The classics are always my favorites — but sometimes I really like to add a fun or different ingredient to change things up a bit. Last week, we had a little cocktail party at our house with some friends, and I had about 5 blood oranges in my fridge that needed to get used.

So, Blood Orange Manhattans were on the menu! Here is my easy recipe for the blood orange simple syrup and the cocktail.

Blood Orange Simple Syrup

On the stove, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar.
Bring to a boil.
Add in 1-2 blood oranges, slices
Add one cinnamon stick, whole
Bring heat to low and combine sugar and water,
and allow the blood oranges to get soft
Strain over a fine mesh strainer into a mason jar,
include 1-2 slices of the orange and the cinnamon stick
Seal and put in the fridge for at least a hour

Blood Orange Manhattan Cocktail

2 oz of your favorite Rye (I used Dickel Rye)
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
(I used Vya Sweet Vermouth, which is has lovely prune/orange notes)
2-3 Dashes Orange Bitters
.75 oz Blood Orange Simple Syrup

Stir over ice, pour into a coupe or rocks glass, and garnish with a blood orange wheel — and for a little extra aromatic love, a sprig of fresh mint.

NOTE: this one is easy to prebatch! I prebatched about 8 cocktails and then was able to quickly pour 4 cocktails at a time into my stirring glass with ice and serve quickly. You can prebatch all of these ingredients without having to add any before serving. The only thing to add is the garnish! Just make sure you go through the stirring technique.

Enjoy! XO