Callaloo Cooler

Created by: Melissa Garcia
Category: Tropical Cocktails

The Callaloo Cooler is a spicy cherry bomb, kept in check with fresh lime juice and a bit of sparkling water. It’s the creation of Melissa Garcia at Smuggler’s Cove, and it’s an offbeat (though welcome) flavor profile for a tiki joint; cherry, baking spice, and oakwood dominate.

Garcia calls for a dash of Angostura bitters, but spiced cherry bitters would work well here if you’ve got ’em. If you don’t have plain seltzer or club soda, a mildly-flavored sparkling water (like, say, Lime LaCroix) would do alright here in a pinch, since the measure is fairly small.

Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki by Martin Cate

1 part Sparkling water or Flavored sparkling water
2 parts Aged rum
½ part Cherry brandy
¾ part Lime juice
½ part Cinnamon syrup
1 dash Aromatic bitters or Cherry bitters

Add the sparkling water to a tall glass. Shake the remaining ingredients with ice and strain into the prepared glass. Top with ice to fill, and garnish with freshly-grated cinnamon and a fat sprig of mint slapped between your hands and then tucked into the side of the glass.

Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki by Martin Cate

Get the app, make better drinks

The Cocktail Party app puts this drink – and hundreds more – in your pocket, and tells you what you can make from the ingredients you have at home. It’s the best $3.99 you’ll ever spend on a drink.