The Blood Orange Bourbon cocktail balances the sweet, tart and spiced notes of the syrup with the vanilla, oak and caramel notes of bourbon.
Blood Orange Bourbon Cocktail (B.O.B) – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
In a previous DIY article, we featured how to make the spiced blood orange syrup and how to use it in cocktails. The syrup is very easy to prepare for the home bartender and one to enjoy in cocktails and mixed drinks when blood oranges are in season.
The syrup makes use of freshly squeezed blood orange juice, sugar and lightly toasted spices, namely cinnamon quill, cardamom pods and grated nutmeg. For this cocktail, we pair it with bourbon in a sour style of drink that balances the sweet, tart and spiced notes of the syrup with bourbon’s vanilla, oak and caramel flavours. Nicknamed the B.O.B, the drink gets a little splash of soda water which brightens the drink.
Bourbon cocktails need not be too spirit-forward to be enjoyed. This drink retains the full flavour of bourbon while delivering a refreshing and elegant drink that is easy to prepare and enjoy as an aperitif. The drink can also be easily batched (without the soda water) if making cocktails for a crowd.
Blood Orange Bourbon Cocktail Recipe
Original recipe created by Cocktails & Bars
Ingredients
- 45ml bourbon (we used Michter’s Bourbon)
- 20ml spiced blood orange syrup
- 15ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- splash of soda water
Glassware: coupette
Garnish: orange peel
Method
In a cocktail shaker, add the bourbon, spiced blood orange syrup, lemon juice and Angostura bitters over ice and shake hard until the tin is cold. Double strain into a chilled coupette and add a splash of soda water. Garnish with an orange peel.
