocks. Both drinks are great classic cocktails and feature orange juice and gin. Serve these up for dinner or as an alternative to the Screwdriver at brunch; they're tasty additions for either occasion.

In the 1935 book, A.S. Crockett says that the orange blossom no. 1 (neat) was likely created by "some young bridegroom or other who wanted something novel to use at his final stag party." It's an interesting commentary, and one almost gets the feeling that Crockett was not too fond of the drink. Despite his thoughts, the drink has not been forgotten over the years.

What is really nice about this orange gin cocktail is that the sweet vermouth takes some of the acidity out of the drink. It's a nice surprise, and when it all comes together, it is a very pleasant drink.

Orange blossom cocktail in a glass

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

"This recipe is a nice variation on the orange blossom. The sweet vermouth effectively replaces the sweetness while adding a pleasant dimension to an otherwise two-dimensional cocktail. Because of the delicacy of the blend of these three ingredients, if lightly shaken it can be a wonderfully refreshing brunch cocktail enjoyed with your pinky turned up." —Sean Johnson

Orange Blossom Cocktail Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3/4 ounce gin

  • 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

  • 3/4 ounce orange juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Orange Blossom Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.

    cocktail ingredients, cocktail shaker with ice cubes

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Shake well.

    shake a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Orange Blossom Cocktail

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips for Making a Great Orange Blossom

  • The Gin. Either of the orange blossom cocktails is nice with a London dry gin, but you might like them a bit more with one of the older styles of gin. Those like Plymouth, Old Tom, and genever have an underlying sweetness not found in newer styles and they work very nicely against citrus fruits.

    It is also important to realize that gin is rarely mixed with orange juice. The two just don't jive as well as other pairings so you should be a bit pickier on the gin. You might also remember that many of the gins from Crockett's time were a bit sweeter than we're used to today. Choosing a gin along these lines will help balance out the citrus and produce a more authentic orange blossom.
  • The Orange Juice. This is a delicate pairing and there is no reason for you to muddle it up with the average carton of OJ. While it's always recommended, there are certain drinks in which fresh-squeezed juice is almost essential and the orange blossoms fall into this category. 

    Take the time to juice a few oranges or, at the very least, buy the best, freshest, and purest orange juice you can find. 

Orange Blossom No. 2

Crockett's recipe for the orange blossom no. 2 (also known as the Adirondack) excludes sweet vermouth. It is built in a "bar glass" and an old-fashioned will work perfectly. It definitely has more of a Screwdriver feel but has a slightly higher concentration of alcohol.


To make the drink, simply pour 2 ounces each of gin and orange juice over ice.

How Strong Are These Orange Blossom Cocktails?

Compared to other classic cocktails like the martini, these orange blossoms are quite light. This is due to the orange juice that made the occasional appearance in drinks of the era. 


With an 80-proof gin, we can estimate the alcohol content of these two drinks:

  • Orange Blossom: 15 percent ABV (30 proof)
  • Orange Blossom No. 2: 17 percent ABV (34 proof)

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
94 Calories
0g Fat
5g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 94
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 12mg 58%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 67mg 1%
*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.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)