Blood and Sand

A proper Blood and Sand is the mark of a truly great bartender. The only problem is that if you misidentify said bartender, you will be left with a disappointing drink indeed. Certainly the combination here is very strange, but somehow it all comes together. Even if it looks too strange to try, this is arguably the definitive scotch cocktail, and every fan of the stick should try it at least once.

Only fresh-squeezed orange juice, please.

1 oz Blended Scotch
1 oz Orange Juice
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
3/4 oz Cherry Heering

Combine in an ice-filled glass and shake for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel, preferably flamed.

Enjoy.

Bobby Burns

Another slight Manhattan variation made with scotch, this drink adds some Bénédictine to make it all go down smoother. DeGroff suggests garnishing with a shortbread cookie, which is cute, but I much prefer the traditional lemon twist.

2 oz Blended Scotch
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
>1/4 Bénédictine

Combine in an ice-filled glass and stir for 15-20 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Note: Apparently, David Embury prefers Drambuie in place of the Bénédictine, arguing that the traditional scotch liqueur goes better than the monks' work. I rarely have the stuff around, but if I did and I was so inclined, a side by side comparison would be in order.

Enjoy.

Rob Roy

The scotch Manhattan, this drink is one where the ratios vary a lot from taste bud to taste bud (and from scotch to scotch). I like scotch a fair amount, so I'm comfortable with the ratio Dale DeGroff gave in his essential Craft of the Cocktail. Others might want to go down to a 2:1.

2 1/2 oz Blended Scotch
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 dash Angostura

Combine in an ice-filled glass and stir for 15-20 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

Enjoy.