Head to head

Blood and Sand vs. Satan’s Whiskers

Blood and Sand and Satan’s Whiskers side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have sweet vermouth and orange juice. Only the Blood and Sand has Blended Scotch and cherry liqueur; only the Satan’s Whiskers has dry vermouth, gin, Grand Marnier and orange bitters. In parts, a Blood and Sand is 1 Scotch, 1 cherry, 1 vermouth and 1 orange; a Satan’s Whiskers is 2 vermouth, 2 vermouth, 2 gin, 2 orange and 1 Grand Marnier. By volume, the Blood and Sand is 25% mixer and juice, 25% spirit, 25% fortified wine and bitter and 25% liqueur; the Satan’s Whiskers is 45% fortified wine and bitter, 22% mixer and juice, 22% spirit and 11% liqueur. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

They are about equally strong in the glass (13.2% and 13.3% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (1.07 and 1.08 standard drinks). The Blood and Sand has more calories (about 155 against 139) and more sugar (12.1 g against 7.9 g). Both are shaken and served in a coupe.

Blood and Sand

Fruity & Up · Scotch

Strength: 13.2%
Std. drinks: 1.07
Calories: 155
Sugar: 12.1 g

¾ ozBlended Scotch23 ml
¾ ozCherry brandy (a cherry liqueur such as Cherry Heering)23 ml
¾ ozItalian (sweet) vermouth23 ml
¾ ozOrange juice23 ml

Shaken, served in a coupe. About 5 oz (143 ml) in the glass.

The ratio · 1 : 1 : 1 : 1

ScotchCherryVermouthOrange

Full Blood and Sand recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Satan’s Whiskers.

Satan’s Whiskers

Fruity & Up · Gin

Strength: 13.3%
Std. drinks: 1.08
Calories: 139
Sugar: 7.9 g

¾ ozSweet vermouth20 ml
¾ ozDry vermouth20 ml
¾ ozGin20 ml
¾ ozOrange juice20 ml
2 tspGrand Marnier10 ml
1 dashOrange bitters

Shaken, served in a coupe. About 5 oz (144 ml) in the glass.

The ratio · 2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1

VermouthVermouthGinOrangeGrand Marnier

Full Satan’s Whiskers recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Blood and Sand.

On the ratio map

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

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