Test Pilot
- 1½ fluid ounces of a dark Jamaican rum or a blend of dark Jamaican rums
- ¾ fluid ounce of a Spanish-style light rum
- ½ fluid ounce of Cointreau
- ½ fluid ounce of falernum
- ½ fluid ounce of fresh lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon (1 dash) of pastis, Herbsaint, or French absinthe¹
- 1 dash of Angostura bitters
Shake all of the ingredients with ice and pour (without straining) into a larger-sized lowball glass or double old fashioned glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
This drink would have originally been blended, however I shake blended tiki drinks instead.
This version of the Test Pilot is by Donn Beach, circa 1941, and documented by Beachbum Berry. It is one of many variations.
Use a blend of dark Jamaican rums to make this drink as funky as desired.
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Donn Beach would have legally only had access to anise-flavored absinthe alternatives, but in recipes calling only for small amounts of such ingredients, quality absinthe is an acceptable replacement.