
Classic cocktails seem to go in and out of favor all the time. In fact, I would harbor a guess that the majority of classic cocktails are only offered at select bars that specialize in them. Take for example the blood and sand cocktail. I had never even heard of it until I went with Alona hopping around the best cocktail bars in Lviv. I decided, since I have some blood oranges left from my blood orange cointreau souffle to make a variation of the blood and sand…the blood and snow cocktail.
The original blood and sand cocktail first appeared in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. It was named after the 1922 Rudy Valentino film Blood and Sand.
Originally I was going to just call this cocktail my blood and sand variation, but then I realized I changed quite a bit. Instead of Scotch I used Bourbon, instead of cherry heering I used kumquat liquor, and then I added an egg white. So I’ve chosen to call it the Blood and Snow cocktail, in homage to the original. Plus the red of the blood orange and the white of the egg white foam really look like blood and snow.

The original cocktail was in equal parts, so I did the same thing with this one. It’s equal parts bourbon, blood orange juice, sweet vermouth, and kumquat liquor. Then into a shaker with an egg white and ice cubes and shook until the whites are foamy. The original drink should be double strained into a cocktail glass. I, of course, don’t do that because of the egg white.
As far as garnishes, I thought a blood orange slice and a sprig of rosemary would be nice. In fact, that kind of makes this look like a holiday cocktail. Maybe I’ll re-post this blood and snow cocktail around Christmas as a festive drink.

Blood And Snow Cocktail (A Blood And Sand Variation)
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 25 ml Bourbon
- 25 ml Sweet Vermouth
- 25 ml Kumquat Liquor
- 25 ml Blood Orange Juice
- 1 Egg White use a small egg, if you only have big eggs then use half the white
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with 2-3 ice cubes and shake hard until the egg white foams up, or the ice cubes have melted. You don't have to add ice if you don't want to dilute it, but I did.
- Pour into a cocktail or coupe glass. Garnish with a blood orange slice and rosemary sprig.