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Doctor

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (32)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1/2 fl oz Light white rum (charcoal-filtered 1-4 years old)
1 1/3 fl oz Swedish Punsch liqueur
1/6 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1/6 fl oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
4 drop Difford's Daiquiri Bitters (optional)
2 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Retro Coupe

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange and lemon zests.

Method

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

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS orange and lemon zests over cocktail but garnish with just the orange zest.

Flavour Profile

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

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Doctor contains 191 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.6 standard drinks
  • 21.98% alc./vol. (43.97° proof)
  • 22.4 grams of pure alcohol
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History

There are earlier Doctor recipes combining Swedish punch and rum (see Doctor No. 1), but this recipe, which first appeared in Frank Meier's 1936 Artistry of Mixing Drinks, has proved the most enduring, helped by its being republished in Victor Bergeron's 1947 Bartender's Guide... by Trader Vic

DOCTOR
In shaker: a teaspoon each of Lemon and Orange juice, half Swedish Punch, half Bacardi; shake well and serve.

Frank Meier, Artistry of Mixing Drinks, 1936


DOCTOR COCKTAIL
1½ oz. Swedish Punch
¾ oz. Jamaica rum
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. orange juice
Shake well with cracked ice; strain into chilled cocktail glass.
Variations: Substitute the juice of ½ lime for lemon and orange juice. Equal parts rum and Swedish punch may be used.

Victor Bergeron, Bartender's Guide By Trader Vic, 1947

Review

Lighter and arguably more satisfying than the various citrus-heavy Doctor Cocktail recipes (see Doctor No. 1 to No. 4). Obviously, with two such dominant ingredients, your choice of rum and Swedish punch will greatly influence the result.

Cocktail of the day:

30th March 2026 is Doctor's Day

Variations/similar cocktails

In his 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, David A. Embury says, "There are numerous recipes for this drink. Here are several. Shake well with cracked ice.
Doctor No. 1 Equal parts of lime juice and Swedish Punch.
Doctor No. 2 Equal parts of lemon juice, Swedish Punch, and gin. This is also known as the Greta Garbo.
Doctor No. 3 One part lemon juice, 1 part orange juice, 2 parts Swedish Punch.
Doctor No. 4 One part lime juice, 2 parts Jamaican rum, 3 parts Swedish Punch."

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Gallery

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Comments & Discussion

John Hinojos Premium Member
It has been two years since we last had this cocktail. Decided to use an over-proof Neisson Blanc from Martinique. It gave the cocktail an interesting agricole hint. Also made the cocktail a little less sweet.
score: 2
Matt Premium Member
This "equal parts" formula is my favorite, and a great cocktail IMO. I use homemade Swedish punsch (I like it better than Kronan) using the method from YouTuber Uncle Pete's Cocktail Shop: white rum/Batavia Arrack/black tea/sugar/lemon.
score: 1
Florian Ruf Premium Member
I am a fan of Carlshamns, although it is difficult to source in Germany. For this cocktail I would like to have some more deepness. Maybe an absinthe rinse or some bitters?
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Great call, Florian. Predictably, Daiquiri Bitters works brilliantly so I've added above. Many thanks.
score: 1
JAY HURON
What would the suggested type of rum be? Aged Jamaican? When I’m logged in it suggests Appleton when I’m logged out it suggest Bacardi 8 which are TOTALLY different rums.
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
My default is Bacardi 8 or Havana 7. You are seeing Appleton when logged in as this is the last well-aged rum added to your ingredients. By using the "Personalise" button at the very top of the page you can specify which rum you prefer to see in this specific recipe. There are so many types of rum and indeed rums that is difficult for me to categorise them as narrowly as I do other spirits.
score: 2
John Hinojos Premium Member
What an outstanding cocktail. Perfectly balanced between sweet and sour. Added a few drop for Difford's Daquiri Bitters and it sent the drink over the top.
score: 1
Kjell Eriksson Premium Member
It’s a great cocktail. I went to the punsch museum in Carlshamn last summer. Not quite up to the quality of the liquid produced (nowadays in Finlnad or some Baltic cauntry) but still worth a visit. We’ll see if it turns up on June 6 as the ultimate cocktail with which to celebrate the Swedish Naional Day; and why not renamed at that time. Swedish Daiquiri! Who else can do that if not our Simon...
score: 0
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Thanks Kjell. It is indeed a tasty cocktail. Now if you search for Swedish Daiquiri on our site search, Doctor No.1 is displayed and I have made a note to add Swedish National Day to our June 6 Cocktail of the Day.
score: 3