Drunken Helmsman

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (52 ratings)

Photographed in a Soho Spun Old Fashioned

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Jamaican-style overproof aged pot still rum
12 oz Amaro (e.g. Meletti)
12 oz Difford's Falernum liqueur
1 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
12 oz Maple syrup
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Double old-fashioned glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist and mint sprigs.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into glass filled with crushed ice.
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over cocktail and use as garnish along with mint sprigs bouquet.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

A tad debauched but very tasty.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2015 by Jason Alexander at Tacoma Cabana in Tacoma, Washington, USA.

Nutrition:

One serving of Drunken Helmsman contains 281 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.8 standard drinks
  • 21.14% alc./vol. (21.14° proof)
  • 25.4 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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Jose Cruz’s Avatar Jose Cruz
9th April at 03:19
Remade with amaro, used smith and cross and there wasnt any trace of amaro, if i used rumfire 45ml there wudnt be a trace of anything. boosted funk after mixing with LROK from hampden estate collection. I insist 45ml lime is the way to go here to balance the 30ml of maple and falerum. ( i made with 30, tasted and then added another 15ml of lime and it was so much better)
Frederic D.’s Avatar Frederic D.
6th September 2024 at 22:00
Made with Smith and Cross, Tippleman's falernum syrup, and Montenegro since Virginia ABC refuses to carry Meletti for some strange reason. A surprisingly solid drink (maple and lime? Yet it works). I might try to split the S&C with something a bit less assertive next time, to see if it helps the amaro and maple break through a bit more - I had to really focus to detect them.
Jose Cruz’s Avatar Jose Cruz
30th March 2024 at 03:57
made it without the amaro and something seems missing, id wait to get it before rating it, but even without it a good stiff drink, boosted lime to 45ml since my falernum is a syrup
Paul Spreitzer’s Avatar Paul Spreitzer
2nd August 2023 at 00:45
Well, this is a welcome find! I try a lot of different tiki-style cocktails at my home bar, and this is the best new drink I've had in quite a while.
The balance of tart lime with sweet and spicy falernum, and that bittersweet background of the Meletti...terrific -- and I haven't even mentioned the rum yet!
(I didn't see the "aged overproof" part of the recipe, so I used Hamilton Black, which turned out great. I'll do the second one differently.)
28th July 2023 at 01:46
Replaced the rum with Stiggins Pineapple Rum and it took on an autumn candy flavor…calling it the “Pumpkin Helmsman” one of the best drinks i’ve come across
28th August 2022 at 17:28
This is way too easy to drink, for some reason to me it taste like tiki punch.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
2nd April 2022 at 02:07
Great with a strong rum taste. A bit strong, but sip slowly.
Patrick Valentino’s Avatar Patrick Valentino
14th July 2021 at 03:01
This is a great drink. Refreshing but strong. A little dangerous as you'll want to drink it faster than you should (esp with the crushed ice)