Doctor Funk

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (66 ratings)

Serve in a Sling glass

Ingredients:
2 12 oz Dark/black/blackstrap rum
16 oz La Fée Parisienne absinthe
12 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
14 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
14 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)
14 oz Monin Grenadine Syrup
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Sling glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lime wedge.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into glass filled with crushed ice.
  5. Garnish with lime wedge.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

With its very generous dose of rum and absinthe, too many of this rum-laced liquorice-like tasting cocktails and you'll need your very own doctor.

View readers' comments

History:

Created by Don Beach in the early 1950s at his The Don The Beachcomber restaurant in Palm Springs, this drink is named after Doctor Bernard Funk who was Robert Louis Stevenson's physician in Samoa. The good doctor is said to have concocted and prescribed an absinthe laced limeade so inspiring this cocktail.

Nutrition:

One serving of Doctor Funk contains 243 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.8 standard drinks
  • 20.9% alc./vol. (20.9° proof)
  • 24.5 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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Andrew Anderson’s Avatar Andrew Anderson
31st May 2024 at 08:23
I paired this with Toejam & Earl on the latest 'Cocktail Mode' podcast and I'm a big fan. I reduced the grenadine by half a tsp and upped the absinthe by the same amount on my second one and it was even better. Loved learning about Don Beach too, he sounds like an absolute legend! Cheers!
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
6th May 2024 at 04:13
Absolutely loved this. Flavor remindes me of licorice ice cream I craved as a kid. Can't find it anymore. Followed Garret Brough's suggestion and split Smith & Cross 35ml with Bacardi Black 40ml. Oregon Spirit Absinthe Original is a stand out here.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
14th August 2021 at 01:38
This was jus OK. Not bad, but I have had better cocktails from Don Beach. While I like the absinthe in the drink, I did feel it was missing something. Like all original Tiki drinks, I do find it a bit sweet. I love the taste of rum and Agricore rum, but this was still missing some of the rum flavour I was wanting in the drink.
1st September 2022 at 15:23
I'm going to be making this today trying the rum split to see if it will work. I already do a split base of Goslings and Smith and Cross with my Hurricane recipe so I know the two rums play well together.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
31st August 2022 at 19:35
Garret, thank you. You are right, I need to add the Jamaician funk which was not there. I have lots of Jamaician rums or maybe a Barbancourt rhum from Haiti.
Loraine Herring’s Avatar Loraine Herring
31st July 2021 at 22:13
Dear Mr Difford. how does one go about petitioning for this version of the Dr Funk to be named Funkey Herring??
Just asking :} Love the website and am up to 1014 makeable cocktails.....
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
9th February 2024 at 11:12
Simon, I just checked and, gosh, funky gibbon was …1975! A wonderful childhood memory - I was born 77 but goodies seemed to be on constant repeat during my childhood!
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
1st August 2021 at 11:29
You can upload the Funkey Herring yourself - no need to lobby. Funkey name reminded me of The Goodies singing Funky Gibbon and seek the video on YouTube. A fun blast from the 80s.
Loraine Herring’s Avatar Loraine Herring
27th July 2021 at 19:55
a lovely drink but dispense with the soda.....
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
11th February 2024 at 11:10
Funnily enough I actually preferred this with a splash of soda - even before reading this comment. The spritz added something for me.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
31st July 2021 at 18:03
Agreed. I've removed soda from the recipe above. Many thanks for your feedback.