Mary Pickford Cocktail Recipe

Before you start

The Mary Pickford is a Prohibition-era rum cocktail named after the silent-film star. It is a simple shaken drink of white rum, pineapple juice, a little maraschino liqueur and a touch of grenadine. Pineapple juice foams beautifully when shaken, giving the drink a soft, pink, frothy head without any egg white.

The balance hinges on the maraschino and grenadine. Maraschino liqueur is clear, dry and nutty, with a funky cherry-pit flavor, and a small amount goes a long way. Use real pomegranate grenadine for color and fruit. Fresh pineapple juice makes the brightest version, but good unsweetened bottled juice works too.

Ingredients

• 45 ml (1½ oz) white rum
• 45 ml (1½ oz) pineapple juice — fresh or unsweetened
• 7 ml (¼ oz) maraschino liqueur
• 5 ml (1 tsp) grenadine
• 1 cup (about 150 g) ice cubes — for shaking
• 1 cocktail cherry — optional garnish

Method

1. Chill a coupe in the freezer or with ice water.
2. Add the rum, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur and grenadine to the shaker.
3. Fill two-thirds with ice and shake very hard for 12 to 15 seconds to build a good foam from the pineapple.
4. Double-strain into the chilled coupe.
5. Drop in a cherry if you like, and serve while the foam is still thick.

Tips for success

• Fresh pineapple juice, blended and strained, makes a thicker foam than bottled juice.
• Maraschino liqueur is potent in flavor. Measure it carefully rather than pouring by eye.
• If your pineapple juice is very sweet, add 5 ml fresh lime juice to sharpen the drink.

Substitutions

Maraschino liqueur

Cherry brandy (kirsch) gives a drier cherry note; a dash of almond extract with simple syrup is a rough backup.

White rum

A lightly aged gold rum makes a rounder, vanilla-tinged drink.

Grenadine

Raspberry syrup gives a similar color with a brighter berry flavor.

Variations

Mary Pickford with lime

Add 10 ml fresh lime juice for a sharper, more daiquiri-like drink.

Troubleshooting

It is too sweet

Add 5 ml lime juice, or use unsweetened pineapple juice.

There is no foam

Shake harder and longer. Fresh juice foams best.

It tastes medicinal

Too much maraschino. Keep it to 7 ml.

Storage

Serve immediately after shaking; the foam collapses within minutes. Refrigerate opened pineapple juice and use within a few days.

Safety notes

The rum and maraschino together equal about 1.2 U.S. standard drinks (a standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol). For adults of legal drinking age only. Never drink and drive.