Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Rum Julep Cocktail

The Rum Julep Cocktail

This Tiki classic delivers complex, festive flavor

Need mint in your julep? We’ve got that.

But this drink offers a twist on the julep theme, using rum instead of bourbon. (Two rums, in fact.) Plus two fruit juices and other assorted ingredients.

So making this cocktail is a bit of a production. But totally worth it.

The Rum Julep Cocktail

Recipe: The Rum Julep Cocktail

You probably know the Mint Julep Cocktail.  It’s made by muddling mint with sugar (or simple syrup) in a glass, then adding crushed ice and topping up with bourbon.

Less well known is the Rum Julep, a drink devised by Tiki maestro Donn Beach (who started the whole Tiki craze with his Don the Beachcomber restaurant chain).

About the only thing the Rum Julep shares with its more famous sibling is mint (used as a garnish here). And of course the “julep” name (more about that in the Notes).

We got our recipe from Jeff Berry’s Sippin’ Safari. The recipe takes about 5 minutes to prepare and serves 1.

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces demerara rum (see Notes)
  • ½ ounce amber Jamaican rum (see Notes)
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice dram (aka pimento dram)
  • ¼ teaspoon falernum
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce orange juice (good-quality bottled is OK in this drink)
  • ½ ounce honey simple syrup (easy to make; see Notes)
  • ¼ teaspoon grenadine (preferably homemade; see Notes) 
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • mint sprig for garnish (optional)

 Procedure

  1. Place all ingredients (except garnish) in a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the contents are well chilled (at least 20 seconds).
  2. Strain into a tall (highball) glass filled with chipped or crushed ice. Add more ice to fill the glass if necessary. Add garnish, if using, and serve.

The Rum Julep Cocktail
Notes

  • Donn Beach made many of his drinks in a blender, including this one. His usual method: Add all the ingredients (except garnish) to a blender jar, along with 4 ounces of crushed ice. Blend on high speed for no more than 5 seconds, then pour the contents of the blender jar into a tall glass (or in this case, a metal swizzle cup). Add more crushed ice, if necessary, to fill the glass.
  • We prefer to shake the drink with ice – it’s just easier. We think this cocktail looks (and tastes) best when served over crushed or chipped ice, but you can use standard ice cubes if you prefer.
  • Beach originally served this cocktail in a metal swizzle cup. You can purchase a replica cup at the Cocktail Kingdom website. We skip that, though, and just use a glass (we have way too much barware as it is).
  • Many of Beach’s Tiki drinks were made with rum, often more than one variety (as is the case with this one). 
  • This drink requires demerara rum, which comes from Guyana. El Dorado is the brand you’re most likely to see in liquor stores. We suggest their 8-year-old version for cocktail making. You can buy older (more expensive) bottlings, but that’s overkill for cocktails.
  • As for the amber Jamaican rum: We like Appleton Estate Signature Blend or their 8-year-old reserve.
  • We’ve used allspice dram (aka pimento dram) in several drinks recently – and we’ll be using it in more! You can make your own allspice dram (instructions are on the interwebs), but we just buy it. St. Elizabeth is the brand you’ll find most often.
  • Falernum is a ginger- and lime-flavored syrup. Again, you can make your own, but we just buy whatever our liquor store has in stock. 
  • To make honey simple syrup: Add very hot water to an equal amount of honey (we typically use ½ cup of each). Stir until the honey is completely dissolved. Cool the mixture, then bottle and refrigerate it. The syrup will keep for a couple of weeks.
  • Grenadine is easy to make at home. See our recipe.
  • Our usual disclaimer: We’re noncommercial and are not compensated for mentioning brands. We suggest only what we like and buy with our own money.
  • Donn Beach probably invented the Rum Julep around 1940. Beach was secretive about his recipes and changed them over time. So it’s difficult to say which of his Rum Julep recipes is the “authentic” one.
  • Fortunately, Jeff (Beachbum) Berry has done extraordinary research into Tiki drinks. His books are well worth reading (he has a website too – look him up). The Rum Julep recipe that he includes in Sippin’ Safari was the version served in 1958 at Don the Beachcomber’s Cabaret Restaurant (then part of the International Market Place in Honolulu). Berry obtained the recipe from the unpublished notes of Hank Riddle, a bartender there.
  • So about the term “julep”: It probably derives from the ancient Persian gulab, which meant rosewater. Gulab has long been used as a base for traditional medicines. So basically a julep is good medicine. Kinda.
  • Today, we use the term “julep” to denote a particular kind of cocktail. And “cocktail” can refer to almost any alcoholic mixed drink. Originally, though, a cocktail was a specific type of drink (a small one made with booze and bitters, usually served in the morning). But there were also slings, flips, swizzles – and juleps. Plus many more. Which just reflects how language evolves and changes over time.
  • BTW, the julep was a popular drink in early 19th century America (and probably long before that). Early versions used gin, cognac, and rum. But over time, whiskey became the most common base ingredient. The earliest rum julep probably was similar to the bourbon mint julep we know today. Donn Beach just borrowed the term “julep” for his own concoction.

The Rum Julep Cocktail

Take a Shot of This

“Great drink,” said Mrs Kitchen Riffs. “This medicine will cure what ails you.”

“Just what the doctor ordered,” I said.

“The honey simple syrup is health food,” said Mrs K R. “I’m sure of it.”

“Better than a spoonful of sugar to help this go down,” I said. “Heh, heh!”

“I’ve heard laughter is the best medicine,” said Mrs K R. “Not that I’d know about that from your ‘jokes’.”

Oops. Think Mrs K R just delivered a dose of my own medicine.

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48 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

What a beautiful and tasty cocktail! I love the 2nd shot the most, but the one with Hawaiian shirt and hat looks fun, John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, some good friend let us borrow that shirt and hat for a prop. :-) Thanks for the comment.

savorthebest said...

I have had mint julep but never a rum julep. Time for something new ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pat and Dahn, this is really good -- loads of flavor. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Anne in the kitchen said...

My son and dil are flying in tonight. We were supposed to go to the beach but Covid had other plans for us. Instead we are hanging out by the pool here. I think this might be a perfect "pretend we are in Florida instead of Alabama" drink!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anne, this is an excellent beverage for poolside drinking. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

I've never had a rum julep but I have a feeling I would love them!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, we hadn't had one until this summer, either. And we DO love 'em! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Fran @ G'day Souffle said...

Love the mini 'beachcomber' shirt prop in the background! And the cocktail looks spectacular. Gotta be careful though- this drink looks like it could go down real easy, in fact, maybe a little TOO EASY!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, the going down too easy part is a real danger with a lot of Tiki cocktails. They have a smooth taste that hides the amount of booze in them. So yeah, two of these are the limit. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Mae Travels said...

New to me: falernum -- not familiar at all. Sounds like a good mixer.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, falernum is a great mixer -- very nice flavor. A frequent ingredient in Tiki drinks. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Shashi said...

Oh my goodness! Mrs. KR is killing me! Im https://savoryspin.com/spicy-baked-smores/ getting a good chuckle over this helping with all my ails and the healthy honey simple syrup! Gorgeous drink BTW- makes me wanna go looking for Demerara rum!

Family Spice said...

You had me at rum - looks delicious! And love that cute Hawaiian shirt, too!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Shashi, demerara rum has a really nice, smoky flavor -- very enticing stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, we've really grown to love rum! So many varieties, so many flavors. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ben | Havocinthekitchen said...

When notes WAY longer than the recipe itself lol. Terrific cocktail - delicious and elegant!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ben, yup, and we have a recipe in the Notes (honey syrup), plus a link to another recipe. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

Its so fun heading to the tropics, even if it is in your own kitchen. Love this fun one with all the rum. Just checked out your recipe for grenadine, need to make a batch of this as soon as pomegranates are in season which will be right around the corner.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, it's fun to "travel" through food and drink, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sherry's Pickings said...

wow fabulous photos as ever! that ginger and lime syrup sounds the bomb. Yum. what a drink this is!

Cocoa and Lavender said...

You know, sometimes you just need an umbrella drink (what you call a Tiki drink). While this one seems complicated, it sounds like it’s worth every grueling minute! ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Sherry, it's good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi David, thought about adding an umbrella to this one for garnish, but decided against it. :-) One of the things about Tiki drinks is they DO tend to be complicated. And often call for ingredients that most people don't typically have on hand. Which can make them a pain to make, alas. Good, though. Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

I love mint julep, but this looks SO much better.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, lotta flavor in this drink. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Valentina said...

Beautiful! I find that recipes that are "a bit of a production" are usually well worth it. :-) ~Valentina

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Valentina, definitely worth it! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Gorgeous! And I bet it's perfect for sipping around the pool!!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, definitely nice to enjoy this poolside. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Let's Curry said...

John,
I'm smitten by your photography sense, such fabulous capture. Yes, the beverage looks and sounds great, but your pictures are speaking a thousand volumes. Awesome

Happy Retiree's Kitchen said...

I'm all for the rum julep because we are in Rum country here, and it's delicious. Of course this is a good medicine, how could it not be. Your photos are beautiful, you have a the knack.You know how to enjoy Summer. Thanks for an enjoyable post.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Hasan, aw, thanks so much for that kind comment. :-)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pauline, you're SO lucky being in rum country! We love the stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

That's fascinating about the origins of the term "Julep.'' That's fun info I'll definitely drink to learning more about. ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, research is so rewarding, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

Another beautiful cocktail John!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Inger, a really good one, too! Thanks for the comment.

Balvinder said...

Wow, another Tiki Drink. Looks so good!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Balvinder, we went kinda Tiki mad this summer. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Eva Taylor said...

I was certain I’d left a comment here already, good thing I checked! This is such a pretty drink, love the colour and the sparkle of the ice! Will need to check the LCBO if they have that specialized rum.
Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eva, glad you checked! Alas, the Blogger software sometimes has problems with comments (seems to be most troublesome with people using Apple phones and tablets, although not Apple computers. So weird.). Anyway, isn't this nice? SO good! Thanks for the comment.

Laura Dembowski said...

This drink sounds like it packs a flavorful punch. Sounds perfect for a Monday if you ask me ;)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, we all need a flavorful punch every Monday. :-) Thanks for the comment.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

This drink looks amazing - I'm a real fun fan... thanks

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judee, it's really, really good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

That cocktail bring vibrance to me! reminds me of summer, travel and happy times. With this pandemic we have now all we can do is enjoy cocktails like that.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, something we can all drink to, I think. :-) Thanks for the comment.