Undoubtedly the most spectacular member of the Toddy family, the Blue Blazer is a simple mixture of sugar, water and whiskey—all set on fire. The blazing stream of whiskey is transferred between two tankards in an arc of fire before being served in a tumbler. While a number of mid-19th century bartenders claimed credit for this invention, it is Jerry Thomas’s rendition in his 1862 How to Mix Drinks alongside an illustration of the proper technique that has persisted.
Blue Blazer
Adapted from How To Mix Drinks by Jerry Thomas
Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 1 1/2 ounces Scotch
- 1 1/2 ounces boiling water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Garnish: lemon peel
Directions
- Combine the Scotch and boiling water in a silver-plated mug or tankard.
- Ignite the liquid and, while blazing, mix both ingredients by pouring them four or five times from one mug to another.
- Sweeten with one teaspoon of sugar and garnish with a lemon peel.