The Jumbo Mumbo

I wrote a few days ago about Ben Simpson’s amazing Gunpowder Rum, at last, the third and final of a limited series of cocktails that feature the unique spirit.

Ben entered this as a contender in this year’s competition to find the official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail is this Tiki inspired drink.

This drink is partly based on the Zombie and the Planter’s Punch recipe given in the Mr. Boston cocktail book.

The Jumbo Mumbo

30ml Man O’War Gunpowder Rum
30ml Lustau Don Nuno, Dry Oloroso sherry
15ml hibiscus syrup
2 lime wedges
1 ruby grapefruit wedge
2 dashes green tea syrup
2 dashes Fee Brothers Bitters
Rose Wine

Muddle the fruit with the syrups then add all but the wine. Shake with demonic possession then strain into ice-filled glass of appropriate Tiki-ness. Top with the rose wine and garnish with hibiscus flower, a cherry, grapefruit wedge, a wet mint sprig rolled in caster sugar, etc.

The Pirate Jenny

I wrote a few days ago about Ben Simpson’s amazing Gunpowder Rum, now the second of a limited series of cocktails that feature the unique spirit.

This rich beverage is based on a cocktail from ‘Bartender’s Guide by Trader Vic’ (1948) called the Black Strap.

The Pirate Jenny

40ml Man O’War Gunpowder Rum
20ml Mount Gay XO Rum
15ml liquid honey
15ml boiling water
4-5 fresh cherries (destalked and pitted)

muddle the water, honey and cherries. Stir in the rums, top with ice. Enjoy.

The fire of the Gunpowder rum is brought to heal by the juice of the cherries, while the Mount Gay gives a lingering toasted vanilla and oak note. Crush in the cherry stones if you want a more nut-like flavour.

A good winter drink to sit by the fire with.

Ben re-named this version after a character from the modern(?) folk song, The Black Freighter, made (semi-) popular by the ’70s band Steeleye Span.

It tells the story of a tavern wench’s day-dreams of a pirate ship called the Black Freighter that will one day sail into town and deal to all those against which she has a grudge, if not the whole town. Afterwards they will name her ‘Pirate Jenny’ and they’ll all sail off together.

Perhaps that’s her portrait on the bottle of Man O’War?

There is a German language version called ‘Der Schiff mit acht Segeln’ sung by Lotte Lenya – a favourite of Kurt Weill, who wrote the original.

The Drake

I wrote a few days ago about Ben Simpson’s amazing Gunpowder Rum, here is the first of a limited series of cocktails that feature the unique spirit.

The Drake

30ml Man O’War Gunpowder Rum
20ml Havana Club 7yr
3 fresh hulled strawberries
20ml balsamic drizzle syrup (available from good deli’s)
2 dashes simple syrup
5 basil leaves

Muddle all except alcohol. Add the rums and shake resolutely.
Strain into chilled martini glass (either modern or antique cut crystal from a junk shop).

Garnish: sprig of basil and whole strawberry on rim of glass, finish with grind of black pepper.

Named after Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596), some time favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.
The combination of strawberries, balsamic and black pepper is from the Elizabethan age, while Drake was active in the Caribbean as a privateer. To the Spanish speaking peoples of the area he was known as ‘El Draque’ and famous for his exploits taking gold from the Spanish who were, in their turn, on their way home from plundering the Americas.

It is said that an early form of the Mojito was drunk in the Caribbean during the 16th Century and was called ‘El Draque’. Ben would be interested to see historical proof of this.