PREP TIME 5 min
Our Blood and Sand cocktail ingredients make for a delightfully sweet drink with hints of spice. This classic citrus-based Scotch cocktail is high up on our list of orange juice cocktails, perfect for any season. Unfortunately, this cocktail has fallen to the wayside over the years, but we’re bringing it back!
Add a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker
Add all the ingredients, close the lid and shake vigorously until extra cold
Strain into a chilled coupe glass
Garnish with an orange peel twist
This delicious citrus-based Scotch cocktail made its first public appearance back in 1930 in the classic Savoy Cocktail Book, written by Harry Craddock. It’s not certain whether he invented it, and the exact history of the drink might forever be a mystery. What we can tell you is that it was named after Rudolph Valentino’s 1922 silent movie, Blood and Sand—a film about bullfighting. While the movie was a big hit, we are happy to report that it does not taste like the movie’s title!
The OG ingredients include Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, and blood orange juice. It might seem like an odd combination, and maybe that’s why it never made it to the cocktail hall of fame, but we promise you it is surprisingly delicious (even if you’re not the biggest whiskey fan). Gather the troops, shake one up, and give it a go!
This is one of the best whiskey cocktails you can make, and while good Scotch has its place, this is not it. Whiskey purists will tell you to reach for a bottle of blended Scotch, and we agree. It’s less expensive, so stick to the middle-of-the-road whiskeys for this cocktail.
The strength of this cocktail will depend on two things. The type of whiskey you use and how much orange juice you add. On average, one drink comes in at around16% ABV.
