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Blood and Sand (Difford's recipe)
The equal parts Blood and Sand (scotch, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, and orange juice) formula from the 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book is the accepted...
Gaspar Genaro
14th July at 17:18
I guess I just don't have a taste for whiskey.
2nd July at 19:02
I made this with a far too nice to use in a cocktail in that amount Islay malt for all the whisky, no cherry stuff because who has that in their cabinet? and Ulrich vermouth rosso which is a posh rosso and of course the OJ. It is very nice and wonderfully smoky
12th June at 20:22
We visited the Torabhaig Distillery last week so it was great to find a Diffords cocktail using their fine malt. 🏴
Probably my favourite version of B&S so far...but I might need to go back to check 😉
Probably my favourite version of B&S so far...but I might need to go back to check 😉
13th March at 02:35
Like Difford's proportions. Used blended scotch (Isle of Skye) this time and cut the Peat Monster back to 1 tsp. The flavor is particularly nice with blood orange juice ("Blood Orange and Sand"?), which also gives it much more of a Sangre De Toro color.
21st January 2024 at 02:56
Simply supurb! Added Ardbeg for the Islay.
18th January 2024 at 01:35
Excellent version. I sometimes substitute sweetened cranberry juice for the orange juice for a pleasant variation.
9th January 2024 at 20:22
Another perfect drink.......
29th October 2023 at 00:08
This Difford Blood and Sand recipe is a great improvement on the classic.
I used Famous Grouse Smoky Black for the blended whisky and worried that adding the Ardbeg would overpower the drink with smokiness, but the quantities are spot on to balance out the smoke, booze and sweetness.
A super tasty and repeatable drink!
I used Famous Grouse Smoky Black for the blended whisky and worried that adding the Ardbeg would overpower the drink with smokiness, but the quantities are spot on to balance out the smoke, booze and sweetness.
A super tasty and repeatable drink!
23rd October 2023 at 18:22
An improvement over the original? Absolutely. A good drink? Yes. Unfortunately it's not just muddy in colour but the whole drink feels...well, muddy. It's bitter(ish) but not strong, it's fruity but not sweet or long. It feels just quite out of place. But an improved drink nonetheless.
24th October 2023 at 09:23
Perhaps a splash of cleansing lemon juice would improve?
4th October 2023 at 01:51
No blended scotch so used Glenlivet and 1/4 oz Peat Monster, which made for a nice, smoky cocktail. Also added a couple dashes Fee Bros. cherry bitters to counteract the sweetness a bit.
18th June 2023 at 03:31
The B&S has nice balance but haven't had Heering since my Singapore Sling phase; subbed Kirschwasser. Off topic: Don't know what I made but subbed Barr Hill gin for blended scotch, Schladerer Kirchwasser, Carpano Antica, fresh OJ, and XXV Glenlivet drizzle (just a drizzle don't crucify me). Its a nirvana milkshake.
25th May 2023 at 17:45
If using normal less interesting fresh oranges, try adding 2 drops of citric acid solution (25 g powder, 100 g water) as suggested in Cocktail Codex. Makes it more fresh. Or a spash of lemon juice as some do...
6th November 2022 at 14:27
This was delicious, I love the smokey orange booziness of this. Will certainly by making this again.
27th September 2022 at 19:17
This is an excellent cocktail and I definitely recommend the Islay malt to add. I poured 1/3 of a shot.
20th September 2022 at 15:19
Proportions here are just about perfect, but I do enjoy tweaking this recipe to reflect availability of different orange varieties through the seasons. Summer Valencias have a slightly bitter finish & provide balance to the sweet Cherry Heering. Winter Navel oranges are almost unidimensionally sweet. Blood oranges, arriving in late Winter & through Autumn, are perhaps best suited to this cocktail (to my palate) - tart as well as sweet, with a slightly bitter kick, & perfect ruddy colour.
21st September 2022 at 08:00
If the oranges are particularly sweet, I'll sub in a bitter amaro for the vermouth. If the juice is quite pale & the result is a true sandy yellow, floating a bar spoon of red amaro across the surface gives a nice effect.
18th September 2022 at 21:55
Great stuff. After reading Michael N's suggestion, I did a 10 second dry shake after 12 seconds of ice shake and the result is indeed excellent. I have to see if 15/20ml instead of 10 of Lagavulin would not give an even more satisfying result for my palate.
15th August 2022 at 02:47
Made with Luxardo Maraschino (I just can't bring myself to spend $35 on a bottle of Cherry Heering), and it was absolutely delicious. Fresh, with the orange juice coming through nicely but not overpowering anything. Highly recommended.
2nd June 2021 at 23:43
I am not a fan of smokey anything. I did make this as instructed, and found the cocktail outstanding. There is just enough hint of smokey but the other flavours tame down the smokey a little. Would do again. Thank you.
16th May 2021 at 23:53
I shorted the Cherry by 1/4 oz and boosted the Ardbeg a notch and reached perfection. Love this one.
16th April 2021 at 17:06
Simply terrific. I upped the peated single malt a fraction to taste, but this recipe is such an improvement over previous Blood & Sands.
Anonymous
10th January 2021 at 18:27
A pleasant sweet cocktail. It’s only draw back is its somewhat muddy appearance.
16th May 2021 at 21:56
I noticed that about Blood and Sands before and always wondered if it was my Cherry Heering getting old, but maybe it is just the drink. Always looks much nicer in the pictures though.
13th December 2020 at 20:10
Tried this one against the classic recipe and this is infinitely superior. I loved it with a smidge of Laguvulin (Laphroig would be too much I think) but if you don’t like the peatyness of Islay malts (in which case you’re off my Christmas card list) then leave it out.
4th December 2020 at 01:53
Perfect, my favorite Blood and Sand recipe that I've tried. I like using a nice Islay for the float, and think the float is really what makes this recipe.
3rd November 2020 at 20:33
Just made the classic and this back-to-back. The latter is leaps better. I would drink more than one. Barely got halfway through the former.
5th July 2020 at 00:26
This is so very good. Well balanced. Sweet and deep and full of dessert-tone smokiness. I’m impressed.