A stream of blue fire running from one silver mug to another is one of the oldest tricks in the bar. Under the show sits a simple hot toddy: strong Scotch, hot water, a little sugar and lemon peel. It must be practised with water first, and it is honestly best left to trained bartenders.
3.8Editors’ rating
Taste3.9
Balance3.7
Easy to make1.5
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Warm two metal mugs with handles and a heatproof serving glass with boiling water, then discard the water.
Pour the whisky and the boiling water into one mug and add the sugar.
Working over a fireproof surface, carefully ignite the liquid with a long match or lighter.
Pour the flaming liquid from one mug into the other three or four times, keeping the stream short at first.
Cover the mug with the base of the other to extinguish the flame, pour into the warmed glass and add a lemon twist.
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Watch it made
Blue Blazer
Taste
Warm and softly sweet, with the whisky's malt and smoke rounded by caramelised sugar and lemon oil. Fairly strong, served hot.
History and origin
The Blue Blazer is linked to Jerry Thomas, the most famous American bartender of the nineteenth century, who printed the recipe in his 1862 guide How to Mix Drinks. He is said to have made it his signature during his years in San Francisco in the 1850s, pouring the flaming whisky back and forth between two silver-plated mugs.
The drink itself is little more than a sweetened whisky and hot water, a toddy. Its fame comes entirely from the technique, which became a symbol of the showman bartender. Thomas's original called for Scotch, boiling water, sugar and lemon peel, and that remains the template.
Bartender tips
Safety first: tie back hair, roll up sleeves, clear away anything flammable, keep a damp towel and a fire blanket or extinguisher at hand, and never try this after drinking.
Practise the pour with plain water until you can do it without spilling.
Dim the lights before you light it: an alcohol flame is almost invisible in daylight, which is exactly what makes it dangerous.
Variations
Flame-free Blue Blazer
Stir Scotch, hot water and sugar in a warmed glass and finish with lemon peel, a classic hot toddy.
Blue Blazer with bourbon
Cask-strength bourbon gives a sweeter, vanilla-driven version.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the whisky need to be cask strength?
Standard 40 % whisky diluted with hot water will not stay lit. A spirit of about 50 % ABV or more is needed.
Is the Blue Blazer safe to make at home?
It carries a real risk of burns and fire. Only attempt it after practice with water, on a fireproof surface and with safety equipment ready, or make the flame-free version.
Does the flame change the taste?
Slightly: it warms the drink and caramelises some sugar, but it also burns off some alcohol.
