Blood and Sand Cocktails

I haven't blogged any cocktails for a while - this isn't because we haven't had any (far from it), but because our recent ones have been classics.  This drink is certainly venerable - it is named after a 1922 Rudolph Valentino movie - but it isn't as well known as others from that era.  As the great Dale de Groff says in his book "The Craft of the Cocktail", the ingredients sound unappealing - Scotch whisky, sweet Vermouth, cherry brandy, blood orange juice and orange bitters.  But, BUT, believe me, they blended into a most sublime drink.  Mind you, I have yet to find a drink based on Scotch and Vermouth that I don't like - a Perfect Manhattan is probably my favourite drink ever.  So, this consists of 2 parts each of Scotch and Vermouth (we use Grant's and Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth), 1 part of cherry brandy and 1.5 parts of freshly squeezed blood orange juice.  Put into a cocktail shaker with a couple of dashes of orange (or Angostura) bitters, add lots of ice, shake well and strain into a Martini glass.  Add a twist of orange peel, flamed if you are brave (we aren't) and ...... relax!