Somehow this week I became completely fixated on raspberries. I spotted a raspberry-adorned cookie and immediately thought of these White Chocolate & Raspberry Cookies. But I didn’t stop there—why would I?
As the weekend rolled around, my thoughts naturally drifted towards cocktails, resulting in this bright and refreshing Blood Orange & Raspberry Sour. It’s been a particularly dreary week here with the weather and well, the world of late – but it’s not that kind of blog so I’ll stick to the cocktail which is what you are here for. This was exactly the kind of drink I needed to lift my mood and to escape the cold of winter. It practically feels like an invitation for spring to hurry up and arrive.
Finding blood oranges at the shops sealed the deal. Into the basket they went without a second thought. And don’t worry if raspberry isn’t your preferred cocktail companion—there are more blood orange cocktails on the way. This one sits a little further into the softer, fruitier territory than my cocktails usually do, but I couldn’t resist seeing how beautifully blood orange and raspberry played together. Next up is a Three Citrus Sour, which came about while I was making the most of my blood orange stash. Never ever did I think I’d be so excited about a fruit find but here we are!
Whether it was the vibrant citrus or simply the act of shaking up a cocktail on a cold evening, it certainly brightened my night. Blood oranges have always fascinated me. They’re a bit like nature’s lucky dip—you know they’ll be orange with hints of crimson, but every one is slightly different inside. Yes, I know… I’m a complete food geek.
I’m also slowly warming to the photography side of this venture into this online domain. It doesn’t come naturally to me, but it’s becoming an unexpected creative outlet alongside the cooking itself. This cocktail was so striking that my not-yet-of-age teenager immediately requested a mocktail version. Fortunately, it’s an easy swap. Replace the gin with a good zero-proof alternative—something I never imagined would exist back in the days of teenagers sneaking questionable spirits in the bush—or simply leave it out altogether and top the drink with chilled soda water for a lighter, equally refreshing version – Blood Orange and Raspberry Mocktail.
I hope this cocktail brightens your day as much as it brightened mine.
Worth Making?
- Yes – if you love citrus cocktails but want something a little more interesting than a classic sour.
- Yes – because the fresh raspberries add just enough berry flavour without turning it into a sweet cocktail.
- Yes – if you need a bright fresh cocktail to lighten up your day.
- Yes – if you need a pretty subtle ‘pink’ cocktail for a party.
- Skip it – if you prefer rich, spirit-forward cocktails with very little fruit.
- Skip it – if you’re after a quick two-ingredient drink.
Blood Orange and Raspberry Sour
Equipment
- 1 cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 60 ml Dry gin
- 25 ml fresh blood orange juice
- 10 ml honey syrup heat equal parts honey and water until honey is just dissolved
- 10 ml cointreau or triple sec
- 3-4 fresh raspberries muddled or 5 ml raspberry syrup can use frozen raspberries if fresh not available
- 10 ml fresh lemon juice
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 pinch flaky sea salt
- 1 egg white (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry shake
- Fill shaker with ice and shake again, strain into glass and garnish with a few raspberries or blood orange slice
Make it your own way
- Swap the gin for vodka for a cleaner, crisper cocktail.
- Use Cara Cara oranges when blood oranges aren’t in season.
- Add a few extra raspberries if you’d like a slightly more pronounced berry flavour.
- Replace the Cointreau with Triple Sec if that’s what you have on hand.
- Add or use Chambord (or raspberry liqueur) if you want a slightly sweeter and more raspberry drink.
- Leave out the egg white if you prefer a lighter, sharper sour—it won’t be as silky, but it’ll still taste great.
