Jet Pilot recipe
A high-octane Tiki classic of layered rum, fresh citrus, cinnamon and falernum over crushed ice.
Method: Brief blend ·
Glass: Double old fashioned glass ·
Time: 6 min ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Family: Tiki & Tropical
Ingredients
- 1 oz Overproof Jamaican Rum
- 0.75 oz Overproof Demerara Rum
- 0.75 oz Gold Rum
- 0.5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.5 oz Cinnamon Syrup
- 0.5 oz Falernum
- 1 dash Absinthe
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
How to make a Jet Pilot
- Fill a double old fashioned glass with crushed ice to chill it while you build the drink.
- Add the three rums, grapefruit juice, lime juice, cinnamon syrup, falernum, absinthe and Angostura bitters to a blender.
- Add 1 cup of crushed ice and blend for about 5 seconds—just until combined, not completely smooth.
- Top the chilled glass with fresh crushed ice, then pour the blended drink over it, keeping the texture a little rough and icy.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and lime peel. Serve with a short straw.
Garnish
Maraschino cherry and a slim lime peel; add a small airplane-style citrus pick if desired.
Pro tip
Use a brief blend, not a long frozen-drink blitz. A few seconds keeps the Jet Pilot cold and aerated while preserving a lively crushed-ice texture.
History of the Jet Pilot
The Jet Pilot was created in 1958 at the Luau in Beverly Hills. It belongs to the mid-century Tiki family inspired by Donn Beach's Test Pilot and uses a layered rum base, citrus, falernum, cinnamon, bitters and absinthe for a deliberately complex but balanced build.
Flavour profile
Rum-forward, Citrus, Spiced, Herbal
Practise making the Jet Pilot in the free Virtual Bar game.