Vanessa Polk

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (105 ratings)

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Caribbean blended rum aged 6-10 years
34 oz Heering Cherry Liqueur
6 drop Chocolate bitters
1 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with skewered Luxardo Maraschino Cherries.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 5/10

Review:

Cherry red, spirit-forward and dangerously quaffable as a late-night tipple.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a 2019 recipe by Jason Clapham in Oxford, England. Jason named his cocktail after the "rather impressive heiress" in P.G. Wodehouse's A Pelican at Blandings. Jason's original recipe calls for Chairman's Reserve Rum.

Nutrition:

One serving of Vanessa Polk contains 206 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.3 standard drinks
  • 27.27% alc./vol. (27.27° proof)
  • 18.5 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
9th March at 00:09
I wanted to loathe this but I almost maybe love it. At the very least, it's a drink you must make for the public. Appleton Estate 8, Luxardo Sangue Morlacco, and Bittermens Xocolatl Mole. What can you do?
Caspian Berggren’s Avatar Caspian Berggren
12th November 2024 at 19:38
Worked lovely with El Dorado 8. It's like a delicious cherry chocolate praline.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
9th March at 00:05
I love that description. I'm sold.
Andy Parnell-Hopkinson’s Avatar Andy Parnell-Hopkinson
3rd November 2024 at 21:28
I get the idea but Jamaican rum was too funky. Will try with Cuban next time.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
9th March at 00:05
Which brand did you use?
Yorey C’s Avatar Yorey C
2nd November 2024 at 21:58
they should call it polker hands
8th November 2024 at 06:35
I'm glad I'm not the only one who wondered this about the naming? Maybe the Doug Selbst?
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
13th October 2024 at 05:34
A serious but also somehow fun cocktail. Perhaps it's the cherry and chocolate that lighten the mood. A bit timid at the specified volumes, so we up the rum to 60ml, the Heering to 30ml and add two more drops of the chocolate bitters. Fits nicely in our Nick and Nora glasses, which we think are much better suited to this cocktail than the recommended coupe.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
13th October 2024 at 10:58
Agreed. A Nick & Nora would be more fitting - literally.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
3rd July 2022 at 02:47
Perfect digestive. Wonderful rum flavours with the hint of cherry. Slight hint of Caribbean flavours with a whiff of chocolate. Outstanding.