The Blue Blazer is a Scotch-based cocktail that’s a hot, smooth and robust sipper.
When I saw the name of this cocktail, I got very excited. Automatically, images of supersonic cars that travel across the eighth dimension and a gang of heroes/musicians led by the scientist/rock star/samurai Buckaroo Banzai all danced through my mind. Bizarre aliens named John battling for supremacy over the skies of New Jersey, with odd surnames like Ya-Ya and Bigbooty, got my nerd-brain understandably worked up.
So, as I started to research the cocktail, which I thought was named after Banzai’s loyal and ever-ready fanbase, the Blue Blazer Irregulars, I soon discovered this hot and strong Scotch-based concoction has absolutely nothing to do with the 1980s cult sci-fi film. As the facts present themselves, I can hear John Lithgow yelling “laugh while you can, a-monkey boy” in his character’s thick and overwrought Italian accent.
The Blue Blazer cocktail is an old-school creation attributed to Jerry Thomas, who is often referred to as the “Father of American Mixology” in some circles. Legend says that while working at the El Dorado saloon in San Francisco during the height of the Gold Rush era in the 1850s, a patron requested a drink that would taste like “hellfire that’ll shake me right down to my gizzard”, so the legendary bartender came up with tonight’s recipe.
Appearing in Thomas’ book The Bar-Tender’s Guide in 1862, the flaming Blue Blazer might not have anything to do with the film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, but if you need something to watch while sipping on this rich concoction, you’ll definitely have a memorable evening.
What is the best whisky to use in a Blue Blazer cocktail?
This warming and steamy sipper is made with Scotch whisky. Cask-strength, single malt and high proof spirits are often recommended when crafting a Blue Blazer tipple. Depending on which brand and age of Scotch you ultimately choose, your drink can be smoky and complex, or fruity, spiced and full-bodied.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Scotch whisky
- 1 1/2 ounces boiling water plus extra boiling water for preheating
- 1/4 ounce demerara syrup
- 1 lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
- Pre-warm two small mugs with hot water; discard.
- Add the whisky to one mug and carefully ignite. Slowly “throw” a thin stream of the flaming whisky into the second mug and back again, around 4 passes in total.
- Add the hot water and the demerara syrup to extinguish and mix. Express lemon peel over the drink and then drop it in as garnish.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
You can enjoy this steamy sipper out of a tea or glass mug, whichever can handle a hot beverage comfortably. Garnish with a lemon twist after expressing its oils over your cocktail.
Can this drink be served chilled?
A large part of what makes this recipe different from other libations is the preparation and temperature that it is traditionally enjoyed at. By all means experiment, but what you end up with might not remain a Blue Blazer.
Similar cocktails to the Blue Blazer
If tonight’s mixture has fed your curiosity around the spirit that was used to craft it, you’ll be chuffed to discover that Twist & Toast has a delicious variety of recipes you can try out that tastefully utilize the smoky and robust liquor. Give these a gander, then explore the site for even more ideas.
- Rob Roy – Feed your adventurous side with this swashbuckling dram.
- Bobby Burns – Bring out your inner poet by sipping on this inspiring tipple.
- Scotch Sour – A classic that’s both smooth and strong.
- Scotch & Soda – A simple and perfect pairing.
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