This whole column is inspired by a tweet from a local bar owner and bartender, John Reusing of Bad Decisions, @bad_decisions, who said “fresh blood oranges! its one of my favorite things to make drinks with- who else is excited?” I was excited and tweeted back under my Twitter moniker @daracooks and that was the seed that germinated into this post.
With your New Year’s Eve and Day celebrations at hand we thought you might enjoy making it a bloody celebration. John, a very talented mixologist, has put together three recipes for cocktails containing blood oranges and even had photos snapped. Now before we get to the recipes, if you don’t feel like making your own Blood Orange cocktails consider Bad Decisions for your “Ring in the New Year” celebration. Bad Decisions, located at the edge of Fells Point near Canton, is very low keyed. As John tweeted “For NYE we are open, no cover, no dress code, low stress.” Bad Decisions is open 7 days a week from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
A quick look at what the hell is a blood orange
An orange is orange, not necessarily so. There is a variety of oranges, Citrus sinensis, which tend to be smaller than regular oranges whose flesh is colored blood red, crimson. The flavor is tart, a cross between a pomelo and tangerine. The dark flesh is due to the pigment anthocyanin. More native to Italy and Spain in recent years numerous varieties have been grown in Texas, California and Florida. Their season is winter though in California the blood orange season is November through May. The flavor is tart making the juice excellent for cocktails, sorbets and salads. My first blood orange experience was a salad of shaved fennel, blood orange, shaved Parmesan cheese drizzled with extra virgin olive oil at Baldivino in Florence, Italy.
Bad Decisions Blood Orange Cocktails
Here are John’s favorites:
Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail
Juice of half a blood orange
1 oz. St Germain's Liquor
Shake and pour into a tall slender glass
Top with your choice of champagne and garnish with a slice of Blood Orange
Blood Orange Martini
Juice of half a blood orange.jpg)
2 oz of vodka ( John suggests Sobieski but any quality vodka will do)
1/2 oz. of Dolin Blanc Vermouth
1/2 oz. of Domaine De Canton Ginger Liquor
Shake and strain into a martini glass and garnish
The Blood Orange Sour
Juice of half a blood orange
2 oz. of Calvados ( John suggests Lecompte Originel)
1 oz. Simple Syrup
1 Dash of Peychaud’s Cocktail Bitters
Add ingredients into a rocks glass and stir.
Garnish with a cherry and a slice of Blood Orange
Check out the photo slide show of the cocktails HERE
1928 Fleet Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 979-5161
www.makeabaddecision.com
Comments
B&O American Brasserie's Brendan Dorr made Blood-Orange & Cranberry Punch on WJZ this past wkd as a non-alcoholic option for NYE!
Cranberry-Hazelnut Syrup
3 c Frozen Cranberries
3 c Sugar
3 c Water
4.5 tsp. Hazelnut Extract
In large saucepan, combine water, sugar & cranberries. Bring to a continuous boil for approx. 5 min., until the cranberries are completely softened. Bring syrup down to low heat, and simmer for an additional 5 min. Remove from heat and strain the cranberries out, pouring syrup through a strainer into a large container for storage. While syrup is still hot, stir in 4.5 teaspoons of hazelnut extract. Allow syrup to cool before using.
Holiday Punch
3 c Cranberry-Hazelnut Syrup
12 Blood Oranges, juiced
2 Lemons, Juiced
24 Dashes of Fee Brothers Mint Bitters
2 Bottles of Spruce Goose NA Sparkling Pinot Noir Juice
1 Bunch Mint for Garnish
Combine syrup, blood orange juice, oj & mint bitters. Stir and serve. Top off w/ 3oz sparkling juice & a sprig o
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