Skip advertisement Advertisement

Jack Dempsey

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (237)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1/2 fl oz Light white rum (charcoal-filtered 1-4 years old)
1/2 fl oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
1/2 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1/3 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1/3 fl oz Chilled water/mineral water (omit if using wet ice)
2 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Speakeasy Coupe 8.5oz

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Jack Dempsey contains 162 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 18.7% alc./vol. (37.41° proof)
  • 19.1 grams of pure alcohol
Skip advertisement Advertisement

History

Adapted from a recipe in Stanley M. Jones' 1977 Jones' Complete Barguide., this cocktail celebrates Jack Dempsey, world heavyweight boxing champion from 1919 to 1926.

JACK DEMPSEY
Cocktail Glass
Shake
1/2 oz lemon juice
1-1/2 oz rum
1/2 oz gin
3/4 tsp sugar

Stanley M. Jones, 1977

Review

Dilution makes or breaks this subtle, gin-laced Daiquiri variation.

Variations/similar cocktails

Dempsey

Skip advertisement Advertisement

Gallery

Skip advertisement Advertisement

Comments & Discussion

Werd Bmocsil
Mine was Bacardi Superior, Beefeater, &ct. It's fine, especially since I'm on a 'diet' (no wine or wine products, no aged liquor, no fun, all due to a possible MCAS condition).
The balance of the ingredients tames the gin for me, but perhaps a different combination would rate better than "Recommended". Or maybe my palate is getting jaded.
score: 1
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Previously rated this four and a half stars.. Just made again with 40ml Carta Blanca, 5ml S&C, and 15ml Beefeater. It's now a solid five! ♡
score: 1
John Taylor
My first rum-based cocktail, sipped first then remembered saline, accidentaly added a bit much but either way this is a tasty cocktail (the salt really adds something so don't be put off by it. Before that it tasted vaguely tequila-ish, but the salt rounds everything out and enhances it too? It's an intriguing combination that I will research with more rigour ;-)
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Tried again using Barbados white rum and Empress 1908 Gin. Turned the cocktail an interesting dusty pink/mauve colour. Nice before dinner.
score: 1
Florian Ruf Premium Member
Maybe I did not hit the right proportions or had not the fitting ingredients, but I am actually not convinced by this cocktail.
score: 2
Chris Dimal
I agree. Not worth 5* in my opinion. I will say that the Planteray 3 Stars I used is not the most delicate rum. Maybe a Bacardi-esque rum is the way to go?
score: 1
Matt Premium Member
I did not care for this. I tried adjusting the syrup down, and I tried Old Tom gin, and I couldn't get it to work for me. Maybe less lemon? - I gave up before trying that. I do recommned the *very* similar Stanley cocktail, found here on Diffords.
score: 0
Lynn Garvie
Beautiful!!
Somehow, despite the lowly 15ml measure, the mixture enhances the herbal flavours of the gin.
Light, refreshing and entirely repeatable.
(Jack Dempsey)
score: 6
Chris Dimal
Fantastic and adaptable. I've been using Havana Club 3 for cocktails calling for an aged charcoal filtered rum, and yet again, this works so effectively. Maybe it's Havana Club 3 VS any other rum in its category, but this is wonderfully balanced. The gin is really, really subtle, but it still feels like a true Daiquiri, though the lemon juice ensures it feels less bracing.
score: 1

Showing the first 8 of 11 comments.