Blood Orange Vodka Collins

Name: Blood Orange Vodka Collins
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 fl oz Vodka (80 proof); 6 fl oz Fresh blood orange juice; 3 fl oz Fresh lemon juice; 2 fl oz Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water); 8 fl oz Club soda; 2 cup Ice (cubed); 4 slice Blood orange slices (for garnish); 4 sprig Fresh mint sprigs (optional, for garnish)

A bright, effervescent twist on the classic Collins using seasonal blood orange for color and sweet-tart flavor. Lightly carbonated and refreshing, this cocktail is perfect for warm evenings, brunches, or anytime you want a visually striking citrus drink.

0.0(0 reviews)

Prep: 5m · Cook: 0m · Total5 mins

DifficultyEasy

Serves4

AuthorJake

Jake's note

"This Blood Orange Vodka Collins is an easy crowd-pleaser that highlights the jewel-toned hue and unique flavor of blood oranges—ideal for spring and winter citrus seasons. Home bartenders will love how quickly it comes together and how impressive it looks in a tall glass."

Blood Orange Vodka Collins

A Blood Orange Vodka Collins is a deceptively simple cocktail whose drama comes from one ingredient: the blood orange. Its deep, sunset-red hue and berry-tinged citrus flavor give this Collins an immediate visual and gustatory identity, while the bright lemon juice and restrained simple syrup keep it lively rather than syrupy. The vodka plays a quiet supporting role, letting the fruit sing, and the club soda adds a prickle of effervescence that keeps each sip light and endlessly refreshing.

This particular version works because of balance and timing — a higher citrus-to-spirit ratio for brightness, a modest 1:1 syrup for sweetness that doesn’t overpower, and a brief, vigorous chill before topping with soda to preserve sparkle and color separation. It’s perfect for late-morning gatherings, summer evenings, or any moment you want a cocktail that feels celebratory without being heavy. Garnished with a blood orange wheel (and mint if you like herbaceous notes), it’s as pretty to set on a tray as it is to drink.

Plan your timing

Enter your target meal time:

6:51 pm–6:52 pm→Combine spirits and citrus

6:52 pm–6:53 pm→Chill by shaking

6:53 pm–6:54 pm→Build the Collins

6:54 pm–6:55 pm→Garnish and serve

Ingredients

Yield

Instructions

Combine spirits and citrus

Pour the vodka, fresh blood orange juice, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker or large mixing glass. Stir briefly to combine the ingredients so the citrus and syrup are evenly distributed.

For this step

8 fl ozVodka (80 proof)
6 fl ozFresh blood orange juice
3 fl ozFresh lemon juice
2 fl ozSimple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)

Chill by shaking

Add a generous scoop of ice to the shaker, secure the lid, and shake vigorously for about 10–12 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels cold. If using a mixing glass, stir with ice until well chilled and slightly diluted, about 15–20 seconds.

For this step

2 cupIce (cubed)

Build the Collins

Fill four Collins or highball glasses halfway with fresh ice. Strain the chilled mixture evenly into the glasses, then top each cocktail with about 2 fl oz (50–60 ml) club soda to add effervescence. Give each drink a gentle stir to integrate the soda.

For this step

8 fl ozClub soda

Garnish and serve

Garnish each glass with a blood orange slice and a mint sprig, if using. Serve immediately with a straw or stirring spoon so guests can adjust carbonation and sweetness to taste.

For this step

4 sliceBlood orange slices (for garnish)
4 sprigFresh mint sprigs (optional, for garnish)

Tips from the kitchen

Use very cold fruit

Chill blood oranges and lemons before juicing to keep the cocktail colder and reduce the need for long shaking, which preserves carbonation when you build the drink.

Fine-strain for texture

If you prefer a silky Collins, double-strain the shaken mix through a fine mesh to remove pulp and seeds before topping with club soda.

Top each glass individually

Pour the club soda over the back of a spoon or slowly down the glass for maximum effervescence and to keep the vivid blood orange layer intact.

Adjust syrup last

Because blood orange sweetness varies seasonally, start with the recipe amount then add extra simple syrup (½ tsp at a time) to individual glasses if needed.

Mind ice dilution

Use large, cold cubes in the glass to chill without over-diluting; shake with smaller ice to achieve proper dilution in the mixer.

Variations & substitutions

Gin Blood Orange Collins

Swap vodka for a floral gin to introduce juniper and botanical complexity that plays nicely with blood orange.

Smoky Mezcal Twist

Replace vodka with mezcal for a smoky counterpoint — reduce simple syrup slightly to let the spirit’s earthiness shine.

Elderflower Spritz

Stir ¾ oz elderflower liqueur into the base and cut the simple syrup by half for a perfumed, slightly sweeter profile that complements the citrus.

Alcohol-free Collins

Omit vodka and use a nonalcoholic botanical spirit or extra club soda with a splash of unsweetened cranberry or pomegranate for color and tartness.

Storage & make-ahead

You can premix the vodka, blood orange and lemon juices, and simple syrup into a sealed pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; do not add club soda until serving to preserve fizz. Once a glass is built and carbonated, drink within an hour — carbonation and flavor degrade quickly. There is no reheating for cocktails; simply remix if separation occurs.

What to serve with it

Serve on a chilled Collins glass with a long stirring spoon or straw so guests can reblend their drink as the soda settles. Pair it with light, citrus-forward dishes like shrimp ceviche, arugula and fennel salad, or ricotta toast topped with honey and pistachios for a bright, summery spread.

Frequently asked questions

What if I can’t find blood oranges?

Use equal parts navel orange juice combined with a splash of grenadine or pomegranate juice to emulate the color and berry notes, though the flavor will be slightly different.

How tart should the drink be?

This recipe errs on the bright side: the lemon juice adds backbone while blood orange brings sweetness; adjust the simple syrup in small increments to suit your palate.

Can I make this ahead for a party?

Yes — premix the vodka, citrus juices, and syrup and refrigerate; only add club soda and ice right before serving to keep the Collins effervescent.

Why shake then top with soda?

Shaking with ice chills and dilutes the citrus for balance while aerating and integrating the syrup; topping with soda afterward preserves carbonation and the cocktail’s bright appearance.

How many standard drinks per serving?

With 8 fl oz of 80-proof vodka for four servings, each cocktail contains about 1.5 standard (1.5 oz) servings of 40% ABV spirit, roughly one standard drink per serving.

About the author

Jake

Hello, I'm Jake. I started this recipe site with the idea that I hated recipe websites that overwhelm you with long stories and ads just to see plain content that's not helpful. My goal is to provide you with quality recipes, simple ideas and a fun cooking experience. There's lots of fun things to cook, and I think as you browse the site you'll find that TopShelf.Recipes is the place for quality recipes on the web.

See all recipes by Jake →

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Ingredients

4 servings

Step 1: Combine spirits and citrus

Vodka (80 proof)8 fl oz
Fresh blood orange juice6 fl oz
Fresh lemon juice3 fl oz
Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)2 fl oz

Step 2: Chill by shaking

Ice (cubed)2 cup

Step 3: Build the Collins

Club soda8 fl oz

Step 4: Garnish and serve

Blood orange slices (for garnish)4 slice
Fresh mint sprigs (optional, for garnish)4 sprig

Nutrition Facts

Per serving: 1 cocktail (320g)

Calories204

Total Fat0.2g

Saturated Fat0g

Trans Fat0g

Polyunsaturated Fat0g

Monounsaturated Fat0g

Total Carbohydrates16.6g

Dietary Fiber0.1g

Total Sugars10.8g

Protein0.3g

Nutrition values are estimated from USDA ingredient data and may vary based on preparation, brands, and portion sizes. Values are provided for informational purposes only.

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