Blood Orange Cocktail with Vodka and Rosemary

Step 1

Make a honey simple syrup. In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir the honey with 1/2 cup water until the honey combines with the water, 2-3 minutes.

Step 2

Make the blood orange syrup. Add the rosemary to the honey simple syrup and adjust the heat to bring to a simmer, with small bubbles starting to appear along the sides of the pan. Turn off the heat and stir in the blood orange juice. Cover and set aside off the heat for 30 minutes.

Step 3

Strain the syrup. Pass the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl to remove the rosemary and any pulp. Let the syrup fully cool to room temperature and then cover and refrigerate until you are ready to use.

Step 4

Just before serving: shake the cocktail. Fill two rocks glasses with ice. Combine the vodka and blood orange rosemary syrup in a shaker and fill 2/3 of the way with ice. Shake to combine 20 seconds and then strain into the prepared rocks glass. Top with tonic water, gently stir, and garnish with blood orange slices and a sprig of rosemary if desired. Enjoy!