The Blood Orange Martini is a fresh combination of sweet, slightly bitter fruit juice, rosemary & Campari. With an air of old-fashioned grandeur brought about by the egg white foam this is one sleek, silky drink to linger over.
Spring is officially only days away and I for one am looking forward to some sunnier days, less rain and the longer evenings. I generally like all seasons, but by the time March comes around I am in dire need of some new, exciting and colourful in-season fruit & veg back in my life. I’m talking about life’s simple pleasures such as purple-sprouting broccoli, rhubarb and blood oranges.
Hello blood oranges.
And what better to do with this springtime bounty of blushing juiciness than to create a gin based Blood Orange Martini.
I much prefer blood oranges to regular oranges. Blood oranges are typically slightly more bitter and less acidic than ordinary ones. Although I am not into regular orange juice at all I do enjoy a glass of the red stuff when it’s available. For this cocktail, I decided to pair the lovely red juice from the blood oranges with rosemary and just a splash of Campari to play on that hint of bitterness. To ensure enough herbal flavour comes through I made a sugar syrup infused with fresh rosemary. It’s really easy to make and keeps for up to a month.
Bonus: cocktail ingredients on tap
To give the Blood Orange Martini an air of old fashioned grandeur, I couldn’t resist adding an egg white foam. The drink contains both citrus juice and syrup – both of which are needed to successfully create the foam. And it’s this foam that really sets the cocktail apart:
- the egg white transform the liquid into something creamy and silky to sip on
- the pretty foam floating on top of the cocktail is a visual treat to gaze upon
That egg white foam really does seal the deal.
If you’ve never used egg white in a cocktail before then head over to abarabove for a low-down on how best to shake with egg white. Really, it all comes down to the need to shake your cocktail twice:
- first without ice
- and again with the addition of ice
It’s as simple as that.
Blood oranges are only available late winter-spring, so make the most of them while they are around. Just be sure to grab yourself enough to make this cocktail and a glass of pure, natural juice for breakfast time before they disappear from the supermarket shelves again.
BTW – if you like Pinterest and you like gorgeous drinks then hop over and check out my board Liquid Love. It displays beautifully photographed, beautifully tasty drinks of all varieties – shakes, smoothies, coffees, teas, healthy drinks and cocktails (of course). Accepting new contributors at the moment.
📖 Recipe
Blood Orange Martini
Ingredients
For the Rosemary Syrup
- 25 g/ 1oz Fresh rosemary
- 125 g/ 4 ½oz White sugar
- 125 ml/ 4 fl oz Water
For the Blood Orange Martini
- 2 Blood oranges – juiced (about 90-100ml/ 3-3 ½ fl oz)
- 80 ml/ 2 ½ fl oz + 1tsp Gin
- 20 ml/ 4tsp Rosemary syrup
- 5 ml/ 1tsp Campari
- 1 Egg white (use a large egg)
- Handful of ice
- Sprig fresh rosemary – for garnish
Instructions
Make the Rosemary Syrup
- Put the sugar and water into a small saucepan and allow the sugar to dissolve over a medium heat
- Add the rosemary sprigs, bring up to boiling then take off the heat
- Leave to cool completely, strain to remove the rosemary
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month
Make the Blood Orange Martini
- Put all of the ingredients EXCEPT THE ICE into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for about a minute
- Add the ice and shake for a further minute
- Strain the liquid and egg white foam into 2 cocktail glasses, and garnish with rosemary sprigs if using
- Serve immediately
Dini @ The Flavor Bender
I absolutely LOVE cocktails with egg white foam!! This looks so refreshing and delicious Jane! I am going loony for blood oranges! So many of your gorgeous recipes are on my to-make list 🙂
Jane Saunders
Ah, thankyou Dini. ~You’ve made my day (it’s a Bank Holiday so doubly happy 🙂 🙂 )
Jennifer A Stewart
First off, love blood oranges and the fact that they are now alcoholic. Second, where are you finding purple sprouting broccoli? I want some of that! Third, rethinking the whole rhubarb thing…
Jane Saunders
haha – alcoholic blood oranges. I like that thought, Jennifer. I’ve been spotting the purple sprouting broccoli in our supermarkets. Maybe we’re ahead of you seasonally? I keep trying to get rhubarb into a cocktail – I’ll shout you if I manage it as that should twist your arm.
Debra @ Bowl Me Over
Delicious drink! Wanted to let you know I’m featuring your yummy concoction on #FoodieFriDIY tonight, cheers!
Jane Saunders
Wow, thankyou so much Debra. That’s made my Good Friday extra GOOD!
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
This is such a stunner Jane. I love everything about it. Also today is #nationalcocktailday so promote the heck out of it!!
Jane Saunders
Cheers, Christine. It’s one of my favourites right now.
Julie at Hostess At Heart
I’m a gin girl and this drink looks amazing! Blood oranges are going on my grocery list!
Jane Saunders
Excellent decision Julie – your shopping list just got fun.
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
What a beautiful drink! I need to whip this up tonight – love ALL of these ingredients! Cheers 🙂
Jane Saunders
Hi Kathryn – thanks for dropping in. Hope you enjoyed it.
Liz @ Ready to Yumble
This looks lovely AND delicious! I’ve always been wary of egg foams, but now I’m determined to give it a shot!
Jane Saunders
Thankyou, Liz – you so should give it a go. First time around I was expecting a weird, gloopy consistency due to the egg white, but what it does is totally transform the liquid into something wonderfully smooth – like drinking velvet and no icky streaks of white to be seen. I add it whenever I can get away with it.
Meghan | Fox and Briar
Oh my goodness I love everything about this cocktail. I actually have some blood oranges sitting in my fridge right now waiting to be turned into a cocktail. Plus gin, campari, rosemary syrup!?! You are killing me. I have actually never used egg whites in a cocktail, it always seems intimidating, so the instructions here are really helpful. AND your photos, OMG! Love, love, love.
Jane Saunders
Thankyou Meghan. I did particularly enjoy shooting this one… and drinking it afterwards, obviously. Do try the egg white – seeing as you have the blood orange I think destiny is calling you 🙂
Joanne Higginson
I can honestly say that this is one delicious cocktail.
Jane Saunders
Thanks Jo 🙂