Mary Pickford

rum

Mary Pickford: The Classic Cuban Pineapple Rum Cocktail

Named for Canadian-American film actress Mary Pickford (1892–1979), it is said to have been created for her in the 1920s by either Eddie Woelke or Fred Kaufmann at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba Wikipedia. However, investigation shows this tale to be full of holes. Pickford and Fairbanks never made a film in Cuba together during their marriage. Chaplin also wasn't known to ever have traveled with the couple Americanprohibitionmuseum.

The first printed recipe appeared in Basil Woon's 1928 book When It's Cocktail Time in Cuba: "The Mary Pickford, invented during a visit to Havana of the screen favourite by Fred Kaufman, is two-thirds pineapple-juice and one-third Bacardi, with a dash of grenadine. Both cocktails are sweetish and should be well shaken. The pineapple juice must be fresh-squeezed" Difford's Guide.

The dash of maraschino liqueur, now viewed as an essential ingredient, is a later addition to the Mary Pickford Difford's Guide. The cocktail appeared in Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), which helped solidify its status among bartenders in Europe and America. It was also featured in Gourmet magazine in 1943 Grokipedia.


RECIPE:

1½ oz white rum

1½ oz fresh pineapple juice

½ oz maraschino liqueur

1 tsp grenadine

Maraschino cherry for garnish

Method:

  1. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice

  2. Shake vigorously until well-chilled

  3. Double strain into chilled coupe glass

  4. Garnish with maraschino cherry

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