Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide

The Blood and Sand is one of only a few classic concoctions that use Scotch as a base. When made with a softer blend or single-malt, it's a great first step for Scotch skeptics. This cocktail takes its name from the 1922 Rudolph Valentino film by the same name; though some people also attribute the name to the colors of the ingredients. The Blood and Sand first appeared in print in 1930 in Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book. The complex balance of smoky and fruity flavors at play in this drink is actually relatively flexible and can be adapted to the taste of the drinker by varying ingredients. For something a little bolder, try a smoky Islay Scotch instead. The flavors pair surprisingly well.

At one time, there were a great many Collins drinks out there, and many of them are still floating around today. You may have heard of a John Collins, a Charlie Collins, or others, but the Tom Collins is arguably the most famous. Perhaps this is due to America's past penchant for gin. Whatever the cause, the Tom Collins is one of those timeless mixtures of simple, pure ingredients, coming together to yield a delicious cocktail. According to legend, a waiter named John Collins at Limmer's Old House in London unwittingly lent his name to a popular drink made with Holland gin. From there, someone decided to experiment a little and switched the Holland gin out for Old Tom Gin. The name got changed accordingly, and several others followed suit with their own variations. Whatever the real story is, this is a summer drink that deserves a revival.