Blood and Sand

3⁄4 oz Scotch
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth
3⁄4 oz Cherry Liqueur, Cherry Heering
3⁄4 oz Orange juice
Instructions

Shake, strain, up.

Notes

There are a lot of variations here, most of which try to reduce the orange juice or at least mask its flavor. Really, I think gelatin clarification of orange juice might be a good way to start.

History

Named for the 1922 Rudolph Valentino movie.

Cocktail summary
Posted by Dan on
Created by
The Savoy Hotel
Year
1930
Is an
authentic recipe
Reference

The Savoy Cocktail Book, pg. 30

Curator
Not yet rated
Average
4 stars
(45 ratings)
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From other users
  • Just tried this again after many years and I forgot how great it was. I found using a Highland whisky and just plain Dolin worked well, but as always, you have to use fresh squeezed orange or it's totally a different thing.
  • Yum yum — ★★★★★
  • I made mine with with a slightly different balance. 1oz Scotch 1oz OJ 3/4 Vermouth 3/4 Cherry
  • Punt e Mes slightly better. Worth exploring other options, like Amaro.
  • It might be a classic but I think this one is just not that good. Orange juice is difficult to use well. I should try to the PDT version.
  • Zutaten 3/2/2/2, keine Bitters Glenfiddich 12 für die fruchtige, Talisker 10 oder Lagavulin 16 für die rauchige Variante
  • Prefer PDT recipe: * 1.5 oz Famous Grouse blended Scotch whisky * 0.75 oz orange juice * 0.5 oz Cherry Heering * 0.5 oz Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
  • 9/18/13
  • Forewent the bitters and used equal proportions, which worked well for me. Used Carpano Antica and the vanilla flavors were very welcome. — ★★★★★
  • I like the Blood and Sand better in this style, subbing the scotch out in favor of smoky mezcal. The tequila seems to play with the orange better.
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Comments

Just so we retain them for posterity, there's a variant of this drink that is titled "Authentic Blood and Sand", which is confusing - it's not authentic at all. This recipe is 1 oz Scorpion silver Mezcal, 1 ounce orange juice, 3/4 Cherry Heering, and 3/4 Noilly Prat Rouge, shaken for 20 seconds, strained into a cocktail glass, and garnished with a Maraschino cherry.  Thanks,  Zachary

Used blood orange juice; 1 oz Highland Park 18; 3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (½ Punt-e-Mes, ½ Carpano Antica); ½ oz Cherry Heering. Next time will try with a smokier Scotch.