Blood and Smoke
Islay Scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth and blood orange, shaken. The Blood and Sand with a peated malt — smoke against cherry and orange, and the 1922 drink's modern, moodier version.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a coupe.
Add the Scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth and blood orange juice to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Double strain into the chilled coupe and express an orange peel over the top.
A thoughtful finish
- Half Islay, half blended Scotch is the gentler version.
- Fresh blood orange; the drink is a quarter juice.
- Shake hard; the juice wants it.
Common mistakes
- Carton orange juice.
- A heavily peated cask-strength malt at full pour, which drowns the fruit.
- Stirring.
A few good questions.
What does a Blood and Smoke taste like?
Cherry, orange and sweet vermouth with peat smoke running through — a smoky, fruity Blood and Sand.
Which Islay?
Laphroaig 10, Ardbeg 10 or Caol Ila 12; Lagavulin for a richer version.
Can I use regular orange?
Yes; blood orange is for colour and a berry note.
Is it the Blood and Sand?
The same four parts with a peated malt instead of a blend.
Variations
- Blood and Sand — Scotch, cherry liqueur, vermouth and orange.
- Rob Roy — Scotch, sweet vermouth and bitters.
- Penicillin — Scotch, lemon, honey-ginger and an Islay float.
- Cherry Manhattan — Rye, vermouth and cherry liqueur.
Where it comes from
c. 2010s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Blood and Sand — Scotch, Cherry Heering, sweet vermouth and orange juice in equal parts — is a 1922 drink named for the Valentino film, and it has always been made with a blended Scotch; the Blood and Smoke is the craft-era riff that puts a peated Islay malt in its place, so the smoke meets the cherry and orange, and usually blood orange for the colour and the name. It appeared on menus in the 2010s as bars discovered that peat and fruit are a better pair than they sound, and it is sometimes called a Smoky Blood and Sand. A full Islay pour is a lot of smoke; many bars split the base with a blended Scotch and float the Islay. Fresh juice, as always.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, Blood and Smoke, 2015 (reference)
- Punch, Blood and Sand Variations, 2017 (reference)
- Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930 (book)
Strength. About 1.07 US standard drinks at an estimated 17.2% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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