Post #756185 by Hurricane Hayward on Thu, Dec 17, 2015 9:18 PM

AceExplorer & mikehooker:

DeGroff's Pilgrim Cocktail indeed makes a fine holiday cocktail. It's a bit heavy on the orange and light on the rum, but in a party situation that probably works fine. I made it with Coruba, which blended nicely, but you might want to try a more aggressive rum like Smith & Cross or an aged Demerara. Or maybe just have those rums on hand to add a splash for folks who might want a more rummy cocktail.

Note that the original recipe in The Craft of the Cocktail calls for Angostura bitters. DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters didn't hit the market until around 2012. I might actually prefer Angostura since the allspice dram already brings enough pimento flavor.

Also, here's the punch version from The Craft of the Cocktail:

3 ounces dark rum
3 ounces light rum
3 1/2 ounces orange curacao
12 ounces fresh orange juice
2 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
1 1/2 ounces pimento liqueur
6 dashes Angostura bitters

To serve cold: Assemble all the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Strain into a glass with an orange slice and a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg.

To serve hot: Assemble all ingredients in a saucepan with 6 ounces of sweetened orange pekoe tea. Heat to just under a boil, and serve in a punch cup dusted with freshly grated nutmeg.