This elegant rosemary cocktail is an ideal way to elevate happy hour. Light, fizzy, and refreshing, it combines bright citrus with aromatic rosemary for a balanced, drinkable cocktail.
While rosemary might seem an unusual cocktail ingredient, it pairs beautifully with oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. Its woodsy, piney aroma is complemented by subtle citrusy notes, which is why this recipe highlights rosemary in two ways: a rosemary simple syrup and a fresh sprig for garnish.
The piney scent of rosemary lifts the cocktail’s aroma and adds a distinctive note to the jewel-toned, extremely sippable drink. Best of all, it takes only a few minutes to mix up a batch that recalls a rosemary gimlet or a rosemary gin fizz, thanks to the bright citrus and sparkling water or tonic.
Although its ruby-red blood orange and deep-green rosemary make it festive, this cocktail works year-round. Serve it at a dinner party, bring it to a gathering, or enjoy one on a quiet night in.
Ingredients
- Blood oranges, navel oranges, red grapefruit, limes, or Meyer lemons (for juice and garnish)
- Gin, bourbon, or vodka (choose your favorite spirit)
- Good quality tonic water or club soda
- Rosemary simple syrup (homemade is best)
- Ice
- Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
Equipment
- Double old fashioned glass or copper mule mug
- Cocktail shaker or a quart jar with a tight-fitting lid
- Fine mesh strainer
- Liquid measuring cup
Blood Orange Cocktail
When blood oranges are in season, they’re my top choice. They lend a beautiful deep blush and a slightly sweeter, more perfumed flavor than navel oranges. If blood oranges aren’t available, red grapefruit is an excellent substitute and turns the drink into a rosemary greyhound variation.
This cocktail is flexible and works year-round—use limes, lemons, Meyer lemons, or whatever citrus you have on hand to keep it fresh and bright.
I usually make this with gin; a botanical gin like Hendrick’s enhances the herbal-citrus interplay. That said, pick a gin you enjoy—Bombay Sapphire, Beefeater, or any small-batch gin will work well.
If gin isn’t your preference, swap in vodka or bourbon. With bourbon, the flavor becomes richer and warmer—still delicious—and you may prefer club soda in place of tonic water to let the spirit shine.
Whatever mixer you choose, aim for plenty of carbonation. Bubbles help deliver the rosemary aroma to your nose, enhancing the overall drinking experience.
Rosemary Cocktail
Fill a double old fashioned glass or copper mule mug with ice. Also fill a cocktail shaker or jar with a tight-fitting lid with plenty of ice.
Add the blood orange (or other citrus) juice, gin (or chosen spirit), and rosemary simple syrup to the shaker or jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass, top with tonic water or club soda, and stir gently to combine.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a slice of blood orange (or your chosen citrus). Serve and enjoy.
Notes:
- If blood oranges are unavailable, substitute a navel orange, red grapefruit, or lemon for both the juice and the garnish—each will create a slightly different but equally delightful version.
- If you prefer bourbon to gin, swap the spirit and consider using club soda instead of tonic water to better complement bourbon’s flavor.
Rosemary Cocktail
Rebecca Lindamood
5 mins
5 mins
Equipment
-
Double old fashioned glass or copper mule mug
-
Cocktail shaker or jar with a tight-fitting lid
-
Liquid measuring cup
Ingredients
- ice
- 1 blood orange, juiced (See Notes)
- 2 ounces good gin (see notes)
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- 2 ounces quality tonic water
- 1 sprig rosemary for garnish
- 1 slice blood orange for garnish (See Notes)
Instructions
- Fill a double old fashioned glass or copper mule mug with ice. Fill a cocktail shaker or jar with ice as well.
- Add the blood orange juice, gin, and rosemary simple syrup to the shaker or jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass, top with tonic water, and stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with the rosemary sprig and a blood orange slice. Sip and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 17 g
Protein: 0.1 g
Fat: 0.02 g
Sugar: 17 g
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy; calculate values using the exact ingredients you use if precise numbers are needed.
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