Beachcomber
White rum, orange liqueur, lime and a dash of maraschino, shaken and served in a sugar-rimmed glass. A 1950s rum Sidecar with a tiki name and a maraschino secret.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Rim half a chilled coupe with sugar if you like.
Add the rum, orange liqueur, lime juice and maraschino to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
Double strain into the coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.
A thoughtful finish
- The maraschino is a dash — a quarter-ounce at most. It adds a floral, nutty depth under the orange and lime without being tasted on its own.
- A dry 40% orange liqueur keeps the drink from being sweet; skip the sugar rim if yours is a sweet triple sec.
- A lightly aged rum gives it more body than a neutral white.
Common mistakes
- Too much maraschino, which takes over.
- A sweet triple sec plus the sugar rim.
- Confusing it with a Mai Tai; it is a short, up drink.
A few good questions.
What does a Beachcomber taste like?
A rum Sidecar — rum, orange liqueur, lime — with a hint of maraschino's almond and flowers. Tart, clean, a little sweet.
Is it a tiki drink?
Only by name. It is a short sour served up, nothing like the long tiki drinks of Don the Beachcomber.
Can I skip the maraschino?
Then it is a rum Margarita, more or less, and a fine drink. The maraschino is what makes it a Beachcomber.
Sugar rim or not?
Optional and traditional. Half a rim lets the drinker choose.
Variations
- Daiquiri — Rum, lime and sugar.
- Sidecar — Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon.
- Margarita — Tequila, orange liqueur and lime.
- Hemingway Daiquiri — Rum, lime, grapefruit and maraschino.
Where it comes from
c. 1950s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Beachcomber turns up in mid-century bar guides as a rum version of the Sidecar — rum, Cointreau and lime — with a dash of maraschino that makes it, and a sugared rim. The name borrows from Don the Beachcomber, the founder of tiki, though there is no evidence he made it; it belongs to the general 1950s fashion for rum drinks with tropical names. Ted Haigh rescued it in Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails and it has had a quiet second life since. It is one of the best simple rum sours, and the maraschino is why.
Sources
- Ted Haigh, Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, 2009 (book)
- Jeff Berry, Beachbum Berry Remixed, 2010 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Beachcomber, 2015 (reference)
Strength. About 1.85 US standard drinks at an estimated 25.1% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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