Blood Orange, Ginger Beer & Tequila Cocktail

Winter is almost over and that means that blood oranges will soon be out of season.  While that makes me incredibly sad, I have to remind myself that each season brings something yummy and new.  I wasn't having any kind of party at the Lush Chef Chateau this week, but it was Monday night and sometimes a girl just has to make herself a fancy cocktail.  This Blood Orange, Ginger Beer & Tequila Cocktail from Food Porn Daily was just calling to me, with the wintery combination of blood orange and ginger (I actually used a non-alcoholic ginger beer, but feel free to amp it up).  And let's face it, throwing in tequila almost always makes it a fun time.

Blood Orange, Ginger Beer & Tequila Cocktail 
Garnish Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup blood orange juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Zest from 1 blood orange
• Blood orange slices

Drink Ingredients:

• 2 oz blood orange juice
• 3 oz ginger beer 
• 1 1/2 oz tequila
• Juice from 1 lime wedge
• Ice

To prepare the glass:
- Put the 1/4 cup blood orange juice in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine the zest and sugar.
- Dip the rim of a highball glass into the orange juice and then into the zest & sugar mixture (coat it nice and even!).

To make the drink:
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blood orange juice, tequila and lime juice and shake.
- Pour into your pretty, garnished glass and top with ginger beer.
- Stir lightly and garnish with a blood orange slice.