This blood orange vodka cocktail, the Winter Sunset on the Seine, is sweet, tart and sophisticated. You’ll definitely want to imbibe while this beautiful citrus is in season!

two blood orange vodka cocktails in coupe glasses

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The Winter Sunset on the Seine is my riff on a delicious concoction I had several years ago while on vacation. It’s made with French spirits and seasonal blood orange, noted for its vibrant color. It’s reminiscent of a sunset sky, non?

I am a sucker for citrusy cocktails — margaritas, mules, palomas, caipirinhas — you get the idea. So, yep…when the opportunity presents itself to break out the juicer, I’m all over it!

bottles of spirits and two blood orange vodka cocktails in the foreground

What goes into this blood orange vodka cocktail?

Cîroc — A French vodka, it’s unique for being produced from grapes versus grain. It’s also distilled five times compared to the two or three distillations of other vodkas, resulting in a smooth, citrusy finish.

Domaine de Canton — Also produced in France, this is a ginger liqueur with a brandy base. It has a sweet and spicy finish. It’s one of my all-time favorite spirits to mix with!

Peychaud’s Bitters — I picked this over Angostura because I felt its flavor better complimented the other ingredients. I think orange bitters would work really well in this, too. The bitters offer a subtle little twang.

Blood orange + lime juices — Blood oranges are only in season from December through about April. They tend to be sweeter than your average orange, but have a gorgeous red flesh which produces a vibrant red juice as well. The lime’s tartness adds a nice balance to the sweet ingredients.

Honey — You can substitute agave nectar or simple syrup instead, but I think the honey adds a nice earthy element.

overhead shot of blood oranges, limes and cocktails

How to make a Winter Sunset on the Seine

There’s not much to it! Combine all the ingredients in a shaker over ice and shake it until the shaker is super cold. Strain it into a pretty glass and float a slice of blood orange on top.