23 Sep Bermuda Rum Swizzle
Which rum is best for a Bermuda Rum Swizzle drink?
The combination of two rums for the Bermuda Rum Swizzle is right on target for its mythos. Usually a light and a dark combination works well like the Dos Maderas 5+3 and the 5+5. Likely the original dark rum was Gosling’s, but one could easily sub in a dark aged rum style like Dos Maderas 5+5. You need a good amount of richer rum to stand up to the rest of the juices and modifiers.
About Dos Maderas 5+3 and 5+5
Dos Maderas 5+3 Rum blends the lighter Baja Rum with the richer Guyana style and ages for 5 years in the Caribbean followed by 3 years in Jerez, Spain in Palo Cortado casks. The smooth character of the 5+3 is awash with pleasant vanilla, hazelnut, coconut and subtle maple. The 5+5 Rum is triple aged with a finish in PX Sherry casks giving it a dried fig and chocolate edge.
About Dos Maderas 5+3 and 5+5
Dos Maderas 5+3 Rum blends the lighter Baja Rum with the richer Guyana style and ages for 5 years in the Caribbean followed by 3 years in Jerez, Spain in Palo Cortado casks. The smooth character of the 5+3 is awash with pleasant vanilla, hazelnut, coconut and subtle maple. The 5+5 Rum is triple aged with a finish in PX Sherry casks giving it a dried fig and chocolate edge.
Ingredients to make a Bermuda Rum Swizzle drink using a swizzle stick
1 oz. Dos Maderas 5+3 Rum
1 oz. Dos Maderas 5+5 Rum
1 oz. fresh orange juice
1 oz. fresh pineapple juice
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
.5 oz. pomegranate based grenadine
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
Bermuda Cocktail Recipe - Step by step how to prepare a Bermuda Swizzle using a swizzle stick
1.
Heat up an ounce of pomegranate juice and add to one ounce of honey. Stir until fully integrated and let cool.
2.
Chill a Collins glass
3.
Cut a lime in half and juice your limes.
4.
Cut an orange in half and juice your orange
5.
Break down a ripe pineapple. Keep a wedge for your garnish later and juice the rest
6.
Add to your glass all your ingredients except the bitters.
7.
Fill glass with crushed ice
8.
Mix using a long swizzle stick by rubbing the stick together almost like kindling fire
9.
Top with more crushed ice
10.
Top with several dashes of Angostura bitters
11.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a half orange slice wrapped around a brandied cherry.
12.
Serve with a reusable straw.
The story of the Rum Swizzle
In the world of Rum classics, one never knows when creativity, limited resources and magic will strike. Similar to the origin stories of such vintage gems as the Zombie and the Mai Tai, consider the lesser known and much older beginnings of the Bermuda Rum Swizzle cocktail. The Rum Swizzle drink is often referred to as Bermuda’s National Drink or the Official drink of Bermuda. With its precise origin a bit unclear, there are several resources from various islands and newspapers going as far back as 1760. Much later on in the 1930’s, the rum offerings on Bermuda consisted mostly of Gosling’s and Bajan rums. Bartenders would use what they had, add usually three types of juice, the sweetener of the moment, crushed ice and refreshment would be served. More importantly however, as our namesake reminds us, was the bark of the swizzle stick tree or Quararibea turbinata.
Locals would use the bark and carve it into a long stick with an end craftily shaped into a 3-5 pronged m.ini-manual turbine for stirring drinks with crushed ice. Think of it as kindling cocktails, where you rub your hands together, swizzle stick amidst, to mix a drink. The practice of using the tree for such designs is far older than the drink itself dating back to West Indian sugar plantations in the 1600’s. You gotta love a cocktail named after its specialty regional bar tool. The Swizzle Inn in Bermuda enjoys claiming credit for the Bermuda Rum Swizzle cocktail drink but it remains a drink casually contested in both recipe and origin. One thing is certain, the more contemporary plastic simulacra of a swizzle tool we most often associate with the name is sorely lacking in both original function, pleasant aroma and charm.
Tips on how to make a Bermuda rum Swizzle drink
Tip 1: Preparing the Rum Swizzle should be a nice and laid back process with no danger of pulling a muscle via a vigorous cocktail shake. However, should you want to recreate the recipe with a shaker instead of a swizzle, simply add all ingredients into a shaker and double-strain into a chilled glass filled with crushed ice.
Tip 2: Because hibiscus is prevalent on the island, a grenadine for the sweetener is a nice visual accent. However, arguably by some, Falernum is the better choice. One could easily co-base the sweetening agents together and come to a more gentler entendre between each camp.
Tip 3: Part of the fun of the recipe is riffing off of the original and then boasting that your version is the best version. Go ahead but you know, try to keep it close to heart and don’t be too rude.
Tip 4: The bitters float as a garnish is not compulsory like it is in its adaptation, The Queen’s Park Swizzle, and in fact, many simply add the bitters in with the rest of the ingredients instead of floating it. Up to you. This cocktail should be as lazy and inspired as your desire allows you energy to get up and walk from your spot sunning on the beach to the oceanside bar with the shaded thatch roof. Bonus points if you manage to get someone else to freshly juice for you.
Tips on how to make a Bermuda rum Swizzle drink
Tip 1: Preparing the Rum Swizzle should be a nice and laid back process with no danger of pulling a muscle via a vigorous cocktail shake. However, should you want to recreate the recipe with a shaker instead of a swizzle, simply add all ingredients into a shaker and double-strain into a chilled glass filled with crushed ice.
Tip 2: Because hibiscus is prevalent on the island, a grenadine for the sweetener is a nice visual accent. However, arguably by some, Falernum is the better choice. One could easily co-base the sweetening agents together and come to a more gentler entendre between each camp.
Tip 3: Part of the fun of the recipe is riffing off of the original and then boasting that your version is the best version. Go ahead but you know, try to keep it close to heart and don’t be too rude.
Tip 4: The bitters float as a garnish is not compulsory like it is in its adaptation, The Queen’s Park Swizzle, and in fact, many simply add the bitters in with the rest of the ingredients instead of floating it. Up to you. This cocktail should be as lazy and inspired as your desire allows you energy to get up and walk from your spot sunning on the beach to the oceanside bar with the shaded thatch roof. Bonus points if you manage to get someone else to freshly juice for you.
Bermuda Rum Swizzle Variations and types
There are oodles of variations on the Rum Swizzle drink, often regionally specific to each island, because of course, the swizzle stick tree is endemic to all of the West Indies.
Born in Trinidad, this Swizzle version is a modern bartender favorite, incorporating Demerara Rum, fresh lime, cane syrup, fresh mint and the Angostura bitters as float garnish. Also of note, the fresh squeezed half lime is usually dropped directly into the glass.
This more classic variant makes use of the island’s Agricole Rhum, which is distilled from fresh sugar cane juice, lemon or lime juice, cane syrup, Angostura bitters and Absinthe or Pastis.
Bartender Ezra Star riffs off of the more classic Martinique Swizzle adding a flaming lime shell and emphasizing grenadine over cane syrup.
Bartender Ran Duan created this inspired take by adding a few unique components including two housemade tinctures consisting of Pandan leaves and Butterfly Peaflowers.
This version is on record in 1908 as consisting of rum, lime, Falernum and some sort of wormwood bitter or possibly creme de menthe. Of literary note, comic author P.G. Wodehouse makes mention of it as being enjoyed by his beloved character Bertie Wooster in his story, “The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy.”
FAQ
Most versions of this highly varied recipe have pineapple juice in it. Typically, it’s quite common to see 2-3 different juices as part of the recipe.
The best glassware is a Collins or tall Pilsner glass.
The easiest method is to multiply each ingredient by the number of servings you want to make and add everything into a large pitcher. Depending on the side of your vessel, you might try 3-5 servings. Swizzle in the pitcher and then pour into each ice filled glass.
Yes you can. The swizzle is adaptable to both lemon and lime and you might even like a combination of the two. Also, traditionally and locally the citrus called a limón verde is best described as somewhere between a lemon and a lime. Be sure to alter your recipe according to the best balance of sweet and sour to your own palate.
We can only conjecture at best. The term Rum Swizzle has come up often in literature dating as far back as the mid-18th century. As for the more standard 7 or more ingredient version, well, each bar has its own tale.
Cocktails with Dos Maderas 5+5
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