I recently got a new bottle of Bacardi (with the logo and font redesign) and I flipped through my cocktail books for some classic white rum cocktails. This one fascinated me – basically a rum version of a 50/50 Martini (equal parts liquor and vermouth), but with the addition of bitters.
As I looked around the web for versions of this drink, I think there should be two different versions of what I made here. First, the Palmetto with dry vermouth should use orange bitters, not aromatic, as the drink would be relatively clear and the flavor probably would be better. Second, you can make a Sweet Palmetto which would use rum, sweet vermouth, and probably your standard aromatic bitters.
Try both, and see which you prefer!
Palmetto Cocktail
- 1 1/4 oz rum
- 1 1/4 oz dry vermouth
- 2 dashes bitters
- stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
I think you mentioned this cocktail on a podcast some time ago, but I just got around to trying it tonight I’m afraid.
I used 2 oz of a rum agricole, 1.5 oz dry vermouth, and 2 dashes of Regan’s orange bitters … And it’s pretty darn good. It does need a fresh vermouth, pour out your year old bottle before trying this! I think the sweet version would be too sweet, but now I’m wondering what a perfect might be like. Maybe tomorrow.