Whiskey & Orange Juice Cocktail

I don’t tend to like sweet or sugary cocktails. I’ve found the cocktails made with gin or whiskey, however, tend not to be so sweet. This whiskey and orange juice cocktail, made next level with rosemary simple syrup, is just right too (and perfect with other sweet citrus too)!.

When we lived in Los Angeles, friends not far away moved into a home with a prolific orange tree (leading to my creating thes orange muffins as well as these orange biscotti). In our Sacramento Bungalow home, our neighbors prolific orange hangs over onto our property and the owners are more than happy to share!

Since we don’t drink that much juice, coming up with recipes for oranges is a necessity. I’m sharing a bunch we love below, but this whiskey and orange juice is really my favorite these days. And I’m really loving all the sangria recipes I’ve been creating thus far!

And when you use seasonal ingredients, the natural sweetness of the fruits taste so much better than just adding sugar to sweeten a beverage.

On the topic of sweetness, I originally developed this recipe with tangerines. Tangerines are a bit smaller than oranges and the juice is a bit sweeter. Since I’ve discovered that cocktail sweetness is a subjective thing, you may want to add more rosemary simple syrup to your drink.

Whiskey and Orange Juice

When it comes to coming up with cocktail recipes, I tend to start with flavors I know best. It’s how I started creating all my sangria recipes all those years ago!

I feel fairly comfortable with using orange juice in a cocktail, so it’s an obvious first step for a whiskey cocktail concoction. We do like using orange zest in our shaken Old Fashioneds too, so it really wasn’t too big of a stretch out of my comfort zone.

The natural sweetness of in season produce pairs nicely with the stronger whiskey profile, making even non-whiskey lovers a fan of this tangy cocktail.

Make sure to check out this lengthy list with sustainable whiskey brands to enjoy)! Some of the things distillers are doing these days is AMAZING!!!

Rosemary Simple Syrup

While straight whiskey and orange juice is certainly drinkable, I really wanted to kick it up a level.

I also love adding fresh herbs to cocktails (just check out this herb-infused vodka punch), to cut a bit of the sweetness. I made an incredibly simple (hah!) rosemary simple syrup.

The herby sweet liquid adds another level of deliciousness without the overwhelming sugary taste normal simple syrup might provide. This whiskey and orange juice cocktail then became a taste treat sensation!

More Seasonal Cocktails

Seasonal Orange Recipes