Name: Blood and Sand (Classic formula)
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 22.5 ml Scotch whisky; 22.5 ml Cherry brandy; 22.5 ml Rosso/sweet vermouth; 22.5 ml Orange juice

Ingredients

3/4 fl oz

Blended Scotch whisky

3/4 fl oz

Cherry (brandy) liqueur

3/4 fl oz

Strucchi Rosso Vermouth

3/4 fl oz

Orange juice (freshly squeezed)

How to make

Glassware

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.

Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.

FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Blood and Sand (Classic formula) contains 174 calories

Alcohol content:

1 standard drinks
14.71% alc./vol. (29.41° proof)
14.2 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Rosso/rouge/sweet vermouth (di Torino) — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Review

One of the best classic Scotch cocktails, the Blood & Sand is said to be the Scotch whisky-based cocktail that whisky haters will like. Some may find this equal part's recipe a tad on the sweet side and if this is the case then our Blood & Sand recipe ups the Scotch notes with reduced sweet ingredients.

Comments & Discussion

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Loz Horner 15w

Okay I can’t believe I’ve never made one of these. Exquisite.

Garth Stanish 36w

A local gin producer here in Nz has a version of this called Sydenham Sunset which replaces the Heering with Sloe gin…. It’s delicious…..

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 36w

I'll be sure to try the Sydenham Sunset with a view to adding to Difford's Guide. Many thanks.

Ruth Harvey 1y

It wasn't too sweet for me...just too small - for our coupe glasses. Next time (and that might be very soon!😋) I will use a Nick &Nora glass.

Cam Natale-Miles 1y

Try splitting the orange juice with lemon juice. Far more balanced :)

Michael Z 1y

I made a second one after watching the video - I feel the flamed garnish took this drink from good to great.

Dutch Courage 1y

I had no Scotch so I tried it with Teeling and it may need something bolder, with some peat.

Still a nice cocktail with the lingering cherry aftertaste rounding it off.

Karen MacLeod 3y

I’m not fond of scotch whisky so I make this with rye and blood orange.

Josh Meurer 3y

Not sure if anyone is interested in this here but if you are I would be interested in your suggestions. I am working on a non-alcoholic version of this. Here is my recipe so far. Does anyone have a different suggestion for the Cherry Heering substitution?

1 oz - Lyre's - Non-Alcoholic American Malt
1 oz - VERSIN Non-Alcoholic Vermouth Alternative
1/2 oz - Torani Cherry Syrup
1/2 oz - Beckett's '27 N/A Amaretto
1 oz - Orange Juice.

Karen MacLeod 3y

Is use the syrup from Luxardo cherries

William Y 5y

For me, it's a bit too sweet (could be the Heering) so I will love to try Difford's recipe next time. Also mine had a thin layer of foam on top of the drink, wonder if it was caused by the orange juice...?

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 5y

Yes, probably orange juice. Please see Garibaldi - "fluffy" orange juice is the key ingredient.

Nathalie O Flynn Premium Member 5y

Made this a couple of times before and I think we weren't that keen and forgot about that and made it again tonight, I think we like it more now. I am wondering if am doing something wrong as my one is very dark due to the red/weet vermouth

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 5y

I've just made to check colour and indeed is more a deep rust-red. It's quite an old photo and could have been made lighter by lighting or post-processing. Photo on page with my own Blood & Sand recipe is a lot darker.