Blood Orange Margarita

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This Blood Orange Margarita is a bold, citrusy twist on the classic Marg. Bursting with vibrant color and flavor, the fresh blood orange juice adds a sweet-tart kick, which is perfectly balanced by zesty lime, smooth tequila, and a touch of Cointreau. Served over ice with a salted rim, it’s a stunning, sunset-hued cocktail that’s as refreshing as it's irresistible.

 

An exciting twist on the traditional Margarita

• Eye-catching drink: The fresh blood orange juice adds a naturally sweet-tart flavor and stunning color, creating a bolder, more exciting version of the original. A Blood Orange Margarita takes the classic margarita to the next level with a vibrant, citrus-forward twist.
• Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, this cocktail isn't just limited to one holiday: It's great for spring gatherings, parties, or any fun event that calls for a refreshing,  sunset-hued cocktail. Served on the rocks, it's an easy-to-make, thirst-quenching drink that's perfect for toasting to good times.
• Short season: Blood oranges are in season only from December to May, making it the perfect time to use this seasonal fruit at its peak sweetness and juiciness. Take advantage of this limited window by crafting this Blood Orange Margarita, or incorporate them into other recipes like my blood orange mixed greens salad with honey-lemon dressing.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• 2 ounces silver tequila: Silver tequila (blanco or plata) is the best choice for margaritas due to its clean, crisp, unnamed flavor that enhances the fresh citrus without overpowering the balance. Reposado and Añejo tequilas, with their more complex and oaky notes, are better suited for sipping than for bright, crisp cocktails like margaritas.
• 2 ounces freshly squeezed blood orange juice: You can also use regular oranges, but the flavor will be milder and less complex. Blood oranges add a unique balance of sweetness and tartness that regular oranges don’t fully replicate.
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice: Fresh is always the best but bottled works, too!
• ½ ounce Cointreau or triple sec: Cointreau is a premium triple sec with a smoother, well-balanced citrus flavor, while standard triple sec can be sharper, sweeter, and less complex. Cointreau simply tastes better and is the best choice for a blood orange margarita.
• ½ ounce agave or simple syrup: optional, for sweetness. Blood oranges are naturally sweeter than regular oranges, so adding sweeteners can make the cocktail overly sweet.
• 1 slice of blood orange or lime wedge, or regular orange slice, for garnish.
• 1 lime wedge + sea salt (or margarita salt) for rimming the glass.
• Ice - no substitutions here!

How to Make Blood Orange Margarita (step-by-step photos)

Note: this recipe makes one glass of margarita (a single serving). Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass, then dip it into sea salt to coat. Fill the glass with ice and pour in the tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice, and Cointreau. Stir until well mixed and the glass feels chilled.

Garnish with a blood orange slice or lime wedge. Serve immediately and enjoy!

What’s the difference between Cointreau and triple sec?

Cointreau is a type of triple sec, but not all triple secs are Cointreau. The former is a premium orange liqueur with a smooth and well-balanced flavor. It’s made with sweet and bitter orange peels, which gives it a refined citrus taste. It’s less sugary with a cleaner and more natural orange flavor. Triple sec falls under the general category of orange liqueurs, which range from low-end to high-end. It often has a sharper and more artificial orange taste. It has a lower alcohol content and tends to be sweeter and less complex than Cointreau. Can I use triple sec instead of Cointreau? Yes, but Cointreau is the best choice for a Blood Orange Margarita because of its higher alcohol content and smoother citrus profile.

Why make margarita directly in the glass instead of a shaker?

I made this Blood Orange Margarita directly in the glass as opposed to a shaker. It’s quicker and easier and saves on extra washing up! The main reason though is that making the cocktail directly in the glass means less dilution - shaking adds more water from the ice, while stirring keeps the flavors more intense. If you prefer to make this cocktail in a shaker, simply fill it with ice, add all the cocktail ingredients and vigorously shake, and then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

Do I need to add simple syrup or agave?

A Blood Orange Margarita typically doesn’t need simple syrup because blood oranges are naturally sweeter than regular ones. Of course, this is entirely subjective, and while many recipes include simple syrup or agave nectar as standard, I would recommend only adding it if needed because its addition can make the cocktail much too sweet. A well-made margarita thrives on the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and strong, so allowing the natural sugars in the blood orange to shine keeps this cocktail’s flavor profile crisp and refreshing.

Is the salt rim necessary?

I recommend not skipping the salt rim as the salt cuts through the tartness of the blood orange and lime balancing the sweetness and enhancing the citrus flavors.