Allspice dram is a simple liqueur flavored with allspice berries. It's
also known as pimento dram, because allspice is a berry from the pimento
tree. Allspice dram adds a dark, strong, and spicy counterpoint to rum
and sweet ingredients in tiki drinks. For years, allspice dram was
damn-near impossible to find in the states. Even though you can find it
on store shelves now, it's still much more fun (and affordable!) to make
it at home.
Recipe Makes about 3 cups
Ingredients
1 cup light rum (Bacardi Gold)
1/4 cup whole allspice berries (Bulkbarn)
1 cinnamon stick (Bulkbarn)
1 1/2 cup water
2/3 cup brown sugar
Directions
Crush the allspice berries in a mortar and
pestle or grind them in a spice grinder. You want coarse, large pieces
and not a fine grind.
Place the crushed allspice in a sealable
glass jar and pour the rum on top. Seal the jar and shake well. Let this
mixture steep for 4 days, shaking daily. On day 5, break up the
cinnamon stick and add it to the mixture.
After 12 days total steeping, strain out the
solids through a fine-mesh strainer. Then strain again through a coffee
filter into your final bottle or jar.
Heat water and sugar on medium until boiling,
stirring to dissolve, about 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool, then add it
to the strained allspice infusion. Shake and then let rest for a minimum
of two days before using.
A tropical cocktail invented at Don the Beachcomber.
Beachcomber Rum BarrelFrom Don the Beachcomber, Hollywood, Calif.
Ingredients
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Honey Mix (*)
1 oz Light Rum
1 oz Gold Rum
2 oz Demerara Rum
1 tsp Falernum
1 tsp Pimento Dram
6 drops Pernod
6 drops Grenadine
Dash Angostura Bitters
8 oz Crushed Ice
Combine all ingredients, blend for 5 seconds and serve in a highball glass.
(*) Honey Mix: 2 parts honey, 1 part water. Mix, heat (but don't boil) and then let cool before using.