Are you looking for a delicious, festive cocktail to celebrate the holiday season? Look no further than this Blood Orange Pomegranate Margarita! This simple blend of citrus and pomegranate will fill your home with an unmistakably special aroma while creating the perfect balance between sweet and tart.
This is your go-to holiday drink with just a few ingredients, minutes to prepare, and beautiful vibrancy from the fresh juices. You might also enjoy this Blackberry Bourbon Smash, Blueberry Bourbon Smash, or Tamarind Margarita.
Jump to:
Inspiration
I found a bag of local Arizona store-bought blood oranges for two dollars, certified organic! I love blood oranges for their beautiful color and different flavors among the many varieties. The flavor has a hint of raspberry and they are deliciously sweet.
It's the perfect time of year for a refreshing drink with a gorgeous color, and this Blood Orange Margarita Recipe is just that. It's easy to make using available ingredients, so whip one up anytime you want to celebrate during orange season, whether it's at brunch, happy hour, cocktail hour, or Cinco de Mayo!
For more cocktail recipes, check out this Tinto de Verano, Pomegranate Gimlet, Strawberry Elderflower Gin Fizz, and Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour!
Types of Blood Oranges
My favorite oranges are beautiful blood oranges, and my favorite type of blood orange is Sanguinelli, native to Spain. The outside of this gorgeous orange has red streaks, hinting at the rosiness within. The inside of the oranges is a beautiful rose color, almost magenta, that is lovely in drinks after being juiced.
Other varieties of blood orange are the Moro blood orange, which is native to Sicily, and the Tarocco, which is native to Italy. The Moro is not as sweet as the Sanguinelli, and the Tarocco is a bit sweeter than the Moro variety.
Ingredients
It's easy to make this variation of a traditional margarita for the tequila lover with fresh and simple ingredients.
- Tequila Blanco (or silver) is my favorite for this margarita, 100% blue agave (agave azul). You can use tequila reposado as well.
- Fresh blood oranges - use fresh-squeezed blood orange juice or fresh orange juice. Blood oranges are usually in season from December through April.
- Triple sec - use a quality triple sec that you like. I like to use Cointreau.
- Pomegranate juice - I used POM juice made from 100% fresh pomegranates. You can find it in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
- Kosher salt for the salt rim of the glass.
- Fresh lime juice - this is essential in a margarita. Fresh is best! Reserve half a lime for the edge of the glass before salting.
- Simple syrup - it is easy to make your own. Check out this recipe.
A complete ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
What Is The Best Tequila For Margaritas?
I made this delicious margarita recipe using tequila Blanco (also called silver tequila), which is not typically aged and has a clean, agave-forward flavor. You can also use reposado tequila, aged in oak barrels from two months up to nearly a year, for a smoother tequila.
I don't recommend using gold tequila (unaged tequila mixed with additives such as caramel) or añejo tequila aged in sealed oak or Holm barrels for twelve to thirty-six months. The flavor tends to be more complex, and this tequila is best enjoyed independently.
Substitutions
- Blood oranges - you can use a standard orange such as Cara Cara orange, Navel orange, or Valencia orange.
- Simple Syrup - it's easy to make your own; however, this recipe is delicious with agave nectar instead. Feel free to omit it if your oranges are very sweet.
- Pomegranate juice - use pomegranate molasses instead. Or use more fresh blood orange juice and make a blood orange margarita!
- Triple sec - try orange liqueur or Grand Marnier.
Adjust the amounts to your taste.
How to Make a Blood Orange Pomegranate Margarita
It's easy to make this festive cocktail! Here are the steps:
- Step 1: Cut a lime in half, and rub the edge of each glass with lime before gently rolling the wet glass rim in kosher salt. Place the salt in a thin layer on a flat plate and lightly press your glass down at an angle into the salt.
- Step 2: Chill the glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes. Place 2 cups of ice in a cocktail shaker. Add the tequila, blood orange juice, pomegranate juice, lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup.
- Step 3: Shake the mixture for 20 seconds and pour it into the prepared glasses filled with ice cubes.
- Step 4: Garnish the rim of your margarita glass with an orange slice, a lime slice, or an orange wedge.
Expert Tip
Use the freshest ingredients you can find for the best margaritas!
Related Cocktail Recipes
If you try this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Blood Orange Pomegranate Margarita Cocktail
INGREDIENTS
- ½ lime
- Kosher salt
- 4 oz Blanco tequila or reposado tequila
- 2 oz blood orange juice fresh-squeezed, or fresh oranges
- 2 oz pomegranate juice or 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses
- 1 ½ oz lime juice fresh-squeezed
- 1 ½ oz triple sec I like to use Cointreau
- 1 oz simple syrup or agave nectar; omit if using pomegranate molasses in place of pomegranate juice
- Ice
- Slices of blood orange for garnish, or lime slices
INSTRUCTIONS
- Rub the edge of each glass with half of a lime before gently rolling the edge on kosher salt. Place the glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes.½ lime, Kosher salt
- Place 2 cups of ice in a cocktail shaker. Add tequila, blood orange juice, pomegranate juice, lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup.4 oz Blanco tequila, 2 oz blood orange juice, 2 oz pomegranate juice, 1 ½ oz lime juice, 1 ½ oz triple sec, 1 oz simple syrup
- Shake for 20 seconds and pour into chilled glasses filled with ice cubes. Garnish with a slice of blood orange or lime if desired.Ice, Slices of blood orange
NOTES
NUTRITION
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
Rachel says
Love blood oranges and this margarita does not disappoint! It's so delicious and refreshing!
Emily says
Thank you so much for sharing your review of our Blood Orange Margarita! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
Sharon says
I love fresh blood oranges so when you mix it with a nice shot of tequila I know I'm in for a treat!
Emily says
Thank you for taking the time to review this recipe, Sharon!
Carrie says
I just love blood orange in cocktails! I will have to try this margarita recipe this weekend. 🙂
Emily says
Hi Carrie, it sounds like you're looking for a refreshing drink to enjoy this weekend. I'm glad our recipe caught your eye!
Vicky says
Who needs to go out for margaritas when you can make this at home? I love that it uses blood oranges which are in season right now. The perfect drink for spring and summer!
Emily says
Thank you for your review, Vicky! I'm so glad to hear that you liked the recipe. We love using seasonal ingredients because they are fresher, more flavorful, and often less expensive!
Tayler says
We had taco night last night and I made these to go with- they were incredible!! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Emily says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave this review, Tayler - it means a lot!
Holly says
So simple yet so delicious and refreshing! I love the addition of pomegranate molasses - an ingredient I didn't even know I needed in my life until now. Cheers!
Emily says
Thanks so much, Holly!
Anaiah says
Wow! Such a perfect combination of flavors. I love the addition of the pomegranate molasses. It gives this drink so much more depth!
Emily says
Thank you for your comment, Anaiah! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!
Andrea says
What a fun and delicious drink!
Emily says
Thanks so much, Andrea! I hope you enjoy it!
Natalia says
This drink is gorgeous!! I had no idea what pomegranate molasses were before I saw your recipe, and now I can’t wait to find it and make this drink!
Emily says
Thank you much, Natalia, I hope you enjoy it! Cheers!
Shilpa says
This blood orange margarita is just perfect after a long day.. thanks for sharing
Emily says
Thank you so much for your review, Shilpa! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Choclette says
Blood oranges are just brilliant. Always look forward to the season starting. I'm raising up a glass of your margarita. Cheers. Love the addition of pomegranate molasses.
Emily says
Thank you so much, Choclette! It's that time of year I'm looking forward to making this again! Cheers!
Kayla says
Yum! I feel like blood oranges really don't get their due. They are amazing in so many things! I was so in love with this margarita, I will have to stop myself from making it every day after a long workday! Lol!
Emily says
Thank you for your review, Kayla! I agree, blood oranges are amazing! It's that time of year to start making this margarita again 😉