Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Blood and Sand is a scotch-based cocktail that's been around for 100 years. It's a polarizing drink that's sweet and juicy without being tart. This is because it calls for orange juice, which is difficult to mix with due to its lack of acidity (lemon and lime are more affective against rich ingredients like liqueurs and sweet vermouth). So today I'm addressing this by making the Blood and Sand two ways! The first is how I've made it for years - leaving in the ice chips from shaking to offer a bit more texture. For the second drink I'm testing acid adjusted orange juice to see if that better balances the flavors. I've never tried this adjustment to the Blood and Sand, so I'm excited! Will it work? Is this a mistake? Am I doomed to struggle with this drink for the rest of time? Are you still reading this? Hope so. Cheers, everyone!
Get your bottles at House of Bitter Bear 👉 houseofbitterbear.com
Video/editing/illustrations by Azusa Inaba 🎥 🎨
Patreon: patreon.com/anderserickson
TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
Bright Cellars: 1:18
The History: 2:30
The Booze: 4:23
The Original Recipe: 5:21
Acid Adjusting: 6:32
Take Two: 7:21
Sips: 8:03
THE BLOOD AND SAND RECIPE 5:21
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Cherry Heering
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) fresh orange juice OR acid adjusted orange juice*
Orange slice & cocktail cherry for garnish
*ACID ADJUSTED ORANGE JUICE (lemon adjusted) 6:57
Combine 100ml fresh squeezed orange juice with 5.2g citric acid. Stir to combine.
My source for acid adjusting 👉 Liquid Intelligence by Dave Arnold: amzn.to/3HAlNZ9
THE TOOLS
My workhorse double jigger: amzn.to/3lmmKrK
My go-to large shaking tin: amzn.to/33vnMLJ
My go-to small cheater tin: amzn.to/3qecbe5
Hawthorne strainer: gatherandset.com/collections/bar-tools/products/oxo-steel-cocktail-strainer
Digital scale: amzn.to/3xbqcy0
Glass beaker set: amzn.to/3BtpONV
Bar spoon: gatherandset.com/collections/bar-tools/products/harrison-weighted-bar-spoon
Hand juicer: amzn.to/3ioOwFe
Rubber bar mat (6"x12"): amzn.to/3h2IJER
The mini goblet: amzn.to/38juYw3
The coupe: amzn.to/378o4xk
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Special thanks to our top-tier patrons:
Adam Greetis
Jacob Swain
Follow Me:
Instagram: instagram.com/anderserickson
Twitter: twitter.com/anderserickson_
Facebook: facebook.com/andersericksoncocktails
Get 50% OFF your first 6-bottle box at Bright Cellars! 👉 brightcellars.com/anderssept
Send stuff to:
Anders Erickson
PO Box 248
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
The Blood and Sand is a scotch-based cocktail that's been around for 100 years. It's a polarizing drink that's sweet and juicy without being tart. This is because it calls for orange juice, which is difficult to mix with due to its lack of acidity (lemon and lime are more affective against rich ingredients like liqueurs and sweet vermouth). So today I'm addressing this by making the Blood and Sand two ways! The first is how I've made it for years - leaving in the ice chips from shaking to offer a bit more texture. For the second drink I'm testing acid adjusted orange juice to see if that better balances the flavors. I've never tried this adjustment to the Blood and Sand, so I'm excited! Will it work? Is this a mistake? Am I doomed to struggle with this drink for the rest of time? Are you still reading this? Hope so. Cheers, everyone!
Get your bottles at House of Bitter Bear 👉 houseofbitterbear.com
Video/editing/illustrations by Azusa Inaba 🎥 🎨
Patreon: patreon.com/anderserickson
TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
Bright Cellars: 1:18
The History: 2:30
The Booze: 4:23
The Original Recipe: 5:21
Acid Adjusting: 6:32
Take Two: 7:21
Sips: 8:03
THE BLOOD AND SAND RECIPE 5:21
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Cherry Heering
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) fresh orange juice OR acid adjusted orange juice*
Orange slice & cocktail cherry for garnish
*ACID ADJUSTED ORANGE JUICE (lemon adjusted) 6:57
Combine 100ml fresh squeezed orange juice with 5.2g citric acid. Stir to combine.
My source for acid adjusting 👉 Liquid Intelligence by Dave Arnold: amzn.to/3HAlNZ9
THE TOOLS
My workhorse double jigger: amzn.to/3lmmKrK
My go-to large shaking tin: amzn.to/33vnMLJ
My go-to small cheater tin: amzn.to/3qecbe5
Hawthorne strainer: gatherandset.com/collections/bar-tools/products/oxo-steel-cocktail-strainer
Digital scale: amzn.to/3xbqcy0
Glass beaker set: amzn.to/3BtpONV
Bar spoon: gatherandset.com/collections/bar-tools/products/harrison-weighted-bar-spoon
Hand juicer: amzn.to/3ioOwFe
Rubber bar mat (6"x12"): amzn.to/3h2IJER
The mini goblet: amzn.to/38juYw3
The coupe: amzn.to/378o4xk
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Special thanks to our top-tier patrons:
Adam Greetis
Jacob Swain
Follow Me:
Instagram: instagram.com/anderserickson
Twitter: twitter.com/anderserickson_
Facebook: facebook.com/andersericksoncocktails
Get 50% OFF your first 6-bottle box at Bright Cellars! 👉 brightcellars.com/anderssept
Send stuff to:
Anders Erickson
PO Box 248
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
