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    Home » Beverages

    Big O Cocktail

    Dec 27, 2009 · Modified: Dec 26, 2021 by Andrea · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads ·

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    Big O Cocktail - Andrea Meyers

    Christmas is past, New Year’s Eve is approaching, and whether you host or attend large parties, intimate gatherings, or stay at home with your loved ones, festive drinks are part of the celebration of the new year. We began taste testing new (to us) cocktails over the weekend and will share some of our favorites this week in preparation for New Year’s Eve.

    Citrus fruits are in season, making the Big O a perfect cocktail for holiday parties. Todd Thrasher, sommelier at Restaurant Eve in Alexandria, VA, uses many different kinds of oranges and if you can find blood oranges they make a beautiful and festive display in this drink (though we used widely available Valencia). With an orange juice base plus orange vodka, triple sec, and orange bitters, the orange flavors permeate the drink.

    The orange bitters were tough to track down, and none of my regular stores carried them. If you can’t find any you can omit them, but the orange bitters add a little spice that lends character to the drink. If you are feeling adventurous and have 25 days, you can even make your own bitters (see links below). There’s even a link to a video demonstration by Thrasher on how to make bitters.

    Big O Cocktail - Andrea Meyers
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    Big O Cocktail

    Adapted from Food & Wine Cocktails ‘09.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Beverage
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: bitters, orange juice, triple sec, vodka
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 145kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 quart sauce pan
    • martini glass, chilled
    • shaker

    Ingredients

    • ice
    • 2 ounces fresh orange juice
    • 1 ounce simple syrup (recipe below)
    • 1 ounce gluten-free orange vodka
    • ½ ounce triple sec (Cointreau or other)
    • large dash orange bitters (Regan’s or Angostura Orange Bitters)
    • large dash Angostura bitters

    SIMPLE SYRUP

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup water
    US Customary - Metric

    Preparation

    • SIMPLE SYRUP: Mix the sugar and water in the sauce pan and bring to a boil. The sugar should dissolve completely. Let cool completely and transfer to a jar or squeeze bottle. Makes about 12 ounces, and will keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator.
    • COCKTAIL: Fill the cocktail shaker with ice, then add the remaining ingredients. Shake well, then strain into the chilled martini glass.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 113mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Share in the comments!

    More Festive Cocktails

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    Poinsettia Cocktail - Andrea Meyers
    Poinsettia Cocktail
    Sangria - Andrea Meyers
    Sangria for Cinco de Mayo

    More Orange Cocktails From Around the Blogs

    • Laylita’s Recipes – Bubbly Blood Orange Cocktail
    • White on Rice Couple – Blood Orange Cocktail (Midnight Ride)
    • Wasabimon – Blood Orange Margarita Cocktail

    Make Your Own Bitters

    • Star Chefs – Todd Thrasher How to Make Bitters Demonstration
    • Drink Dogma – How to Make Your Own Bitters
    • About.com Cocktails – Homemade Bitters (orange)
    « Gingerbread Scones
    Cider Car Cocktail »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nate @ House of Annie says

      December 28, 2009 at 1:45 am

      Nice! We've no problem getting oranges here in Kuching, but vodka is prohibitively expensive.

    2. T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types says

      December 28, 2009 at 9:17 am

      I loved your holiday cocktail series last year - this Big O looks like a winner (gorgeous photo) and will be on my New Year's tasting menu!

    3. Alisa - Frugal Foodie says

      December 28, 2009 at 4:53 pm

      Wow Andrea, that looks amazing! I just did a post on dairy-free beverages for New Year's, and this one would be a perfect fit. I have so been craving oranges lately, and what better way to enjoy them!

    Trackbacks

    1. New Years Eve Cocktail Recipes — Wasabimon! says:
      December 28, 2009 at 10:01 am

      [...] the The Big O cocktail recipe (essentially, this is a screwdriver with [...]

    2. New Year’s Cyber Tuesday! – 12/29/09 « New in the Kitchen says:
      December 29, 2009 at 8:36 pm

      [...] Big O Cocktail – A fun cocktail to be sipping when the clock strikes [...]

    3. Wedding mood board {Autumn wedding Inspiration} - The Weddings Review says:
      November 14, 2011 at 5:07 am

      [...] your marriage with The Big O served after the ceremony. A refreshing cocktail made with orange, syrup, vodka and Cointreau. Go [...]

    4. New Years Eve Cocktail Recipes says:
      November 25, 2011 at 9:59 pm

      [...] not try the The Big O? Essentially, this is a screwdriver with more [...]

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