Cocktail & Other Recipes By Spirit Scotch Cocktails

Blue Blazer

Written by
Liquor.com
Updated 11/16/20
blue blazer cocktail
Image:

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

The only drink we know of that requires keeping a fire extinguisher close by, the Blue Blazer was cooked up by cocktail pioneer Jerry Thomas in a gambling saloon in Gold Rush–era San Francisco. In his 1862 “Bar-tenders Guide,” he describes it as a “blazing stream of liquid fire,” but it’s basically a Hot Toddy made with high-proof scotch and a whole lot of flair.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces cask-strength Scotch whisky
  • 2 tsp demerara or raw sugar
  • 3 ounces boiling water (plus more boiling water to heat mugs)
  • Garnish: 2 lemon twists

Steps

Serves 2.

  1. Preheat 2 glass mugs with boiling water, discarding water before adding the cocktail.

  2. Clear all flammable materials from mixing area. Lay down a damp towel or two to soak up potential spills. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

  3. Add the sugar, scotch and boiling water into one of the mugs, and carefully ignite with a match.

  4. Very carefully, pour the flaming liquid back and forth from mug to mug, about 5 times.

  5. Divide the drink evenly between the two mugs and extinguish the flames.

  6. Garnish each mug with a lemon twist.