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    Home » Recipes » Beverages

    Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour Cocktail

    Published: Feb 27, 2022 · Modified: Mar 30, 2024 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Blood orange gin sour.
    Blood orange gin sour.
    Blood orange gin sour.

    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.

    Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour Cocktail.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • 🍴Ingredients 
    • ⚒️ Equipment
    • 📖 Step-by-Step Instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • More Cocktail Inspiration
    • Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour Cocktail
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ 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.

    Close up of blood orange cocktail.

    🍴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.
    Gin sour cocktail.
    Blood Orange gin sour with blood orange wheel as garnish.

    ⚒️ 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!

    Freshly squeezed blood orange juice.
    Top view of blood orange gin sour.

    📖 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!
    Cocktail in a glass.

    👩🏻‍🍳 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.
    2 clementine blood orange sour cocktails

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    Can I make a vegan gin sour?

    Of course! Simply swap the honey syrup out for a vegan simple syrup. Here are 15+ options to choose from.

    What if I can’t find blood orange or clementine juice?

    If you happen to be lucky enough to get fresh citrus at home, you’ll notice subtle flavor differences between different varieties. While I love the blood orange and clementine combo, you can make a citrus gin sour using any variety of oranges or mandarins available.

    Can I make this as a pitcher drink?

    Unfortunately, shaken drinks aren’t really cut out for turning into pitcher beverages. They should be imbibed shortly after shaking for the best texture. Additionally, this cocktail has egg white, which means it shouldn't be batched in advance!

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    If you try this recipe for a Blood Orange Gin Sour, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧 

    Clementine & Blood Orange Gin Sour Cocktail

    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.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Beverages
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 Cocktail
    Calories: 117kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Shaker or Container with Lid
    • Glasses for serving

    Ingredients

    • 1 oz Honey Syrup, equal parts warm water and honey, shaken until mixture is homogenous
    • 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin, or the gin of your preference
    • 1 oz Blood Orange Juice
    • 1 oz Clementine juice
    • 1 Egg White
    • Ice
    • Blood Orange Slice for garnish

    Instructions

    • Add all the above ingredients without ice and garnish into a shaker and shake for 30 seconds until chilled and frothy. Add ice and shake for an additional thirty seconds.
      1 oz Honey Syrup, 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin, 1 oz Blood Orange Juice, 1 oz Clementine juice, 1 Egg White, Ice
    • Strain into your serving glass and top with a thin blood orange slice that sits on top of the frothy top with a cocktail stick. Then enjoy - cheers my friends!
      Blood Orange Slice for garnish

    Video

    Notes

    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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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