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GarnishesAlcohol-freeHigh confidenceStandard, well-documented garnish.

Orange Wheel

A thin round slice of orange used as a garnish and, floated in a glass, as a mild source of citrus aroma and colour.

citrusmildly bitteraromatic

Common uses

  • garnish for spritz-style and orange-forward drinks

Buying & storage

A few days: Good for a few days refrigerated, then noticeably duller. Worth planning a second drink around rather than throwing away.

Storage: Slice fresh and use the same day for best appearance.

Before it goes

Use up orange wheel

Ranked by how much of it each drink uses and how little else it needs — the ones at the top will not send you back to the shop.

  • Alcohol-Free Spritz

    Also needs alcohol-free aperitif, soda water.

  • Sherry Cobbler

    Uses 15ml. Also needs amontillado or oloroso sherry, simple syrup.

  • Sangria

    Also needs red wine, triple sec, orange juice.

  • Mulled Wine

    Also needs full-bodied red wine, honey or brown sugar syrup, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks.

Recipes

Cocktails containing this ingredient

An alcohol-free spritz in a wine glass with an orange wheel and soda bubblesPhoto by planet_fox on Pixabay
Alcohol-free

Alcohol-Free Spritz

Alcohol-free aperitif, soda water and an orange slice — the spritz's bitter-orange snap without the alcohol.

bitterrefreshingfruity
easy3 minalcohol free

Sherry Cobbler

Sherry, sugar and fresh seasonal fruit over crushed ice — one of the oldest cocktails still served today.

fruityrefreshingsweet
easy5 minliqueur led
A mug of mulled wine with an orange slice, cinnamon stick and clovesPhoto by Daria-Yakovleva on Pixabay

Mulled Wine

Red wine gently warmed with orange, cloves and cinnamon, lifted with a splash of brandy — a mug of Christmas market in a glass.

spicysweetfruity
easy5 minliqueur led
A pitcher of Sangria with orange and lemon slices, alongside a filled wine glassPhoto by kan_chansathya on Pixabay

Sangria

Red wine macerated with brandy, orange liqueur and citrus — a fruity Spanish pitcher drink built for a table, not a single glass.

fruitysweetrefreshing
easy10 minliqueur led
A mug of alcohol-free mulled wine with an orange wheel, cinnamon stick and cloves
Alcohol-free

Alcohol-Free Mulled Wine

Red grape juice mulled with citrus and whole spices — warm, dark and spiced, with the sweetness kept in check.

spicysweetfruity
easy5 minalcohol free

Garnish

Cocktails garnished with orange wheel

These recipes don't mix it in — they finish with it, which is usually where its aroma does the most work.

An Aperol Spritz in a large wine glass with an orange slicePhoto by Gonzalo Acuña on Pexels

Aperol Spritz

Prosecco, Aperol and a splash of soda over ice — Italy's low-alcohol answer to the aperitif hour.

bittersweetrefreshing
easy3 minliqueur led

Hurricane

Dark and gold rum with passion fruit and citrus — a sweet, punchy New Orleans classic.

tropicalfruitysweet
medium6 minrum
A Tequila Sunrise highball showing a red-to-orange gradient with grenadine settling at the bottomPhoto by Roy Muriithi on Pexels

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila and orange juice with a grenadine sunrise settling at the bottom of the glass.

fruitysweetrefreshing
easy4 mintequila
A Citrus Cooler in a highball glass with mint sprig and orange wheelPhoto by AS Photography on Pexels
Alcohol-free

Citrus Cooler

Orange and lemon juice lengthened with soda and mint — a bright, three-ingredient CocktailHQ original.

refreshingsourfruity
easy3 minalcohol free
A Screwdriver in a highball glass with an orange slicePhoto by Shameel mukkath on Pexels

Screwdriver

Vodka and orange juice, built over ice — about as simple as a cocktail gets, and no less good for it.

fruityrefreshingsweet
easy3 minvodka

Blue Lagoon

Vodka, blue curaçao and lemon, topped with soda — a vividly blue, citrus-bright highball built as much for looks as for flavour.

sweetsourfruity
easy4 minvodka
A Harvey Wallbanger in a highball glass with a golden Galliano float on topPhoto by Zhengdong Hu on Pexels

Harvey Wallbanger

A Screwdriver with a Galliano float — vodka and orange juice topped with a herbal, vanilla-edged liqueur.

fruitysweetherbal
easy4 minvodka

Rum Runner

Two rums, blackberry and banana liqueur, grenadine, lime and pineapple — a bright, fruit-stacked Florida Keys tiki punch.

tropicalsweetfruity
medium6 minrum

…and 13 more.

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Possible substitutions

Orange Peel

Garnishes

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