This cocktail is amazing! Its fresh and flavorful without being too girly. The bourbon you use totally changes the flavor profile of the drink. If you want something more mellow so the blood orange juice really stands out, try something smooth like Buffalo Trace. And if you want a spicier note that compliments the blood orange juice, try something with a high Rye content, like Bulleit. The spicy vanilla sugar accompanies the sweet-tart blood orange juice just perfectly.
Ingredients
**Spicy Vanilla Sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
**Simple Syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
**Bourbon Smash
- crushed iced
- 1 shot (2 ounces) simple syrup
- 1 shot (2 ounces) bourbon
- 1 shot (2 ounces) of club soda
- juice of 2 blood oranges
- a few drops of bitters
- 2 blood orange slices for garnish
Instructions
**Simple Syrup
- Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, just long enough for the sugar to dissolve and then turn off the heat.
- Pour the syrup into a glass container with a lid and allow to cool.
- Store this in the fridge.
**Spicy Vanilla Sugar
- In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients until well combined.
- Store in a container with an airtight lid in a cool dry place
**Bourbon Smash
- Juice the blood oranges and strain out the seeds.
- Wet the rim of a chilled glass with water and then place in the sugar mixture.
- Add the two orange slices, the simple syrup and the bitters to the chilled glass and muddle around until the orange slices have broken down slightly.
- Add the crushed ice, bourbon, and blood orange juice on top.
- Pour the club soda on top, and stir to mix.
Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 35mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 1gSugar: 49gProtein: 1g
Um... yes please! I love the step by step instructions for everything and the play on sweet and spicy is lovely!