The Blood and Sand

Another great old cocktail with a silly and unappetizing name (which came from a 1922 movie starring Rudolph Valentino).  Don’t be put off, though.  This crowd-pleasing drink has a big flavor that’s perfect for chilly evenings.

At first glance the list of ingredients seems odd:  Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, orange juice and Cherry Heering, a not-too-sweet Danish cherry liqueur, widely available in good liquor stores for about $28.  In the right proportions, though, these geographically diverse ingredients strike a complex but harmonious chord. The sweet, fruity Cherry Heering is brightened by the lightly acidic orange juice, rounded out by the winey, herbal vermouth and grounded by the Scotch. The proportions in recipes vary, but I like to use roughly equal amounts of each, possibly using a lighter hand with the cherry and orange and being a bit more generous with the Scotch and vermouth.  A good blended Scotch works well here, but a big peaty single malt adds character without upsetting the balance.

The only thing it needs is a better name.  Any ideas?

Recipe

(for one drink)

3/4 – 1 oz Scotch

3/4 – 1 oz sweet vermouth

3/4 oz Cherry Heering

3/4 oz fresh squeezed orange juice, strained

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.  Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass.  Garnish with a strip of orange peel.