Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour Cocktail

Sweet, tart, floral, and frothy, my Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour Cocktail is my newest happy hour obsession. Made with just 5 ingredients in about 5 minutes, this bright, beautiful, citrusy beverage is a taste of sunshine in a glass.

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

Here in Southern California, citrus season is in full swing. The farmer’s markets are flooded with tons of delicious, juicy fruits like mandarins, Cara Caras, kumquats, and grapefruits. As a true lover of all things sweet-tart, I simply couldn’t help myself when I came across a pile of perfect clementines and sensuous blood oranges.

Fast forward just a few hours later, and Calvin and I were swigging these delightfully refreshing mixed citrus gin sours like there was no tomorrow. They’re not only gorgeous to look at but also a real treat to sip on. 

Made with Empress 1908 Gin (one of my favorite all-time spirits), this tasty concoction has all the citrusy botanical flavors I associate with gin, plus the added complexity of black tea and butterfly pea flowers that impart a gorgeous indigo hue and a warm, earthy flavor to the mix.

When combined with homemade honey syrup, the flavors of this exquisite gin meld perfectly with the fresh fruit juices. Add an egg white to the mix for a luscious mouthfeel that transforms this gin sour into a sublimely sippable mèlange that’ll have you coming back for more.

🍴Ingredients 

This well-crafted cocktail might taste complex, but the ingredients are quite simple. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Honey Syrup - Making honey simple syrup is as easy as mixing equal parts warm water and honey until homogenous. I suggest using high-quality local honey, preferably of a wildflower or orange blossom variety. Infuse your syrup with lavender for extra floral flavor if you wish!
• Empress 1908 Gin - If the shocking color of blue curaçao puts you off, I beg you to reconsider. This indigo-colored spirit is among the best gins I’ve ever quaffed, and the color can be a real boon for happy hour. If you are unable to procure a bottle, any good-quality botanical gin will do well here.
• Blood Orange Juice - If you can get your hands on fresh, in-season blood oranges, I suggest you squeeze your own. If not, high-quality nationwide brands like Natalie’s are a fine substitute. 
• Clementine Juice - Again, fresh is best here!
• Egg White - If separating an egg seems like a lot of work for a cocktail, feel free to use the pasteurized liquid egg whites sold in cartons. Otherwise, save those yolks and a handful of citrus to make a beautiful curd for slathering on breakfast pastries throughout the week.

⚒️ Equipment

One of the things I love best about sour cocktails is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to make them. Simply gather:

• Cocktail Shaker With Lid - This Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour is one that must be shaken, not stirred. Make sure your cocktail shaker lid fits tightly to avoid any big spills. If possible, reach for a tin-on-tin or Parisian shaker - their simple design makes it easy to keep your beverages where they are supposed to be.
• Cocktail Strainer - While you want some *very tiny* pieces of ice in the cocktail to give it texture, you are going to want to hold any larger pieces back. Cocktail strainers are the best piece of equipment around for making sure only the good bits get through.
• Pretty Cocktail Glass. Happy hour at home may not seem as special as a night on the town, but I guarantee that’ll change when you up your glass game. I’m partial to a coupe whenever it comes to sour cocktails, but you could easily get even fancier with a specific sour glass, also known as a Delmonico glass!

Bonus points if you have some beautiful cocktail napkins to serve your professional-looking beverages with!

📖 Step-by-Step Instructions

Making these mixed citrus gin sour cocktails is a snap. Simply:

1. Dry Shake: Add all the cocktail ingredients minus the ice into a shaker and shake for 30 seconds until frothy.
2. Shake With Ice:  Add ice and shake for an additional thirty seconds until well chilled and nicely aerated. 
3. Strain & Enjoy: Strain into your serving glass. Get a little extra fancy by topping with a thin slice of blood orange (fresh or dried) that sits on top of the frothy top with a cocktail stick. Now it’s time to enjoy. Cheers, my friends!

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Don’t skip the dry shaking. Dry shaking cocktails (meaning before you add the ice) with egg whites allows for a more prominent and frothy foam. The process of shaking without the ice gives the cocktail a better chance to emulsify, leaving you with a silkier, more luxurious head.
• Shake vigorously, especially when you add the ice! Shaking cocktails with ice not only acts to mix the ingredients together, but also simultaneously chills and aerates them. Think of it like this - shaking a cocktail is akin to creaming butter and sugar; don’t rush the process and you’ll end up with a better, tastier, more luxurious result.
• Go for gold with your garnish! A surefire way to make your homemade gin sours feel as fancy as you’d find during a night on the town is to add a garnish. This Clementine and Blood Orange cocktail is just begging for a dried slice of citrus.
• Perfecting Your Citrus Balance: For a Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour that captivates, focus on the blend of citrus. Start with a base of fresh lime juice and meyer lemon juice, then complement it with the natural sweetness of satsuma mandarins and blood orange syrup. Don't forget to garnish with an orange slice or orange peel for that extra zing and visual appeal!
• Choosing and Mixing Ingredients: Elevate your orange gin cocktail by selecting the world’s best gin, one that has hints of juniper berries to enhance the citrusy notes. Experimenting with different orange liqueurs, such as triple sec or elderflower liqueur, can add depth and uniqueness to your cocktail. If it's your first time crafting this signature drink, consider investing in a cocktail kit, which often comes equipped with essential tools to ensure the perfect mix.

💭 Recipe FAQs

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