It’s mysterious, bold, spicy sweet, and transforms cocktails in an instant: it’s Allspice Dram! This dark brown liqueur is a historic cocktail bar ingredient, and brings an intense allspice and clove finish to any drink. Used in cocktails of the 1930’s, it had all but vanished by the 1980’s. Today it’s enjoying a new renaissance in the cocktail revival, and it’s an ingredient in many modern bars. Here’s more about allspice dram and how to get your hands on this magic elixir.
What is allspice dram?
Allspice dram is a liqueur made with rum and allspice berries that originated in Jamaica. Allspice berries are the berries of the pimento tree, so it’s also called “pimento dram.” Its flavor is bold and spicy, with an intense spiced clove finish. Allspice dram was first bottled by the Jamaican rum company Wray & Nephew. It started to be used in 1930’s cocktails, like the popular Lion’s Tail and a few other drinks in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail book. In the 1950’s, it became popular in the Tiki drink scene as an addition to Rum Punch and other drinks.
How to find allspice dram: purchased or DIY
In the 1980s, importation of allspice dram to the US stopped and it was almost impossible to find. Bartenders started to make their own DIY versions of the liqueur. Today with the revived interest in classic cocktails, several manufacturers produce the dram, though it still can be hard to find. We were able to find a bottle of St Elizabeth Allspice Dram at our local liquor store. It can be tough to find, so you can also make it at home! Scroll down to our DIY dram recipe. You’ll need 10 days to marinate the flavors, so plan accordingly!
Allspice dram cocktails
Here’s the fun part: how to make allspice dram cocktails! There are lots of ideas for ways to use a bit of this powerful liqueur, whether it’s wintery drinks like a hot toddy or classic drinks like a Martini (we took inspiration from some of these classic cocktail ideas). Keep in mind: A little bit goes a long way! In each of the cocktails below, start with about ½ ounce dram per serving to add a spicy kick (taste and adjust as necessary). It’s powerful stuff! Here are some cocktail ideas:
More DIY cocktail essentials
Want to build up a DIY library of cocktail ingredients? Here are some of our favorite elements that just taste better homemade:
Make your own Simple Syrup: it takes just 5 minutes!This DIY Grenadine Syrup is the best tasting pomegranate-flavored cocktail syrup aroundTry Raspberry Syrup for a Raspberry Martini or Clover ClubMaking your own Clear Ice is a home bartender essential
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