Cara Cara Orange Old Fashioned Cocktail

 When winter rolls around and citrus season becomes evident across most of the state, I’m reintroduced to my fondness for Cara Cara oranges. 

I’ve lost count of the foods I’ve discovered since moving to California. Most have quickly moved to the top of my favorites list, and these oranges are no exception. Considering the positive feedback I get when mentioning them, it seems they have made their way across the country. But I had no idea they existed until 3 years ago. 

Sweet and juicy with a slightly pink interior, I buy bag after bag as long as the season will allow. As with most things, I get a little ahead of myself on supply and find that I need to find more ways of using them than simply eating them as a snack. 

I know what you are thinking — cocktails. I was, too.

So I decided to use the Cara Cara to put a twist on my favorite classic cocktail. With a traditional Old Fashioned, you would mull the orange slice with a little sugar or simple syrup. For this drink, I skipped the mulling and mixed in juice so that I could maximize my use of oranges. I added a little cherry syrup, too. It’s nothing special, the liquid inside a jar of cocktail cherries, but it adds a touch of sweetness and cherry flavor. 

I like serving cocktails in unique glasses and I really wanted to show off these new cocktail glasses I picked up last weekend. They are tall and thin and it adds some fun to the drink. I packed them full of crushed ice before straining in the cocktail and topping the drinks with a cherry and a piece of orange peel.

These kinds of drinks always make me wish for the seasons to slow down. Fortunately citrus season is a long one so there is still plenty of time to enjoy one for yourself. 

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