Refreshing Blood Orange Mint Cooler

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 2 tall glasses (about 10–12 oz each)
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes

Quick Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 ml) freshly squeezed blood orange juice (about 3–4 medium blood oranges)
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lime juice
• 12 fresh mint leaves, plus extra sprigs for garnish
• 2–3 tbsp (30–45 ml) simple syrup or agave nectar, to taste
• 1 cup (240 ml) very cold sparkling water or club soda
• 1½ cups (about 180 g) ice cubes
• Optional: blood orange slices and lime wheels for garnish

Do This

• 1) Juice blood oranges and limes; set juices aside.
• 2) In a jug or cocktail shaker, add mint leaves and simple syrup.
• 3) Gently muddle mint with the syrup until fragrant, 15–20 seconds.
• 4) Add blood orange juice, lime juice, and 1 cup ice; shake or stir until very cold.
• 5) Fill 2 glasses with fresh ice; strain or pour mixture evenly into glasses.
• 6) Top each glass with sparkling water, garnish with mint and citrus slices, and serve immediately.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Bright, tart blood orange and cool mint make a super-refreshing, not-too-sweet drink.
• No special equipment required beyond a muddler or wooden spoon and a pitcher or shaker.
• Easily scales up for a crowd and looks stunning on any drinks table.
• Flexible base: keep it alcohol-free or turn it into a light cocktail with a simple tweak.

Grocery List

• Produce: Blood oranges, limes, fresh mint
• Dairy: None
• Pantry: Simple syrup or agave nectar (or sugar), sparkling water or club soda, ice

Full Ingredients

For the Blood Orange–Mint Base (2 servings)

• 1 cup (240 ml) freshly squeezed blood orange juice (about 3–4 medium blood oranges)
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lime juice (about 1 medium lime)
• 12 fresh mint leaves (stems removed)
• 2–3 tbsp (30–45 ml) simple syrup or agave nectar, to taste
• 1 cup (240 ml) very cold sparkling water or club soda
• 1 cup (about 120 g) ice cubes (for mixing)

For Serving & Garnish

• ½ cup (about 60 g) ice cubes (for the glasses)
• 2–4 thin slices blood orange
• 2 thin lime wheels or wedges
• 2 small sprigs fresh mint

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill your glasses and ingredients

Place two tall glasses in the refrigerator or freezer while you prep the drink; this helps keep the cooler frosty without over-diluting it with extra ice. Make sure your sparkling water or club soda is well-chilled, since that will keep the bubbles lively and refreshing. Gather your mint, blood oranges, lime, sweetener, and ice so everything is within easy reach.

Step 2: Juice the blood oranges and lime

Cut the blood oranges in half and juice them using a citrus juicer or reamer. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup if you prefer a smoother drink without pulp; otherwise, leave some pulp in for extra texture. You should end up with about 1 cup (240 ml) of juice. Juice the lime until you have 2 tbsp (30 ml). Set both juices aside.

Step 3: Muddle the mint with the sweetener

In the bottom of a sturdy jug, mixing glass, or cocktail shaker, add the 12 mint leaves and 2–3 tbsp (30–45 ml) of simple syrup or agave nectar. Using a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon, gently press and twist the mint into the sweetener for about 15–20 seconds. You want to bruise the leaves just enough to release their fragrant oils without shredding them into tiny bits, which can make the drink bitter. The mixture should smell very minty.

Step 4: Add the juices and ice, then chill the base

Pour the blood orange juice and lime juice into the muddled mint mixture. Add 1 cup (about 120 g) of ice cubes. If using a shaker, secure the lid; if using a jug, use a long spoon. Shake or stir vigorously for 20–30 seconds, until the outside of the shaker or jug feels very cold. This step chills and slightly dilutes the base, which softens the acidity and integrates the flavors.

Step 5: Strain or pour into glasses

Remove your chilled glasses from the fridge or freezer and add a handful of fresh ice to each (about ¼ cup/30 g per glass). If you prefer a clean look without mint pieces, strain the blood orange–mint mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the glasses, dividing it evenly. If you like the rustic look of mint in the drink, simply pour the mixture directly over the ice in each glass, making sure some mint lands in both.

Step 6: Top with bubbles, garnish, and serve

Slowly top each glass with about ½ cup (120 ml) of cold sparkling water or club soda. Give each drink a very gentle stir to combine, trying not to knock out too much of the carbonation. Garnish each cooler with a thin blood orange slice, a lime wheel, and a small sprig of mint. Serve immediately while the drink is icy cold and sparkling.

Pro Tips

• Pick ripe blood oranges: Choose fruit that feels heavy for its size and has a slightly soft give when squeezed; this usually means juicier, sweeter oranges.
• Muddle gently, not aggressively: Over-muddling tears the mint into tiny pieces and can release bitterness. Stop as soon as you smell a strong, fresh mint aroma.
• Adjust sweetness to taste: Blood oranges vary in sweetness. Start with 2 tbsp sweetener, taste, and add up to 1 more tablespoon if you prefer a less tart drink.
• Keep everything cold: Pre-chilling the glasses, juice, and sparkling water means you need less ice, which keeps the flavor from getting watered down.
• No shaker? No problem: Use a mason jar with a tight lid or simply stir the base well in a pitcher, then pour through a strainer if desired.

Variations

• Light cocktail version: Add 1–1½ oz (30–45 ml) vodka, gin, or white rum per glass to the muddled mint and juices before shaking. Top with a slightly smaller splash of sparkling water.
• Ginger kick: Replace half of the sparkling water with cold ginger beer or strong ginger ale for a spicy, warming edge that pairs beautifully with the citrus and mint.
• Frozen slushie: Blend the blood orange juice, lime juice, mint, sweetener, and 2 cups (240 g) of ice until slushy, then top with a small splash of sparkling water in each glass for a fizzy finish.

Storage & Make-Ahead

For the best fizz and color, this cooler is ideal served fresh. However, you can make the base in advance: muddle the mint with sweetener, then add the blood orange and lime juices. Strain out the mint if you like, and store the mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, give the base a good stir, pour over ice in glasses, and top with chilled sparkling water. Do not add sparkling water ahead of time, or you will lose the carbonation. Garnishes (mint and citrus slices) are best cut just before serving to keep them looking vibrant.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values for one of 2 servings, prepared with 3 tbsp (45 ml) simple syrup and club soda: about 135 calories; 0 g fat; 0 g protein; 34 g carbohydrates; 31 g sugars; 0 g fiber; 5 mg sodium. Values will vary depending on the exact size and sweetness of the blood oranges and the type and amount of sweetener you use.