Blood and Sand
- Drinking and Thinking
- Feb 2, 2018
- 1 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
No, it's not a nazi chant, it's a Scotch cocktail for old men
I know my scotch drinking friends consider this heresy, but I’m always trying to find new things to do with sweet vermouth, and anything that includes an old long forgotten “granny” liqueur like Cherry Heering sounds worth a try. It’s definitely a sweet combination, but the orange tempers it and it's ultimately a well balanced classic that benefits from the 1:1:1:1 Last Word ratio. I’ve found that Cherry Heering, although initially it might remind you of cough syrup, has a pretty complex flavor and rich texture. It’s sort of like Grand Marnier in that it has a distinct dark brandy body. Many of the recipes I found were questioning what to substitute for Heering and the consensus was that nothing really quite matches it. Some had suggested a kirschwasser or other eau de vie, but as I am an avid consumer of all fruit-infused clear liquor, including Slivovitz and Pálinka, I can reassure you that none of these even come close to Cherry Heering. Suck it up, buy a bottle. I’ve also found it’s good with amaretto and I add a dash or two for some extra richness. One of these days I’ll post one of my better concoctions using those two, but until then, enjoy the classic Blood and Sand:
Blood and Sand
¾ oz. Scotch
¾ oz Cherry Heering cherry liqueur
¾ oz sweet vermouth
¾ oz fresh squeezed orange
orange peel for garnish
Add all to shaker, shake with ice, strain and pour into cocktail glass, garnish and serve.