Vintage Cocktail Project: Doctor Cocktail

Today’s adventure in vintageland (yes, I know it’s not a word) is courtesy of the Doctor Cocktail.  It’s a cocktail born of the Trader Vic tradition, but heavily influenced by similar drinks created in 1936 at the Ritz Bar in Paris.  It is a very simple drink with only three ingredients: rum, Swedish Punsch, and lime juice.  With such a combination, you would expect the flavor to be very sweet with a hit of citrus.  However, our initial impressions were completely different.  It was light and a bit on the bland side with the lime juice being the strongest flavor and very little contribution from the other two ingredients.

While disappointed, we did what we always do.  Let the drink sit for a while and try again.  As it warmed a bit, the flavors of the Swedish Punsch and rum came forward and made the drink much more balanced.  This a drink much like the Corpse Reviver #2 that begs for a deck or porch and a warm evening with friends.  Make yourself one, let it sit a bit, and let the Doctor do its work.

Doctor Cocktail
2 oz – Jamaica rum (we used Appleton Estates)
1 oz – Swedish Punsch (we used Aalborg Akvavit)
1 oz – fresh lime juice (we used, guess what, fresh limes)

Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake until well chilled.  Pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime slice or twist.