Blood orange season is at hand, and the fruit is a welcome and bright spot of sunshine and rich ruby shading. I find them slightly less sweet than a typical orange, which makes them perfect fodder for a cocktail, when the usual supporting ingredients take center stage in the absence of alcohol. In the simple drink pictured here, I squeezed the juice from one blood orange and simply added some blood orange seltzer. One layer of flavor upon another, garnished with a blood orange wheel.
The beauty of such a mocktail is in its simplicity, as well as its potent natural goodness. Forget store-bought manufactured juices for mocktails – get fresh citrus because that’s what’s going to make a drink worth drinking. Get a proper and pretty cocktail glass. Get a fitting and elegant garnish. And above all else, get an over-the-top tablescape for the background. The latter need not be extravagant – a few candles, a table runner, and some greens from the outside will more than suffice. Winter is made for these simple joys.
