Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce blood orange juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, blood orange juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Variations and Substitutions
Whether you're out of an ingredient or you're looking for ways to personalize your blood orange martini, there are plenty of options.
- Instead of orange liqueur, use blood orange liqueur for bolder flavors.
- Add a splash of raspberry liqueur to emphasize the berry flavors in the blood orange juice.
- Use blood orange vodka to punch up the blood orange flavor.
- Skip the lime juice in favor of lemon juice.
- For a deluxe touch, include a splash of sparkling wine just prior to serving.
Garnishes
If you're looking for a bolder garnish, or you just want to skip the plain orange slice in favor of something else, consider a few of these.
- Opt for an orange slice or wedge instead of a wheel.
- Skip the plain orange in favor of a blood orange wheel, slice, or wedge.
- A dehydrated citrus wheel adds a unique and modern spin to an otherwise traditional garnish.
- Stick with the orange color and use an orange peel, ribbon, or twist.
- Cut shapes into an orange peel, such as a star, coin, or diamond.
About the Blood Orange Martini
Blood oranges are a gorgeously colored and flavored varietal of orange. At first look, its unassuming peel is easy to mistake for a typical orange, but it has a skin that's tougher to peel; this is the first hint that not everything is as it seems. Waiting inside is the deep red pulp that sets it apart from other oranges.
Although the blood orange does have the expected citrus notes, it has sweeter berry notes similar to that of cherries and raspberries with a tart whisper of red grapefruit lurking just behind. These flavors make for excellent blood orange flavored vodka, gin, and liqueur.
A Bloody Good Decision
Don't be fooled by the alien look and flavors of the blood orange; it makes for one of the most outstanding martini flavors. The sweet and tart flavors are a satisfying combination in this delicious and unique martini.
