Is the Captain's Blood cocktail a tiki classic or just a bitter mistake?
In short: This video tests a vintage recipe from Trader Vic's Book of Food and Drink. By comparing different Jamaican rums, the host evaluates whether this simple blend of rum, lime, and a heavy dose of Angostura bitters holds up to modern tastes or belongs in the past.
The Captain's Blood cocktail is a straightforward tiki-era drink that relies on the interplay between Jamaican rum and a significant quantity of Angostura bitters. The original recipe calls for 1.5 ounces of Jamaican rum—specifically suggesting brands like Red Heart or Myers's—combined with one full teaspoon of Angostura bitters and a splash of fresh lime juice.
The host experiments by substituting modern Jamaican rums, Appleton and Smith & Cross, to determine how varying the spirit base affects the final profile. The preparation involves shaking the ingredients with finely cracked ice before straining the mixture into a chilled glass. This exploration serves as a practical taste test to see if the drink remains a viable tiki treasure or if its intense bitterness makes it a recipe better suited for historical curiosity than the home bar.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Captain's Blood Cocktail: A Tiki Treasure or Bitter Disappointment?
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