This post is sponsored by Peugeot-Saveurs. Learn more about their unique glassware and spice mills, and other great gifts at Peugeot-Saveurs.com.
The Modern Mariner is a fun twist on a tiki cocktail from the ‘90s. This refreshing cocktail replaces the original drink’s base of rums with bourbon whiskey. The vanilla, caramel, and spice notes of a quality bourbon are the perfect complement to allspice and citrus!
About the glassware
This stunning glass is the Whisky Tasting Glass from Peugeot-Saveurs. Not just for tasting spirits neat, this brilliant design features a metal base that helps to keep your drink at the perfect temperature. It also accents the beautiful tapered design of the glass!
Simply pop the heavy metal base in the freezer an hour or more before use. The metal holds the cold for a surprisingly long time, keeping spirits and other drinks perfectly chilled.
The unique shape of the Whisky Tasting Glass is ideal for tasting spirits or enjoying aromatic garnishes on craft cocktails. Here I’ve accented the flavors of citrus and spice with freshly grated nutmeg and a bouquet of mint.
Find this Whisky Tasting Set on the Peugeot Saveurs site and check them out on Instagram!
History of the Ancient Mariner cocktail
The Ancient Mariner cocktail that inspired this recipe was invented by tiki historian Jeff “Beachbum” Berry in 1994. Berry named his blend of rums, allspice liqueur, lime and grapefruit for the 1798 poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
The Ancient Mariner in the story was an old sailor who tells his tale of a long and very strange journey at sea. Fun fact: this poem is the origin of the expression “water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”
When I want to make a cocktail that uses allspice dram, the Ancient Mariner and the Lion’s Tail are two that immediately come to mind. And my recipe below is a fusion of those two drinks.
My Modern Mariner is a great option if you’re new to tiki recipes and don’t yet have a large selection of aged rums.
It’s also a great way to take the original rum-based recipe from the hot summer days to the cooler weather of fall and winter.
There’s just something about bourbon that says cozy sweaters and a crackling fire!
Modern Mariner cocktail ingredients:
- Bourbon
- Allspice dram (also called pimento dram)
- Fresh lime juice
- Fresh grapefruit juice
- Simple syrup
What is allspice dram?
Allspice dram or pimento dram is a liqueur flavored with allspice berries. These berries grow in Jamaica on pimento trees. Allspice liqueurs are typically made with Jamaican rum and additional spices like cloves for added depth of flavor.
Allspice liqueur is relatively easy to make at home, but it’s not difficult to find in major liquor stores these days either. You can also make your own allspice simple syrup, which will add a similar (although not quite the same) flavor to the drink.
How to substitute with allspice simple syrup
If you don’t have allspice dram and can’t find it in stores, you can make a quick allspice simple syrup as a substitute in this recipe. Simply combine ½ cup of sugar and a ½ cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Add 5-6 whole allspice berries and bring the liquid to a boil. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and all the mixture to cool fully before straining out the allspice. Store the simple syrup in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Tip: If making your own allspice simple syrup, you can opt to use ¾ oz of the syrup in place of both the allspice dram and the plain simple syrup that the recipe calls for.
If making plain simple syrup too, simply combine equal parts warm water and sugar and stir until all of the sugar has dissolved. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg
A sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg is the perfect aromatic finish for this spiced whiskey cocktail. I used the Peugeot-Saveurs Madras Manual Nutmeg Mill, which is so much better than using a microplane!
I often use fresh nutmeg in cocktails (think classics like the Painkiller, Brandy Alexander, or Fish House Punch) as well as cooking and baking. The Madras is a beautiful and simple to operate nutmeg mill that makes it so easy to quickly add that fragrant, spiced flavor to food or drinks.
I also really like that you can store your whole nutmeg berries in the top piece to save space. This is a tool I’ll be adding to my list of top holiday gift picks for home bartenders!
You may also enjoy these other whiskey cocktails:
Modern Mariner (Bourbon and Allspice Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¼ oz allspice dram (can substitute allspice simple syrup, see Notes)
- ¾ oz lime juice
- ½ oz grapefruit juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it 3/4 with ice.
- Shake until chilled, then strain the liquid into a glass filled with crushed ice.
- Top with more crushed ice, then garnish with freshly grated nutmeg, mint, and a lime wedge, if desired.
Notes
Allspice Simple Syrup
Ingredients:- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 5-6 whole allspice berries
- Combine ½ cup of sugar and a ½ cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add 5-6 whole allspice berries and bring the liquid to a boil. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and all the mixture to cool fully before straining out the allspice.
- Store the simple syrup in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.