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How to make the Channel Orange, a cocktail evoking early fall

A refreshing drink evoking chillier days

Channel Orange cocktail.
Ketel One

Labor Day Weekend is here and we’re raising a glass. But what to fill it with? All of the things, from non-alcoholic beers and sparkling waters to low-ABV wines and cocktails.

It’s raining drinks, from summer beer releases to fresh hop IPAs, due to come out any day now. But sometimes we like to play home bartender and whip something up from scratch. To do so, though, tends to involve a little guidance.

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So we combed through our treasure trove of cocktail-related emails and selected something that stands out. It’s a cocktail that merges summer and fall. And it even involves an infusion, so get ahead of the game and start this one on the early side.

Ketel One sent us a recipe that has us thinking autumnal thoughts.

Channel Orange

Channel Orange cocktail.
Ketel One

Turns out, Channel Orange is more than a spectacular Frank Ocean record. It’s also a fine drink. We’re still living our best summer loves but we can’t help liking the fall-ness of this recipe. It even involves creative spirit infusions, something we very much admire.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 ounces Ketel One Oranje Vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Ancho Chile-Infused Ketel One Vodka*
  • 1/2 ounce Dry Curacao
  • 1/4 ounce Creme de Cacao
  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cane syrup

*Ancho Chile-Infused Ketel One Vodka: Add 2-4 ancho chiles to a bottle of Ketel One Vodka and let rest for 3-7 days (depending on spice intensity). Strain and use.

Method:

  1. In a shaker, combine ingredients with ice and shake vigorously for 7 -10 seconds.
  2. Strain up into a chilled coupe glass and add an orange wedge for garnish.
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since… Read Full Bio
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