A Blood Orange Daiquiri is a vibrant twist on the classic Cuban cocktail, made with fresh citrus and white rum for a bright, ruby-colored drink that’s both festive and elegant. It’s simple, balanced and perfect for Mardi Gras or anytime blood oranges are in season.
About this Blood Orange Daiquiri recipe
A trip to New Orleans, where daiquiris are everywhere — from classic bars in the French Quarter to neon-lit frozen drink shops — inspired this cocktail. But this version skips the sugary shortcuts and leans into fresh citrus and simple syrup for a more polished result.
The base is a homemade blood orange syrup made with fresh juice and zest. It adds natural sweetness and depth, giving the cocktail its gorgeous rosy hue and subtle citrus complexity. Combined with white rum and fresh lime juice, it’s a balanced drink that’s bright, slightly tart and deliciously smooth.
If you’ve only had overly sweet daiquiris before, this version might surprise you. It’s closer to the original Cuban style — shaken, strained and served up in a coupe glass *. You can also check out our frozen daiquiri recipe, and I recommend checking out this King Cake Martini!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Fresh and balanced flavor. The blood orange syrup adds sweetness without overpowering the rum or lime.
- Perfect for Mardi Gras. The ruby color makes it ideal for celebrating Fat Tuesday or Carnival season.
- Simple ingredients. Just rum, citrus and syrup come together for a classic cocktail.
- Elegant presentation. Served in a coupe glass *, it feels festive without being fussy.
Ingredients & essentials
You’ll need a cocktail shaker *, a fine-mesh strainer * and a coupe glass for serving. A citrus juicer * or handheld squeezer makes extracting fresh blood orange and lime juice much easier.
The blood orange syrup starts with fresh blood orange juice and zest, sugar and water. The zest enhances the citrus aroma and deepens the flavor of the syrup. If blood oranges aren’t available, you can substitute regular orange juice, though the color will be lighter and the flavor slightly less complex.
For the cocktail itself, use white rum as the base spirit. Fresh lime juice adds brightness and structure. If you prefer a slightly sweeter drink, you can increase the syrup by ¼ ounce. For a frozen version, blend the rum, syrup and lime juice with 1 cup of ice until smooth. Garnish with thin slices of blood orange or lime for a colorful, classic finish.
favorite coupe glasses
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Best rum for a daiquiri
A light or white rum is best for a classic daiquiri. Avoid dark or spiced rums here — they can overpower the delicate balance of the cocktail.
Look for something clean and crisp rather than heavily aged or spiced. Brands like Bacardi, Flor de Caña or Plantation 3 Stars work well because they allow the citrus to shine.
Don’t miss Rum 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.
Instructions
Now let’s get into the recipe! All you’ll need to do is make the blood orange syrup, then shake it with rum and fresh lime juice before straining into a chilled glass.
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- Start by making the blood orange syrup. Combine the blood orange juice, zest, sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Let it steep as it cools, then strain into a jar and refrigerate until ready to use. Once your syrup is chilled, fill a cocktail shaker * with ice.
- Add white rum, blood orange syrup and fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously until the mixture is well chilled.
Shake well. Like, really well. Shake for at least 10–15 seconds. Proper shaking not only chills the drink but also slightly aerates it for a smoother texture.
- Once your syrup is chilled, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add white rum, blood orange syrup and fresh lime juice. Shake vigorously until the mixture is well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with thin slices of blood orange and lime.
Tips & tricks
- Use fresh citrus whenever possible. Freshly squeezed juice makes a noticeable difference in flavor and brightness.
- Chill your glass first. A cold coupe keeps the cocktail crisp longer and enhances presentation.
- Strain twice for a smoother drink. Using a fine-mesh strainer * removes small bits of zest or ice shards.
Serving suggestions
The bright citrus and light sweetness of this Blood Orange Daiquiri pair beautifully with savory bites. Try it alongside Cajun appetizers, shrimp dishes or salty snacks to balance the acidity.
It also complements desserts with vanilla or almond flavors, like these vanilla bean cupcakes. For a full Mardi Gras spread, serve it with king cake or beignets.
FAQ
While the drink itself should be mixed right before serving, the blood orange syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Yes. Simply multiply the rum, syrup and lime juice by the number of servings you need and shake each portion with ice before serving.
Reduce the syrup slightly and increase lime juice by ¼ ounce for a more tart version.
More blood orange cocktails
Blood Orange Daiquiri
ingredients
Blood Orange Syrup
- 2 blood oranges juiced (about ½ cup juice)
- 2 tablespoons blood orange zest from 1 blood orange
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
Blood Orange Daiquiri
- 2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce blood orange syrup
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 slice blood orange for garnish
- 1 slice lime for garnish
instructions
Blood Orange Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine blood orange juice, blood orange zest, sugar and water.2 blood oranges, 2 tablespoons blood orange zest, ¾ cup sugar, ¼ cup water
- Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let steep until the syrup cools.
- Strain into a clean jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Blood Orange Daiquiri
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add rum, blood orange syrup and lime juice. Shake well.2 ounces white rum, 1 ounce blood orange syrup, 1 ounce lime juice
- Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with blood orange and lime slices.1 slice blood orange, 1 slice lime
notes
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Meghan @ Cake 'n Knife says
Absolutely gorgeous! I love that blood oranges are back in stores. I like that this is different than the frozen drinks thousands of people are downing on the streets of NOLA right now! 😉
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
I’m not normally a daiquiri girl because of the sour mix… but I adore the sound of all this fresh juice in yours! Nothing like blood orange in a mixed drink, and these are just so seasonal and festive and sip-worthy that I wish I had one right now! CHEERS and Happy Mardi Gras!
Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt says
I don’t like a lot of drinks, I’m pretty darn picky, but I do love daiquiris. This sounds delicious!