Bubbly, citrusy, refreshing, with notes of raspberry and cucumber, Blood Orange Thyme and Gin Cocktail embraces winter’s freshest of fruits.
This week brought snow to the Pacific Northwest! I awoke Tuesday morning to fluffy snowflakes falling from dark gray skies. The deer were here too, nibbling on the fresh green leaves of tulips just pushing through the ground.
I don’t mind their nibbles so much. After all, this was their home long before I called it mine too.
We still get a few blooms and I continue to plant new bulbs in hopes that they won’t be discovered.
And although I’m anticipating spring in all its glory, I still relish in winter; its quiet stillness, no weeds to pull, dramatic gray skies, golden crowned sparrows, American widgeons, cozy fireplaces and snow-capped mountains.
It’s exactly one month before our farmer’s market starts back up again. I can’t wait!
But for now, I’m savoring all the citrus winter provides. Last week I baked some Blood Orange Chocolate Chunk Scones but had more blood oranges in the pantry to whip up a couple of cocktails.
This was my favorite concoction out of the two. And while I’m somewhat new to gin, I guess I wasn’t surprised to learn how many different varieties of gin there are. It has an interesting, rich history dating back to the early 1600’s and has evolved since into a wide array of distilling techniques and infusions, producing an inviting selection for gin connoisseurs.
It’s different than, say, straight vodka since vodka tends to yield a neutral flavor to cocktails. Although juniper berries are the predominate botanical used in distilling gin, each variety has its own distinct notes due in part to infusions. This is why it’s important, I’ve read, to not substitute one variety of gin for another when mixing cocktails.
What I appreciate about gin is how it brings its own set of flavor profiles to a mixer. The variety of gin I chose has an infusion of cucumber and rose, a delightful pairing with blood orange and thyme.
This cocktail is quick to whip up and can be prepared ahead when needed. First, make the simple syrup and infuse the syrup with thyme. Chill the simple in the refrigerator or, if in a hurry, throw it in the freezer. Then, squeeze the blood oranges, as many as needed, and mix with the gin and simple. When ready for service, slice blood oranges for garnish, fill lowball glasses with ice, then pour the blood orange/gin mixture into glasses and top with club soda. Garnish with an orange slice and thyme sprig.
A little bitter, citrusy, with a hint of thyme and cucumber, this sipper is refreshing and has a gorgeous color.
I’d love to know if you’ve tried gin and if so, what variety you like! Please leave a comment below!
the recipe
Blood Orange Thyme and Gin Cocktail
Ingredients
For the Thyme Simple Syrup:
- 1/4 C (55g) Cane Sugar
- 1/4 C (55g) Water
- 8 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme
For the Cocktail:
- 1 1/2 oz (42g) Gin I like Hendrick's or The Botanist
- 1 1/4 oz (28g) Blood Orange Juice about one blood orange
- 1/4 oz (7g) Simple Syrup or to taste
- Club Soda
- Thyme and Orange Slices for Garnish
Instructions
For the Thyme Simple Syrup:
- In a small sauce pot, bring the sugar and water to a boil and swirl the pot a few times until the sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat. Add the thyme to the sugar mixture, and place a lid on the sauce pot. Steap for 10 minutes. Remove lid, strain to remove thyme and store in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Chill before using in cocktail (to speed this process, I place the container, unlidded, in the freezer to chill the simple down fast - I use a canning jar for this.)
For the Cocktail:
- Juice and strain one blood orange through a fine mesh strainer. In a cocktail shaker, add a handful ice, blood orange juice, gin and simple syrup. Shake vigorously 4-5 times. Fill a low ball glass with ice and pour the gin mixture over ice in the lowball glass. Top with club soda and garnish with an orange slice and thyme sprig. Adjust sweetness to taste by adding more simple if desired.
This looks amazing and I just must know where you got those glasses!!!!
Hi Ashley! Thank you for your note! I got them many years ago at Anthropology. One broke and I’ve been keeping my eye out for a replacement there ever since.
My favorite gin is Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin… Small batch with citrus, sage, juniper and others delicious notes. It would be wonderful with the components of this cocktail!
http://www.3badge.com/unclevals/
That sounds so fabulous with the notes of citrus, sage and juniper. I’ll have to see if I can locate it! Thank you for sharing Chris!
This drink sounds delicious and I love those pour shots!
Thank you Sabrina!
This is such an amazing cocktail! How I would love to share this with you! while chatting away! ;) That color is the prettiest! and I love your stunning pics as always! thanks for the little bit of history about Gin :)
And I, you, Amisha! I love the color as well… such sunshine for the eyes, still in the gray days of the PNW! xo
What a gorgeous color!! I only recently tried fresh blood orange for the first time and i LOVED IT!! I have only tried gin once in a cocktail at a restaurant but i have been wanting to try it again. I will definitely be trying this this weekend
I hear you Rachael! Blood Orange is fabulous.. with such a distinct citrus flavor. I hope you enjoyed the recipe!
Oh goodness… this is so pretty!! I am loving all the winter citrus too.
Thank you Natasha! Me too! :D
I’ve been relishing in the final weeks of winter citrus – it’s definitely one of winter’s best gifts! These blood orange cocktails embody the best of winter so beautifully. Wish I could sit down to sip on one with you!!
Please come join me, Rachel! Bring that cheesecake, mmmK?!
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the return of our farmers market too! It feels so much better to see everything in season and know that I’m supporting my local peeps. :)
I can imagine seeing the deer in the snow was so beautiful. Totally worth letting them nosh on the tulips, hehe.
I would love to curl with these gorgeous cocktails by the fire, or enjoy them on the patio on a warm spring day. They sound so light and refreshing. That thyme syrup is to-die-for!
Ahhhh, Springtime… so much anticipation! Refreshing and light, indeed and so easy to whip up. Here’s to the arrival of Spring, Sarah! xo
Gosh, this is such a gorgeous color, Traci. We’ve had so much rain here, that all the plants are going crazy. All the local citrus trees in my neighborhood are bursting with fruit – so this recipe is very timely. I don’t drink a lot of Gin – but this beautiful drink is calling my name! Your pictures are just gorgeous! Hope you had a great weekend!
Thank you, Geraldine! Oh my! I’d loooove all that citrus growing around me! What ever do you do with it all..? I think I’d have to hoard ball jars so I could preserve all that I could! lol.
This looks amazing Traci!! Why don’t we live closer?!?!?
I’d love that Rebecca!!
This looks so gorgeous – I’m a fan of all things gin but the blood orange is definitely a beautiful addition here. Will have to give this a try next time I’m feeling fancy!
Thank you Grace! It does feel fancy, even with just a few ingredients! I hope you enjoy it my dear!
Thank goodness it is Friday and I can enjoy this cocktail tonight! Hendricks is a great tasting gin. I am partial to Boodles myself. Although, I have yet to cross a gin I don’t like ;) Have a fabulous weekend Traci!
I’ve not tried Boodles, Samantha! I’ll keep a eye out for it. Thank you for recommending!
The fact that you added my favorite herb and citrus to a cocktail makes me love you more! STUNNING my friend. Cheers to you! Love that pour shot.
Awwwh, I feel all the warm and fuzzies, Lindsay! xo
Blood oranges have fast become my favorite offering of winter. They are so versatile as they lend themselves to everything from salads, to breads and desserts, to salsas and of course beverages. I’m a fan of simple syrups as well and your combination of thyme and gin sounds very appealing. Will gladly give this a go!
Blood Orange in salad.. a love of mine too! I’ve not tried them in salsas though.. I’ll have to give that a go! Thank you for sharing, Jean. I hope you enjoy the cocktail! :D
That color is just unreal! This is one stunning drink for the weekend. Cheers! :)
Thank you Laura! That blood orange is eye candy, no? Cheers! :D
I can’t believe you got snow! I’m a little jealous! Spring is in full swing around here these days. These cocktails are beautiful!! I’m usually lazy and just stick to wine, but I could totally see myself sipping these beauties on the back porch this weekend! I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!
Awhhh, Izzy.. I know you’d love a good snow in AZ. I don’t blame you a bit! They’re calling for more snow on Monday here too! Hooray! Now, don’t get me wrong.. I like a good glass of red, but still love a good cocktail from time to time.
Is it five o’clock yet? I need this right now. It’s simply gorgeous!
Hehe.. Thanks Karen! It’s 5:00 somewhere! lol :D
I think my eyes just bugged out of my head, Traci! The color of this is just gorgeous. And I love that you paired it with gin, which used to be my spirit of choice, but now I’ve been riding the bourbon train for a while. I think I need to dive back into gin and re-discover it and all it’s nuances! Enjoy your weekend. And stay cozy. We’re back to 20 degree temperatures today. Yikes!
I know you’re a fan of bourbon, Liz.. and I am too. I wanted to step outside of my bourbon rut (although that was hard!). I remember your blood orange beer cocktail you did, and that got me in the blood orange cocktail mood! LOL! Cooood, yes? 20 degrees is freezing cold!! For us, it’s cold, yes, rainy.. and they’re calling for more snow on Monday! Hooray!! :D
Gorgeous!
Thank you love. xo
Thyme and gin work so well together. I’ve never thought to add blood orange to the mix, but this gorgeous cocktail is showing me the error of my ways.
I hope you’ll give it a go Allyson! The flavor is complex, but it’s fun teasing out the different flavor notes.
Perfection! The flavors, the color, the idea…. Would love to join you in cocktails, my friend! Have a wonderful weekend! xo
Thank you Annie! I’d love that too! :D
What a fabulous cocktail Traci! Gin happens to be one of my favorites! And Hendricks is my gin of choice. My father loved Gin & Tonics and he always chose Tanqueray, but my brother in law turned me onto Hendricks and I love it! Nothing beats blood orange anything during the winter season. Such a terrific taste and amazing color! I also love adding a flavored simple syrup to my cocktail to give them an added depth of flavor! I bet this thyme syrup is perfect! I’ve also got a special gin cocktail heading to the blog shortly. Tough to top this one though! Wish I could grab that glass in that last photo! Gorgeous as usual!
We’re on the same gin page, my dear! A friend of mine swears by Tanqueray, and that was my first taste of gin. It didn’t convert me. Then I tried Hendricks… I’m with you on blood orange, but really, I think this would be delicious with just about orange citrus.. mandarins, clementine, cara cara…. But I looove the color of a dark red blood orange. Such a beauty. The thyme syrup is really nice that yields just a hint of thyme freshness. Looking forward to your gin cocktail, Mary Ann! :D
This is just GORGEOUS!!
Haay Zainab! Thank you my dear!