Test Pilot
Two rums, orange liqueur, falernum and lime. A 1941 Don the Beachcomber drink.
Shaken · Rocks glass · Advanced · about 3 minutes · about 24% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Dark rum
- 15 ml Gold rum
- 15 ml Triple sec / Cointreau
- 15 ml Velvet falernum
- 15 ml Fresh lime juice
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- 1 dash Absinthe
- Cocktail cherry (garnish)
Method
- Pour 45 ml dark rum into the shaker
- Pour 15 ml gold rum into the shaker
- Pour 15 ml Triple sec / Cointreau into the shaker
- Pour 15 ml velvet falernum into the shaker
- Add 15 ml fresh lime juice
- Add 1 dash of Angostura bitters
- Add 1 dash of absinthe
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Garnish
About the Test Pilot
Created by Donn Beach in the 1940s. It inspired the Jet Pilot and other "pilot" drinks.
The tiki family. Tiki began in 1933–34, when Ernest Gantt, later known as Donn Beach, opened Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood. He mixed several rums with fresh juices, syrups and spices into exotic drinks, and Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron followed in Oakland. Tiki boomed in the 1950s and 1960s, faded, and was revived by bartenders from the 2000s.
Test Pilot FAQ
What's in a Test Pilot?
45 ml dark rum, 15 ml gold rum, 15 ml triple sec / cointreau, 15 ml velvet falernum, 15 ml fresh lime juice, 1 dash angostura bitters, 1 dash absinthe, garnished with cocktail cherry.
How strong is a Test Pilot?
About 24% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.6 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir a Test Pilot?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve a Test Pilot in?
A rocks glass, about 300 ml. Serve it over ice. No rocks glass? Use any short, heavy tumbler.
