Orange Marmalade Gin Sour

I’ve certainly been on a sour cocktail tangent for a while now. A classic Negroni or Margarita will always be among my favourite cocktails, but every now and then it’s fun to shake things up. A foam-topped sour is one of the easiest ways to make a cocktail at home that feels like your in a sophisticated bar, and this Orange Marmalade Gin Sour is the latest addition to the collection. I have a feeling it won’t be the last.

I know the egg white can divide opinion. Personally, I think it’s worth using. It creates that silky, velvety foam that makes a sour feel complete, and with fresh eggs I’ve never had an issue. If it’s not your thing, aquafaba works well or you can use one of the commercial foaming options available at most bottle shops. Or simply leave it out. The drink will still taste great, it just won’t have quite the same texture. Besides, I’m someone who happily samples raw cookie dough, so an egg white in a cocktail has never worried me.

The other ingredient that tends to split people is the marmalade. Younger me couldn’t stand the stuff. Adult me? I’ve developed a real appreciation for bitter flavours, whether that’s a Negroni, olives, good dark chocolate or a decent orange marmalade.

The marmalade doesn’t take over the drink as you might expect. Instead, it sneakily rounds everything out, adding bittersweet orange flavour and just enough sweetness to soften the sharp citrus without turning the cocktail into the sweet category. It’s one of those ingredients that does its job without demanding all the attention.

If buying a jar of marmalade for one cocktail feels excessive, don’t worry—it won’t go to waste. Use it to make my Breakfast Rum or the soon-to-be-published Triple Citrus Margarita, where it performs the same balancing act and ties all the citrus flavours together.

So, are you team marmalade or would you happily leave it on the supermarket shelf? Let me know in the comments, and if there are any other marmalade recipes you’d like to see, I’d love to hear them.

Worth Making?

• Yes – if you love a classic gin sour but want something with a little more depth and character.
• Yes – because the marmalade adds sweetness, bitterness and citrus flavour all in one ingredient, without needing extra syrups or liqueurs.
• Yes – if you’ve got half a jar of marmalade in the fridge that’s been waiting for a better purpose than toast or crumpets.
• Skip it – if you prefer your cocktails crisp, dry and basic.
• Skip it – if you only have overly sweet breakfast marmalade, as a good-quality bitter orange marmalade makes all the difference.

Make it your own way

• Swap the orange marmalade for blood orange marmalade when it’s in season for a deeper citrus flavour and richer colour.
• Use a pink grapefruit marmalade for a more bittersweet take on the cocktail.
• Replace the lemon juice with lime for a sharper, brighter finish.
• Turn it into a longer drink by topping it with chilled soda water after shaking.
• Make it alcohol-free by replacing the gin with a quality non-alcoholic gin alternative—the marmalade still provides plenty of flavour and body.