Blood Orange Cocktail with Gin and Aperol
This blood orange cocktail is bright and citrusy with a balanced bitter edge, made with gin, Aperol and fresh lemon juice. It’s a simple, well-balanced drink that feels more special than the effort it takes to make it.
Made in minutes, this mesmerizingly orange-hued drink works for toasting something worth celebrating or turning an ordinary night into something more memorable.
Blood orange is typically in season from late December through May, when it is available in markets.
Why you’ll love this blood orange cocktail
- Bright citrus from blood orange and lemon keeps the drink lively without it tasting like a sweeTART
- Gin adds structure and a botanical backbone that gives the cocktail depth
- Aperol, an Italian liqueur, brings gentle bitterness with a touch of sweetness and its signature orange color
- It’s a four-ingredient drink with real fruit flavors
Fresh juice makes all the difference. Always make this drink with fresh-squeezed, never bottled juice.
How to serve this for a romantic moment
This drink makes a nice cocktail choice for date night. Serve it chilled in a coupe glass, (the bowl-type Champagne glass), or on the rocks with a large ice cube so it stays cold without diluting too quickly. You can purchase specialty ice cube trays from barware suppliers.
Make it right before serving so the citrus maintains its deliciously acidic bite.
Pair it with something simple like olives, nuts or a light appetizer so the drink stays the star.
Variations and swaps
- Don’t have blood orange? You can try using Cara Cara or Navel but add an extra squeeze of lemon to balance flavor.
- Trade Aperol for Campari if you want a deeper, more bitter edge
- Use a more citrus-forward gin for brightness or a more herbal one for a slightly darker profile
When to serve it
This blood orange cocktail works anytime you want something fresh and vibrant in your glass. Serve it as an aperitif before dinner, brunch with friends or outdoors on a warm evening, alone with your special someone.
Blood Orange Gin Cocktail (The Citrus Bloom)
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Distillery No 209 Gin or your favorite premium gin
- 1 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- 1/2 oz Aperol
- 1/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker then fill with fresh ice.
- Shake, then fine strain into a coupe glass or serve on the rocks with large ice cubes.*
- Garnish with orange zest, (optional).
Notes
A note on the provided nutrition information
The nutrition information provided has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator and is not a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.Nutrition
Try this next
If you like gin cocktails, here are couple more aphrodisiac recipes featuring gin and more of my favorite aphrodisiac ingredients:
The East Indian Gin Gimlet – a sharper, citrus-forward twist
Cupid’s CBD Fizz– softer, playful, and slightly sparkling
This article was originally published in 2019. It was most recently updated in March 2026 with a revised introduction and nutrition information.
Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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Great cocktail! Thanks!!