This week in 1671, Colonel Thomas Blood attempted to steal the Crown Jewels – armed with little more than his charm. He failed miserably. Learn about why King Charles rewarded the red-handed bandit, and then quaff this gilt-y pleasure of a cocktail:
The Booze
The Bloody Cheek
“Bloody Cheek,” royally stirred up by Andy Westlake, bar manager of The Living Room at Tower Bridge in London, England.
- 1.5oz Bombay Sapphire London Gin
- 1oz Dubonnet (The current Queen’s favorite – but Aperol will work as a commoner’s substitution)
- 0.5oz of fresh lemon juice
- 0.5oz of Simple syrup
- 1.5oz of Blood orange juice
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Strain the Blood-red drink into a Collins glass over crushed ice. “Crown” with a mound of more crushed ice. Garnish with a gold-leaf-encrusted blood orange, sliced and stuck over the edge of the glass. Do not attempt to smuggle it out of the bar in your pants.
