My Bartender
One of the best Scotch-based cocktails of all time is the Blood and Sand, a boldly delicious concoction. Any bartender worth their salt knows the infamous book by Harry Craddock entitled The Savoy Cocktail Book. The barroom staple listed this recipe when it was published in 1930. However, nobody knows if Craddock was the true inventor or simply heard the recipe from someone else and included it in his famous book.
History of the Blood and Sand
The history of this cocktail may be ambiguous, but the origins of its name are not. It was named after a 1922 movie about a bullfighter, starring Rudolph Valentino. If you don’t know who he is, all we need to say is that he was a silent film star who was affectionately nicknamed The Latin Lover. However, while the movie may not be a cinematic masterpiece, the Latin Lover’s performance in it was said to be top-notch, just like the cocktail.
Blood and Sand
Ingredients
- ¾ Oz Smooth Scotch Whisky
- ¾ Oz Sweet Vermouth
- ¾ Oz Cherry Heering Liqueur
- ¾ Oz Fresh Orange Juice
- 1 Orange Peel Garnish
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients and fill a shaker with ice
- Combine the Scotch, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, and fresh-squeezed OJ into the shaker
- Shake vigorously until well-chilled
- Strain and pour into a chilled cocktail or coupe glass
- Add a garnish of orange peel
- Serve immediately and enjoy
Strangely Delicious
The ingredients in this infamous cocktail are slightly confusing: Scotch with cherry liqueur and sweet vermouth? What about the orange juice? However, it’s like the saying “opposites attract.” This cocktail may consist of opposites, but they attract wonderfully and make one smooth and spicy piece of cocktail heaven.
Consisting of Scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth, and orange juice, you wouldn’t think that this bold cocktail’s unique and distinctive flavors would work well together. However, they find a way to marry perfectly, offering a seamless blend of all the flavors, with none overpowering any other. All the subtle and strong flavors combine exquisitely to produce a cocktail with some distinctly delicious notes.
Skip the Budget Scotch
When you’re making this cocktail, you want to keep a few things in mind. To start, never skimp on the quality of the Scotch you choose. It’s crucial to find one that’s superb and smooth without being too smoky. Another important consideration is to use fresh-squeezed orange juice.
There’s just something about the way fresh-squeezed orange juice tastes that really gives this cocktail a bright pop of citrus. So when you’re reaching for the ingredients, skip the budget Scotch, and don’t you dare touch that carton of OJ from concentrate that’s been in your fridge for two months.
This is a strangely delicious combination of some boldly distinct flavors that you wouldn’t expect to pair so beautifully. However, this cocktail has a delicate balance that’s accented by the smooth Scotch and reigned in with a touch of sweet cherry liqueur and citrus. Next time you’re in the mood for a little strange with your cocktail, try this distinctive blend for a different take on the boring drinks that seem to be all too common these days.
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