The evocatively named Three Dots and a Dash is a classic Caribbean-inspired cocktail that combines two types of rum, falernum, allspice dram, honey syrup, lime juice, orange juice, and bitters to create a bold and refreshing tropical escape.
The Three Dots and a Dash was created by the legendary Donn Beach at his famous Hollywood bar, Don the Beachcomber, during World War II. The name is a reference to the way the letter “V” is conveyed in Morse code, with three dots and a dash. The “V” stood for the victory of the Allies against the Axis powers. In keeping with this theme, the garnish is meant to look like Morse code as well, with three cherries and a rectangular chunk of pineapple, or pineapple frond, on a cocktail pick.
The Three Dots and a Dash is an enduring favorite of that era and beloved at tropical bars like Smugglers Cove (this recipe is adapted from their updated version of the drink), and at the cocktail’s namesake bar, Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago.
Why the Three Dots and a Dash works
Beach’s recipes were notorious for having a long list of ingredients. While cocktails are usually easier to balance with fewer components, Beach’s combination of rums, fruit juices, syrups and spice elements almost always ends up balanced, complex, and satisfying. This is in part because they’re based on the classic sour template that balances spirits, the acidity of fresh citrus juice, and simple syrup.
Two different types of rum are used to make the Three Dots and a Dash. The first is an aged rhum agricole, which is a style of sugarcane-based rum from the Caribbean island of Martinique. This style of rum tends to have a grassier, fresher profile than molasses-based rums. The grassy freshness is balanced by a half ounce of aged rum, which was traditionally a demerara style rum from Guyana, like El Dorado.
The drink’s sweetness comes from a trio of velvet falernum, allspice dram, and honey syrup. The honey syrup is a simple mixture of two parts honey to one part water, heated until fully incorporated. Falernum and allspice dram are two distinct Caribbean spiced liqueurs. Allspice dram brings deep baking spice notes — particularly nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice — while falernum offers a nuttier profile with hints of spice and lime zest.
With a dash of Angostura bitters, all of these ingredients are mixed into a heady brew of tropical fruit and spice that is guaranteed to be a victory with drinkers.
Dining and Cooking