Blood Orange Tequila Old Fashioned
A vibrant twist on the Old Fashioned using reposado tequila and fresh blood orange. Citrus-forward with agave sweetness and a beautiful ruby color.
Ingredients
- Reposado tequila: 60 ml (2 oz)
- Blood orange juice: 15 ml (1/2 oz)
- Agave syrup: 10 ml (1/3 oz)
- Orange bitters: 2 dashes
- Angostura bitters: 1 dash
- Large ice cube
Garnish
Blood orange wheel or peel
Instructions
- 1
Add tequila, blood orange juice, agave syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- 2
Stir for 20-30 seconds until well-chilled.
- 3
Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
- 4
Express a blood orange peel over the drink and place in glass.
Notes
Blood oranges are seasonal (winter/early spring), but regular oranges work too - you just lose the stunning color. Reposado tequila is key - the oak aging gives it the complexity needed for an Old Fashioned riff. Don't use blanco.
Why Reposado
Reposado tequila is aged in oak. That gives it vanilla, caramel, spice - similar to whiskey. That’s why it works in an Old Fashioned format. Blanco is too sharp. Añejo is too woody. Reposado is the move.
The agave sweetness plays well with blood orange. Better than regular orange.
Blood Orange
Season is December through April. Deep red flesh, complex flavor - sweet-tart with raspberry notes. When they’re not available, use Cara Cara or add pomegranate juice to regular orange for color.
Fresh juice only. Bottled doesn’t cut it.
The Build
Stir gently. You want to chill and dilute slightly, not aerate. Large ice cube - one big one is better than many small ones.
Agave syrup, not simple syrup. It ties the tequila and citrus together.
Express blood orange peel over the drink.
Citrus-forward but balanced. The blood orange provides acid and sweetness, agave adds depth, bitters bring complexity.