Mary Pickford

How to Make the
Mary Pickford dark rum cocktail

Which rum is best for a Mary Pickford?

The best dark rum for the Mary Pickford should have a drier spice finish like that of the Dos Maderas 5+3. The cocktail thrives on its fruity pineapple character and while its original rum was likely Bacardi or Havana Club, a little extra maturation complements the ingredients nicely.
dos-maderas-5-3-bottle-cocktail

About Dos Maderas 5+3 Rum

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.

dos-maderas-5-3-bottle-cocktail-mobile

About Dos Maderas 5+3 Rum

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. 

Ingredients to make a Mary Pickford cocktail

1.5 oz. Dos Maderas 5+3 Rum

1.5 oz. fresh pineapple juice

.25 oz. pomegranate based grenadine

1-2 dashes of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

Mary Pickford cocktail Recipe - Step by step how to prepare a rum cocktail

1.

Chill a Coupe

2.

Break down a ripened pineapple and juice

3.

Add all ingredients to your shaker

4.

Fill shaker with cracked ice

5.

Shake well for 10 seconds

6.

Double-strain, using a fine mesh strainer to remove excess pulp and ice shards, into your chilled glass

7.

Garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge and Luxardo preserved cherry

Origins of the Mary Pickford cocktail

Mary Pickford’s height of fame also coincided with the onset of Prohibition (1920-1933) which among other things led to a mass migration of celebrities and bartenders heading to places like Cuba where alcohol had not been banned. This new Americanization of Cuban bars became trendy and attracted all sorts of talented barmen. This included crafty mixologists of the time like New Yorker Eddie Woelke and the Englishman Fred Kaufman. So who invented the Mary Pickford cocktail? Both are considered to be the most likely candidates to have first mixed up the pineapple cocktail with rum known as the Mary Pickford in Havana, Cuba. As to when the Mary Pickford cocktail was invented, Pickford’s actual stay in Cuba wasn’t very long and in fact it is likely that the maraschino and rum drink mix known by her namesake was created in her absence sometime in the 1920’s by one of these two men. The best efforts at narrowing down the Mary Pickford cocktail origins is the written account of the recipe in “When It’s Cocktail Time in Cuba,” by Basil Woon in 1928. Following that, bars around the world including the Savoy Hotel in London began mixing up the drink. Think of the drink’s popularity like a celebrity endorsement likely without the actual endorsement. Either way, it’s quite the treat to have a drink live on long after one’s passing and make it into cocktail lore.

Mary Pickford Variations and types

As far as variations on the Mary Pickford cocktail, Trader Vic lists in his 1947 bar guide that the cocktail varies greatly on the amount of pineapple juice used ranging from as low as .75 oz. to 2 oz. Also of note, some variations include the use of maraschino cherries and juice which is not the same thing as Luxardo Maraschino or its preserved cherries.

FAQ

Hands are up on the exact inventor of the Mary Pickford cocktail but the two most likeliest of candidates who worked in Havana bars and hotels during the Prohibition years include New Yorker Eddie Woelke or the Englishman Fred Kaufman.
The Mary Pickford cocktail is so named for the woman who became America’s First Sweetheart on the silver screen and her legacy in part lives on in this pineapple forward libation.
Just as the exact creator isn’t set in stone, the year can only be narrowed down to a decade: the 1920’s. Its first mention in print comes in 1928 via Basil Woon’s “When It’s Cocktail Time in Cuba.”

Cocktails with Dos Maderas 5+3

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