Blood and Sand
Scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth and orange. Named after a 1922 bullfighting film.
Shaken · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 16% ABV
Ingredients
- 22.5 ml Blended Scotch
- 22.5 ml Cherry liqueur (Cherry Heering)
- 22.5 ml Sweet vermouth
- 22.5 ml Orange juice
- Orange twist (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 22.5 ml blended Scotch into the shaker
- Pour 22.5 ml cherry liqueur (Cherry Heering) into the shaker
- Pour 22.5 ml sweet vermouth into the shaker
- Pour 22.5 ml orange juice into the shaker
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Garnish
About the Blood and Sand
Created for the 1922 Rudolph Valentino film Blood and Sand, about a bullfighter. The red cherry liqueur and orange juice represent the blood and sand of the bullring. It was printed in the Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930.
The vermouth cocktail family. Vermouth reached American bars in the 1860s and 1870s, and bartenders began stirring it with whiskey, gin and brandy. That gave us the Manhattan and the Martinez, the ancestor of the Martini. Drinks in this family are stirred rather than shaken, and they are all about the balance between the spirit and the aromatised wine.
Blood and Sand FAQ
What's in a Blood and Sand?
22.5 ml blended scotch, 22.5 ml cherry liqueur (cherry heering), 22.5 ml sweet vermouth, 22.5 ml orange juice, garnished with orange twist.
How strong is a Blood and Sand?
About 16% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.4 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir a Blood and Sand?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve a Blood and Sand in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
