David Thornton
The Blood & Sand first appeared in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, named after the 1922 Rudolph Valentino bullfighting film. It's one of the very few classic cocktails that uses orange juice, and for decades it was dismissed as a novelty. The craft cocktail revival has rehabilitated it — when made with quality ingredients, it's a genuinely surprising and delicious drink.
The Equal Parts Debate
The original recipe calls for equal parts of all four ingredients. Many modern bartenders adjust the ratio, reducing the orange juice and cherry brandy slightly while increasing the Scotch. Both approaches work — the equal-parts version is fruitier and more approachable, while the adjusted version lets the Scotch shine.
Cherry Brandy: Get It Right
Use Cherry Heering — it's the traditional choice and the best. It's a dark, rich cherry liqueur with genuine complexity. Don't use cherry-flavoured brandy or kirsch; they're completely different products that will ruin the drink.
The Scotch
A lightly smoky blended Scotch works best here — the fruit and vermouth need something with character but not aggression. Famous Grouse, Bank Note, or Monkey Shoulder are all excellent choices. Heavily peated Scotch will bulldoze the other ingredients.
