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Bloodied Belgian

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Photo by Jerry Errico

Here's a take on the classic Blood and Sand cocktail, using Flemish-style sour ale or kriek (which means "cherry") lambic instead of cherry liqueur. Lambic is a distinctively Belgian style of beer, made with wild yeast as opposed to the carefully controlled fermentation of conventional ales. It is often flavored with fruit, such as cherries or raspberries. Thanks to Eben Freeman, who serves a version of this drink at Ai Fiori in New York City.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 1

Ingredients

Ice cubes
3/4 ounce Scotch whisky
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
2 ounces freshly squeezed blood orange juice
4 ounces Flemish sour ale or kriek lambic
2 fresh cherries, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the Scotch, vermouth, and blood orange juice and shake until blended.

    Step 2

    2. Strain into a cocktail glass. Top with the ale, drop in the cherries for garnish, and serve.

From Beer Cocktails: 50 Superbly Crafted Cocktails that Liven Up Your Lagers and Ales by Howard & Ashley Stelzer. Copyright © 2012 by Howard Stelzer and Ashley Stelzer; photographs © 2012 by Jerry Errico. Published by Harvard Common Press.
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