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Royal Bermuda Yacht Club

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (315)
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Light gold rum (1-3 year old molasses column)
1⁄2 fl oz Falernum liqueur
1⁄4 fl oz Ferrand Dry Curaçao liqueur
3⁄4 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄12 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in an UB Retro Coupe 1910

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lime wedge.

Method

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

Garnish

  1. Garnish with lime wedge on rim.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Royal Bermuda Yacht Club contains 211 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 19.6% alc./vol. (39.2° proof)
  • 22.6 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Created at the eponymous club, established in Bermuda in 1844 and largely frequented by British Army Officers. Royal Bermuda Yacht Club cocktail first appears in Crosby Gaige's 1941 Cocktail Guide & Ladies' Companion as the favourite cocktail of Mary Mabon, then a writer for Harper's Bazaar fashion magazine.


Mary Mabon
This lady, and make no mistake about it, she is, might have assumed any one of many rôles in life. She might have been Ethel Barrymore in Captain Jinks or Maude Adams in Peter Pan or Galen or George Sand or almost anyone except Fanny Farmer. She writes for Harper's Bazaar in aureate phrases with a golden pen, and I hope her publisher pays her accordingly.
Mrs. Mabon first met up with her favourite concoction at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Hamilton, Bermuda. It is currently considered one of the best rum drinks on the island.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Cocktail
3 parts Barbados Rum
1 part Lime Juice
½ part Falernum of Sugar Syrup
Dash of Cointreau or Brandy
Shake with plenty of ice and strain into cocktail glass.
With such a drink the plantanitos fritos (fried banana chips) and the Taro chips that are new on the market are appetizing. Serve with these very small, not stuffed, green aniseed olives on a bed of crushed ice with the juice of half a lime squeezed over them.

Crosby Gaige, Cocktail Guide & Ladies' Companion, 1941


Our recipe adapted from Victor Bergeron's 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide.

ROYAL BERMUDA YACHT CLUB COCKTAIL
1½ ounces Barbados rum
½ ounce lime juice
¼ ounce Falernum
1 dash Cointreau
Shake with ice cubes. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide, 1972

Review

A full-flavoured, tangy Daiquiri with faint clove spice.

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$1.80 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Cassandra Adams Premium Member
A grown-up daiquiri for those with a drier palate; however we used Bonpland Falernum (18%), which is presumably less sweet than Velvet Falernum.
score: 0
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
Making this, I allowed myself to be distracted in conversation with a guest and omitted the lime juice. Not without merit but definitely a sweet digestivo so omit the sugar syrup if you are tempted to replicate my indiscretion. A 'proper' one is an all-time favourite of ours.
score: 1
Rick Rosemont
It’s already summer in Florida, so I’m trying to move away from Old Fashioned’s, Manhattans, etc.
I’m a Daiquiri fan and this drink is great. Plantation 5 year rum from Barbados works really well and the clove flavors from the Falernum are spot on. What a wonderful drink.
score: 2
Peter Pendergest Premium Member
I accidentally left out the sugar syrup the first time I made this. Tried again with it, and I’m not convinced it even needs it (I’ll admit that I do prefer slightly sour drinks). Very tasty.
score: 3
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Wow, the orange curaçao is a stand out here on first sip. (I used Pierre Ferrand.) Will try again with Doorly's as per Mr. Hinojos' recommendation.
score: 1
Anders Sorensen
Endnu bedre med
22,5 ml mørk Rom
22,5 ml lys Rom
15 ml falernum
15 ml curacao
22,5 ml lime
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Made again using Barbados rum. Perfect. Not too sweet with a wonderful citrus flavour.
The choice of rum will make a difference. You need one which is not adulterated by sugar syrup.
While I love the funk of Jamaican, Martinique, and Haitian rhum, it will through this cocktail off balance. Stick with Barbados.
score: 3
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Indeed, made this again with Mount Gay Eclipse and it was perfect! Thanks for the suggestion.
score: 1
Matt Premium Member
A very good cocktail, but not my favorite - I thought that the curacao made it a bit too orangey.
score: 0
Niccolò Murtas
The most outstanding daiquiri I tried, though clearly your falernum is half of the magic.
score: 4
David M. Premium Member
Terrific! Enough rum that I could enjoy the funky nose using Havana Club Añejo Clásico. The rum, citrus and other flavors were in perfect balance. Nice upgrade in complexity from a standard daiquiri.
score: 2

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Difford’s Shop logo
$1.80 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 12.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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