Demerara Dry Float recipe
A formidable mid-century tiki classic featuring a potent overproof rum float over a tart passion fruit base.
Method: Shake and strain ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 5 min ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Family: Tiki & Tropical
Ingredients
- 2 oz Fresh lime juice (Freshly pressed)
- 1 tsp Fresh lemon juice (Freshly pressed)
- 1 1/2 oz Passion fruit syrup (Rich, homemade or quality commercial)
- 1/4 oz Demerara syrup (2:1 ratio)
- 3/4 oz Black blended overproof rum (Floated on top; e.g., Lemon Hart 151 or Plantation OFTD)
How to make a Demerara Dry Float
- Combine the fresh lime juice, fresh lemon juice, passion fruit syrup, and demerara syrup in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.
- Shake vigorously for approximately 10 to 15 seconds to chill and dilute the mixture properly.
- Strain the contents into a tiki mug or old-fashioned glass filled with fresh crushed ice.
- Gently pour the black blended overproof rum over the top of the drink to form an unmixed float.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and serve immediately, instructing guests to sip through the high-proof float.
Garnish
a mint sprig and serve immediately, instructing guests to sip through the high-proof float
Pro tip
Measure carefully, keep the dilution controlled, and serve Demerara Dry Float as soon as it is cold and balanced.
History of the Demerara Dry Float
Created by Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt (Don the Beachcomber) circa 1940, the Demerara Dry Float is an iconic mid-century tiki concoction. While exact archival records of Don's early drink menus are often subject to interpretation, modern revivals by cocktail historians such as Jeff 'Beachbum Berry' and Martin Cate in 'Smuggler's Cove' have cemented its place as a uniquely interactive, intensely tart rum classic.
Flavour profile
Boozy, Citrus, Sweet
Variations
- Island Spice Float — Add two dashes of Angostura bitters and a 1/4 ounce of allspice dram to the shaker for additional phenolic complexity.
- Amber Demerara Daiquiri Variation — Incorporate 1 ounce of 8-year Demerara rum into the shaken base while retaining the 151-proof overproof crown.
- Velvet Falernum Modification — Substitute the demerara syrup with 1/4 ounce of velvet falernum to infuse bright clove and almond spice notes into the sour base.
Practise making the Demerara Dry Float in the free Virtual Bar game.