We enjoy entertaining at Halloween and I love making special cocktails. This time I thought I'd channel Frankenstein and create a new cocktail from the parts of others! What could make better parts than one cocktail that summons a corpse and another that involves blood?

The Blood and Sand, which was named after the popular 1922 movie, is made with equal parts Scotch, Cherry Heering, Sweet Vermouth and Orange Juice. The Corpse Reviver (No 2), which dates to Harry Craddock, is made with equal parts gin, maraschino liqueur, Lillet, and lemon juice with a dash or wash of Chartreuse. My initial attempt was to use the Blood and Sand recipe and substitute gin for the Scotch and lemon juice for the orange juice. So, the drink was:

• Gin
• Cherry Heering
• Sweet Vermouth
• Lemon Juice

Since this drink was good but was pretty much Cherry Heering with citrus and some other background flavors, I decided to use maraschino liqueur rather than the Cherry Heering. This works very well. The herbals of the gin and vermouth can come through, but it's really just a Corpse Reviver with sweet vermouth instead of Lillet. So, I decided to bring back the Scotch. I did this with a Scotch wash and a shot back. Now the Scotch plays along in the background bringing back the Blood and Sand like that other voice in the monster's head! Serving the Scotch along on the side re-enforces its presence as you enjoy the cocktail.

The Corpse in the Sand (No 2)

• 3/4 oz. London Dry Gin
• 3/4 oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• 3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth - I used Dolin
• 3/4 oz. Fresh lemon juice
• 1 - 1 1/2 oz. Single Malt Scotch - Use your favorite. I used Cragganmore a Speyside Scotch. I wouldn't suggest anything too peaty or smokey.
  

1. Chill a cocktail glass with ice and water
2. Pour the Scotch into a Shaker tin with enough ice to chill the whole cocktail. Stir briefly to coat the ice and slightly chill and dilute the Scotch.
3. Strain the scotch into a whiskey or shot glass and set aside
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the shaker and shake to chill.
5. Double strain into the chilled cocktail glass.
6. Serve the cocktail with the Scotch along side.

Cheers!