Blood and Sand

The rare classic built from a Scotch backbone.

photo: Daniel Krieger

This recipe first popped up in the Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930, with the title thought to be a nod to Rudolf Valentino’s 1922 silent film of the same name (itself, an adaption of a 1909 Spanish novel) about the rise and fall of a bullfighter. This mix of equal parts Scotch, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur and orange juice, shaken and strained into a coupe, makes for one of the rare cocktails based on Scotch.

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 1 ounce Scotch, blended
  • 1 ounce Scotch, blended
  • 1 ounce cherry liqueur (preferably Cherry Heering)
  • 1 ounce cherry liqueur (preferably Cherry Heering)
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 1 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 1 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed

Directions
  1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
  2. Add ice and shake.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
Editor's Note

Not all cherry liqueurs are created equal; your best bet for this drink is the Danish liqueur Cheery Heering.

Tagged: cherry heering, Savoy Cocktail Book, scotch, sweet vermouth, whiskey hub, whisky

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