Blood Orange Honey Old Fashioned
This blood orange honey old fashioned is a twist on the classic cocktail, with a unique flavor that is all its own. Super simple to make, with a beautiful color from the blood oranges, this is sure to become your new favorite cocktail!
The classic old fashioned cocktail is kind of a big deal where I’m from. You could go so far as to say the old fashioned is Wisconsin’s signature drink. A traditional old fashioned contains a sugar cube, bitters, maraschino cherries, an orange slice, and a generous pour of your favorite bourbon or whiskey. In my family, it’s made with brandy and garnished with green olives. A little weird, but give it a try some time and I promise you will not be disappointed.
This blood orange old fashioned cocktail is a fun twist on the classic. I replaced the sugar cube with a generous drizzle of honey, and the oranges and cherries with fresh squeezed blood orange juice. Stir those up in your rocks glass with your old fashioned alcohol of choice, and top with sparkling water for a refreshing and delicious drink. I loved the natural flavors of this simple cocktail, and while it certainly reminds me of the original, this drink really stands on its own.
For other fun cocktails, try my apple cider martini, baileys peppermint espresso martini, or cranberry mimosa.
You Will Love This
- I love using honey in cocktails – no need to make a simple syrup, and no sugar grains in your drink!
- Blood oranges make this cocktail a beautiful vibrant color, perfect for a special occasion!
Ingredients
To make a blood orange honey old fashioned, you need the following ingredients (exact measurements are in the recipe card below):
- Honey: Using honey instead of sugar adds a more natural, sweet and fruity flavor. Honey is sweeter than white sugar, and I find this cocktail is sweet enough for me even without the maraschino cherries in the traditional version.
- Blood Oranges: Blood oranges are more sweet and floral than regular oranges, and they are just so pretty! You need 1-2 oranges for juice and garnish for this recipe.
- Angostura bitters: Aromatic bitters are made with herbs and botanicals. Their purpose is to add a fresh smell and flavor to cocktails. I have heard bitters in cocktail making compared to salt in cooking – they add so much and help bring out all the other flavors in the drink. Don’t leave them out! You can substitute orange bitters if you have those on hand.
- Brandy: You could substitute whiskey or bourbon if you prefer.
- Cointreau
- Sparkling water or lemon-lime soda
- Ice
Instructions
Step One: Drizzle the honey into the bottom of a double old-fashioned glass.
Step Two: Add freshly squeezed blood orange juice and stir well to combine it with the honey.
Step Three: Add the bitters, brandy and Cointreau to the glass, and stir.
Step Four: Add a big ice cube or two, and top the drink off with sparkling water. For a sweeter cocktail, top your drink off with lemon-lime soda like Sprite.
Step Five: Garnish your cocktail with an orange wedge or orange twist if you’re feeling fancy. I added a sprig of thyme to mine.
Blood Orange Honey Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 ounce blood orange juice
- 3 dashes bitters
- 1 ounce brandy
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau
- 3-4 ounces sparkling water or soda
Instructions
- Drizzle the honey into the bottom of a double old-fashioned glass.
- Add freshly squeezed blood orange juice and stir well to combine it with the honey.
- Add the bitters, brandy and Cointreau to the glass, and stir well.
- dd a big ice cube or two, and top the drink off with sparkling water. For a sweeter cocktail, top your drink off with lemon-lime soda like Sprite.
- Garnish your cocktail with an orange wedge or orange twist if you're feeling fancy. I added a sprig of thyme to mine.
