Cooking Lesson #527: Blood & Sand Cocktail

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? Here’s a great Fall cocktail that has survived the test of time—over 100 years.
 
Blood & Sand is one of the few classic mixed drinks that includes Scotch whisky. It was named after Rudolph Valentino's 1922 bullfighter movie Blood & Sand. The red juice of the blood orange in the drink helped link it with the film. The recipe first appeared in the 1930’s Savoy Cocktail Book. This cocktail is a little sweet and a little smoky challenging the senses, making for a great year-round cocktail.
 
The Blood & Sand is usually served in a coupe glass (Champagne Coupe). Personally, I prefer a rocks glass. Its main ingredients include the juice of a blood orange (fresh is best), Sweet Vermouth, Cherry Heering (a Danish liqueur) and Scotch.
 
It’s a breeze to make—pour and shake all ingredients in a shaker, double strain the mix into the selected glass and garnish with a slice of blood orange or orange peel.
 
Ingredients 
3/4 ounce scotch
3/4 ounce Cherry Heering
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
3/4 ounce freshly squeezed blood orange juice (if available)
1/4 ounce lemon juice
1 burnt orange twisted (see ChefSecret)
 
Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice to the cocktail shaker.
3. Shake vigorously—like you mean it—until the shaker is frosted over.
4. Strain into chilled rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a burnt orange twist and enjoy.

ChefSecret: I use a small dessert blow torch to scorch the strip of orange to release the essential oils.  Don’t have one? Place the orange strip directly on an oven grate and broil on high for about 1 minute.

Quip of the Day: “Am I getting older or is the elevator finally playing “cool” music?”
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross.

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                                                         ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2022

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