Blood and Sand
Scotch, sweet vermouth, cherry brandy and orange juice in equal parts. Fruity, smooth and a little smoky.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2 UK units
How to make a Blood and Sand
- Chill a coupe. Fill the coupe with ice and water and leave it while you make the drink.
- Shake with ice. Add the Scotch, vermouth, cherry brandy and orange juice to a shaker. Fill it with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds, until the tin is frosted.
- Double strain. Tip out the ice from the glass and strain through a fine strainer. The drink should be a dusky orange-red, slightly cloudy.
- Finish with orange. Squeeze a strip of orange peel over the surface so the oils spray across it, then drop it in or rest it on the rim.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A martini glass or any small stemmed glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Orange twistOr: A flamed orange peel, if you have a lighter.
What you need to make a Blood and Sand
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Fine strainerA small tea strainer catches ice shards.
Vegetable peelerFor wide strips of peel with little pith.
Bottles we'd use
- Cherry HeeringThe classic Danish cherry liqueur, dark and not too sweet.Find it on Amazon
- A blended ScotchMonkey Shoulder or Johnnie Walker Black Label both work well.Find it on Amazon
- Sweet vermouthCocchi Vermouth di Torino or Martini Rosso.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Blood and Sand story
Harry Craddock printed it in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. It is named after the 1922 silent film Blood and Sand, in which Rudolph Valentino plays a bullfighter, which is why the drink is red and the garnish is orange.
The Scotch, vermouth, cherry brandy and orange are all equal measures, which makes it easy to remember and easy to throw off. Use fresh orange juice, not a carton. A blended Scotch with a touch of smoke gives it more character than a very soft one.
Blood and Sand: your questions answered
What is in a Blood and Sand?
A Blood and Sand is made with 25 ml Blended Scotch whisky, 25 ml sweet vermouth, 25 ml cherry brandy liqueur and 25 ml fresh orange juice. Garnish: orange twist.
Is a Blood and Sand shaken or stirred?
A Blood and Sand is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps mix the juice in properly, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
How strong is a Blood and Sand?
Made to this recipe, a Blood and Sand contains about 2 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Blood and Sand in?
Serve a Blood and Sand in a coupe. No coupe? A martini glass or any small stemmed glass.
