There’s a good chance that orange juice was a part of your first cocktail experience. The tangy juice is almost too easy to mix, and you likely created a basic classic cocktail without even knowing it. That Champagne and orange juice you threw into a glass, for example, is all it takes to make the beloved brunch special, Mimosa—and the similar but stronger vodka and orange juice is a Screwdriver. But cocktails with orange juice can be so much more, whether you like rum, whiskey or tequila. Here are nine orange juice cocktails that’ll give you your daily dose of vitamin C with a boozy kick.
The Harvey Wallbanger is basically your classic Screwdriver with one crucial twist: Galliano. An herbal vanilla liqueur, Galliano takes the simple dorm room classic and turns it into something a little more special with some funky, herbal vanilla notes. It’s still simple with only three ingredients, but a lot more interesting than your ho-hum vodka-orange juice mix in a plastic cup.
The Essentials
vodka
orange juice
Galliano
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As classic cocktails were resurfaced and remastered at cocktail bars around the country, the Blood and Sand remained, for the most part, off the top menus. That doesn’t mean you should count it out. It has a Scotch whisky base but is designed for hot day refreshment, thanks to fresh orange juice and sweet Cherry Heering.
The Essentials
Scotch
Sweet Vermouth
Cherry Heering
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The cocktail that represents New York’s northernmost borough is nothing like its more famous cousin, the Manhattan. Instead, it’s more like a cocktail often ordered in Manhattan, the Martini. The Bronx is a mix of gin, equal parts sweet and dry vermouths, and fresh orange juice. It was allegedly named after the Bronx Zoo by a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria in the early 1900s.
The Essentials
gin
vermouth
orange juice
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Few drinks are as appearance-based as the Tequila Sunrise. The tequila, orange juice and grenadine drink simply wouldn’t be the same without the iconic red fade into orange from bottom to top. Plus, it’s supposedly a favorite of Mick Jagger. Vitamin C plus rock star cred—could you ask for anything more?
The Essentials
Blanco Tequila
Orange Juice
Grenadine
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This isn’t a drink that you’d feel comfortable ordering out loud at the bar, but it’s a tasty orange juice cocktail nonetheless. The Sloe Comfortable Screw gives the Screwdriver extra sweetness and depth from the addition of equal parts sloe gin and Southern Comfort, while vodka keeps it strong. It’s all tied together with everyone’s favorite breakfast juice.
The Essentials
Vodka
Sloe Gin
Southern Comfort
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“Fuzzy” isn’t the most appealing texture description a drink can have, yet the Fuzzy Navel persists as a sweet, fruity and easy drinking classic. According to legend, the mix of peach schnapps and orange juice came about when a bar patron told Ray Foley (founder of Bartender Magazine) that he could smell the “fuzz” of his peach schnapps through the smell of oranges Foley was cutting. Orange you glad he did?
The Essentials
Peach Schnapps
Orange Juice
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Just because you enjoy brunch doesn’t mean you enjoy sparkling wine-centric Mimosas. But this Mimosa twist by Matthew Tocco for Pinewood Social in Nashville swaps the bubbly for wheat beer and adds amaro and curaçao. Top it off with orange juice, and you’ve found your next favorite breakfast drink.
The Essentials
Dry Curaçao
Amaro CioCiaro
orange juice
wheat beer
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This dark rum drink is sweet and elegant with just a touch of bright orange. While the Roosevelt’s small amount of juice won’t give you too much vitamin C (unless you drink a good amount of them), it is delicious and historical. By one telling of the Roosevelt’s origin, it was the cocktail first served to former President Theodore Roosevelt when he returned to New York after a 15-month hunting expedition.
The Essentials
Dark Rum
Vermouth
Orange Juice
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Paradise was almost lost on the Paradise Cocktail. The original recipe published in the Savoy Cocktail Book calls for equal parts gin, apricot brandy and orange juice. Equal parts, in this case, is not the way to go. Give the ratio a few tweaks and add a touch of fresh lemon juice, and you’ll find paradise in a glass.
The Essentials
Gin
Apricot Brandy
orange juice
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