Blood oranges have a short season, January through March, and this is the drink that uses them best. The juice is darker than regular orange juice, almost ruby, with a berry-like tartness that regular oranges cannot touch. Mixed with tequila and topped with a strong ginger beer, it tastes like a margarita that belongs in winter instead of fighting against it.
The rim is blood orange zest mixed into sugar. Dip the glass in blood orange juice first, then into the zest sugar. It looks dramatic and adds a hit of citrus oil with every sip. Shake the tequila, blood orange juice, and lime together with ice, pour into the rimmed glass, and top with ginger beer.
How to Make a Winter Margarita
Make the Zest-Sugar Rim
Mix blood orange zest with granulated sugar in a small bowl. The oils from the zest will tint the sugar orange and make it fragrant. Dip the glass rim in blood orange juice first, then press it into the sugar. Let it set for a minute before filling the glass. 
Make extra zest sugar and store it in a jar. It keeps for weeks and works on other citrus cocktails too.
Shake Hard with Ice
Combine 60ml (2 oz) blood orange juice, 45ml (1.5 oz) tequila, and the juice from a lime wedge in a cocktail shaker with a cup of ice. Shake for 15-20 seconds until the shaker is frosted on the outside. Strain into the rimmed glass over fresh ice.
Top with Strong Ginger Beer
Pour 90ml (3 oz) of ginger beer over the top after straining the shaken mixture. Do not shake the ginger beer with the cocktail. It needs to stay carbonated. Use a ginger beer with real bite, not ginger ale. The spice against the sweet blood orange is what makes this drink work as a winter cocktail instead of just another margarita.
Winter Margarita – Blood Orange and Ginger
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
A festive twist on a classic margarita.
Blood orange and ginger add a warm, wintery flair.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cups (60 ml) blood orange juice
- zest from one blood orange
- 1/4 cups (60 ml) granulated sugar
- slices of blood orange for garnish
- ice
- 2 oz (60 ml) blood orange juice
- 1.5 oz (45 ml) tequila
- juice from 1 wedge of lime
- 3 oz (90 ml) strong ginger beer
Instructions
- Place 1/4 cup blood orange juice into a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine blood orange zest and sugar.
- Dip the rim of a glass into the blood orange juice, then into the sugar mixture to coat the rim evenly.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 cup of ice with 2 ounces blood orange juice, 1.5 ounces tequila, and the juice from a lime wedge.
- Shake vigorously.
- Pour into the prepared glass and top with ginger beer.
- Stir and enjoy!
Notes
- For a less sweet margarita, reduce the granulated sugar to 2 tablespoons.
- If blood oranges are unavailable, substitute with regular orange juice and add a few drops of orange extract for flavor.
- Store leftover ginger beer in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The other ingredients should be mixed fresh for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular oranges if blood oranges are out of season?
You can, but the drink will taste different. Add a tablespoon of pomegranate juice to approximate the tartness and color. The flavor will not be identical, but it still works well with the ginger.
What tequila works best here?
A blanco (silver) tequila. It is clean and lets the blood orange flavor come through. Reposado works too if you want a slightly smoother, oakier drink. Avoid anejo, which is too heavy for a citrus cocktail.
Can I batch this for a party?
Mix the blood orange juice, tequila, and lime together in a pitcher. Keep it cold. Add the ginger beer to each glass individually right before serving so it stays fizzy.
