Test Pilot
The Test Pilot is one of the many Tiki cocktail classics created by Donn Beach, likely sometime in the early 1940's.Like so many Tiki cocktail, the Test Pilot calls for multiple types of rum. However, unlike many Tiki cocktails, the Test pilot is a lot less heavy on fruit juices as it only has a bit of lemon juice in it. It has Falernum as well, which gives a tropical feel, but it's less fruity than straight fruit juice. As Tiki cocktails go, this one is a lot more outlandish and over the top than many other ones, but if you want to add some crazy garnishes, you're more than welcome to!But watch out, in pure Tiki tradition, the Test Pilot has plenty of booze in it. You certainly won't be flying a plane afterwards...
Ingredients
- 22.5 mL White rum Puerto Rican rum is preferred
- 52.5 mL Dark rum Jamaican rum is preferred
- 7.5 mL Lemon juice
- 7.5 mL Falernum
- 7.5 mL Cointreau
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice in it.
- Shake everything, ensuring it's cold and well mixed.
- Strain into a rocks glass.
- Garnish how you like and drink!
Notes
As mentioned in the recipe, Puerto Rican and Jamaican rums are suggested and what was used in the original recipe, but if you're just making cocktails at home for fun, any rum will do. Just make sure it's a nice rum! Since the test pilot is such a rum forward cocktail, you really want to make sure it shines!
And since you're using good rum, make sure your lemon juice is freshly squeezed. A good cocktail is all about good ingredients, so make sure you have them.
Finally, we've seen recipes for the Test Pilot that also contain a dash of Angostura Bitters and 6 drops of Pernod. However, the recipe that appears in Trader Vic's (not published until the 1970's though), does not call for these ingredients. It's up to you how you want to make this one.