Keyword blood orange cocktail, burnt mandarin orange cocktail, easy cocktail, gin and tonic, mandarin orange cocktail, orange gin and tonic
Author Lokness
Ingredients
5mandarin oranges
1 – 1½tablespoonssugar or raw sugar
½ ouncefresh lime juice(about ½ lime)
3ouncesgin
10 - 12ice cubes
6ouncestonic water
Instructions
Cut the mandarin oranges in half. Take one of the halves and cut into 1/8-inch slices. Place all these oranges on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Transfer the baking sheet on top of the stove.
To torch the mandarin oranges, start with a few at a time. First pat dried the top of the oranges with a paper towel. Sprinkle about ½ teaspoon sugar on each top. With a blow torch, carefully torch the mandarin oranges until bubbling and getting some burnt spots, about 1 – 2 minutes each. Repeat with the rest of the mandarin oranges. Set them aside to cool for a couple minutes.
Once cooled, place a sieve over a large measuring cup. Squeeze the mandarin oranges over the measuring cup to get all the juice. Discard any seeds and sugar pieces. You should have 4 ounces (1/2 cup) juice. Stir in the lime juice and gin.
Fill 2 serving glasses half full with ice cubes. Divide the gin mixture into the glasses. Pour 3 ounces of tonic water into each glass. Garnish with mandarin orange slices. Serve.
Notes
You can use any mandarin oranges, like tangerines or clementine. But it’s best if they’re sweet. If they’re sour, use less juice and omit lime juice.
Make sure the surfaces of the mandarins are not wet when covering with the sugar. Instead of being caramelized, the sugar will melt and dissolve into the juice.
If you don’t have a blow torch, you can use the broiler in the oven. Move an oven rack closer to the broiler. Place the mandarin oranges in the oven to broil until bubbling and slightly charred, about 5 – 10 minutes. Keep an close eye on them, so they don't burnt too much.
Gin has many flavor profiles. Some taste more floral, some taste woodier and earthier. I recommend to use something stronger, like the woodier one. A stronger gin can stand with the burnt mandarin oranges a bit better. The one I used is St George Terroir Gin. It’s made with Douglas fir, bay laurel and sage along with coriander seeds and juniper berries. It has a woody note, which is very unique. But if you are not a fan or you don’t have that on hand, use any classic gin that you like.