This Orange Blossom Cocktail is made with Campari, reposado tequila, and homemade orange blossom syrup with vanilla and almond extract. It has the perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavors! It's not overly strong so it makes for a great summer afternoon cocktail!
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Why This Recipe Works
- I got the idea for this cocktail from a local restaurant here in Toronto. It had orange blossom syrup in it which intrigued me because I'd wanted to use orange blossom water in cooking for a long time. When I first ordered it I thought it would be very sweet but it wasn't at all and I knew I had to remake it!
- The drink is more bitter than sweet which I'm a big fan of and if you are too, you definitely need to give this cocktail a try! The bitterness comes from Campari and fresh grapefruit juice. It's balanced out with the homemade syrup and all the flavors go together beautifully.
- The addition of grapfruit juice, lime juice, and lots of ice help to water down the tequila slightly, resulting in a cocktail that's not too strong. It's perfect as an afternoon cocktail for the spring or summer.
- The homemade syrup is made with cane sugar but maple syrup can also be used. I add orange blossom water that's made with orange flowers, similar to rose water that's made with rose petals. The recipe also calls for almond extract and vanilla extract. I highly recommend adding them to the syrup! It's not something you'd think to pair with tequila and Campari but I promise it's amazing!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tequila - The recipe calls for Reposado tequila but Blanco would work as well. I chose reposado because it's a aged fro 2-12 months and the oak, vanilla flavors work well in this cocktail. I don't recommend Anejo tequila because it's aged for much longer and the woody tones would overpower other flavors on this cocktail.
- Campari - Campari is a bitter Italian alcoholic liqueur, or an aperitif, made by infusing herbs and fruits in water and alcohol. Campari is the most widely known but there are many other bitter red liqueurs that can be used in place of Campari. Check out this article on 9 Campari Alternatives
- Grapefruit and lime juice - I recommend using freshly squeezed juice whenever possible.
- Almond and vanilla extracts - These are used for the simple syrup in this drink. They can be found in most grocery stores in the baking section or near the spice section. I don't recommend skipping either because they both add a lot of flavor to the syrup.
- Orange blossom water - This is the star of the show in this drink. It's just like rose water but made with orange blossoms. It's similar to elderflower but sweeter and brighter. It adds a ton of flavor to this drink and a little goes a long way so a bottle will last you a while. It can be found in specialty stores with Middle Eastern products.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The first step is to make the syrup.
Add the cane sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a soft simmer stirring often. The mixture doesn't need to boil, you just need to heat up the water so that the sugar can dissolve more easily.
Add the orange blossom water, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Stir to mix in and transfer to a glass jar. Cool before closing with a lid and storing in the fridge. The syrup should keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
Add reposado tequila, Campari, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and orange blossom syrup to a shaker with a handful of ice. Shake for a few seconds until it's very cool to touch.
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To serve, fill up a tall glass with ice, garnish with a lime slice and pour in the shaken drink. You can also garnish with an orange peel right before serving. I like to gently squeeze it above the drink and run it around the rim before placing it on top of the drink. This lets out the oils in the orange and releases a subtle aroma.
Non-Alcoholic Version
You can turn this cocktail into a non-alcoholic drink really easily.
Skip the tequila, Campari, double the grapefruit juice (use 4 oz instead of the 2 oz), and top up the drink with sparkling water if desired. I like using flavored ones without any added sugar like lime or lemon LaCroix.
Skipping the Campari will make the drink lighter in color, especially if you add sparkling water. To give the red peachy color it would normally have, you can add grenadine, 1 teaspoon should be enough to give the drink some color. I came across Liber & Co. Grenadine that's made with cane sugar, pomegranate, and orange blossom water which would be amazing in this drink! I haven't tried it but can't wait to.
FAQs
Blanco tequila isn't aged, reposado tequila is aged in oak barrels for 2-12 months. This gives the tequila notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel which go really well with this cocktail. Blanco tequila is most often used for margaritas.
Yes, I talk about it in more detail above under 'Non-alcoholic version'. Skip the alcohol and double the grapefruit juice. You can add grenadine to mimic the color of Campari.
Similar Cocktail Recipes
Below are four drinks you might enjoy if you like this one! The first two are similar because they have tequila. The rum cooler is just a fun summer drink I think you should try, and the mimosa has a similar bitter taste as this orange blossom cocktail.
To see any other cocktails I've shared, check out the cocktails category page.
📖 Recipe
Tequila and Campari Orange Blossom Cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This cocktail is made with Campari, Tequila, and homemade orange blossom syrup with almond and vanilla extracts. It's perfectly balanced between bitter and sweet, and it's not overly strong so it's the perfect afternoon cocktail!
Ingredients
Orange Blossom Almond Simple Syrup
- ½ water
- ½ cup cane sugar (or another sweetener)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water
Campari Cocktail:
- 1 ½ oz reposado tequila
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- ½-1 oz orange blossom almond simple syrup
- Ice
Instructions
Orange Blossom Almond Simple Syrup
- Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. It doesn’t have to boil or simmer, you just need to let the sugar dissolve.
- Take off the heat and add vanilla extract, almond extract, and orange blossom water.
- Let cool down completely before storing. Store in an airtight container like a glass jar in the fridge for up to two weeks. To extend the shelf life, add ½ oz vodka.
Campari Cocktail
- Fill a tall glass with ice and set aside.
- Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker or a mason jar with a handful of ice, close, and shake for 10-15 minutes until mixed and very cool.
- Strain into prepared glass with ice.
- Garnish with grapefruit twist or dried grapefruit slice if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Storing: The syrup can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for two weeks.
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Gloria says
I am so tired of winter. This sounds like a great patio drink. Will be giving it a try.
Bernice says
How lovely! I can't drink Campari because it contains an ingredient that seems to trigger an allergy. But...I really love the flavour of it! Could you suggest a substitute, if there is one?
Veronika | thehealthfulideas says
You can try Aperol or any of the alternatives in the post I've linked under Ingredients and Substitutions. Most of them aren't made with artificial dyes that probably trigger your allergy. For example, Forthave Spirits Red Aperitivo is made red with HIbiscus flowers. Leopold Bros. Aperitivo doesn't have dyes either, it's colored with cochineal.
Freya says
I love tequila grapefruit cocktails but adding orange blossom water sounds amazing! I must try this!
Candice says
Wow what a fresh drink! So fun and great for a hot summer day. Love the simplicity of the ingredients.
Kathryn says
I love campari and this cocktail was outstanding! It was perfectly sweetened and so refreshing. Love this drink for at-home happy hours :)
Tristin says
The color of this drink is so dreamy, such a beautiful combination of flavors. Love that you include a mocktail version also!
Beth says
This drink sounds so interesting and refreshing! I would definitely be making the non-alcoholic version and appreciate the suggestions about how to.
Heidy says
This Orange Blossom Cocktail was so delightful and refreshing! I love the flavor combo, and so did our guests last night. I will be keeping this recipe to make again! Have a great day!
Brianna says
What a beautiful and well balance cocktail. Love the combo of tequila and campari.
Natalie says
Yes, perfect drink for hot summer nights. I'm saving this on my list to make. Color is amazing!
Tracey says
This looks like a perfect spring/summertime drink! Question - do you use the entire batch of the simple syrup? It seems like quite a lot in relation to the amount of other ingredients, but you don't list the simple syrup as an ingredient in the cocktail recipe.
Veronika | thehealthfulideas says
Thank you for noticing, I totally missed that! I add 1/2 - 1 oz of the syrup to a single serving drink. The syrup lasts in the fridge for about two weeks so I make a bigger batch. Sorry about the confusion, I've fixed the recipe card.