Knickerbocker recipe
A vibrant Victorian rum sour layered with tart lime, orange curaçao, and rich raspberry syrup.
Method: Shake and strain over crushed ice ·
Glass: Chilled chimney glass or rocks glass with crushed ice ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: Tiki & Tropical
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aged rum (Jamaican or gold rum)
- 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice (Juiced fresh)
- 0.5 oz Orange curaçao (Dry orange liqueur)
- 0.5 oz Raspberry syrup (Rich 2:1)
How to make a Knickerbocker
- Add the aged rum, fresh lime juice, orange curaçao, and raspberry syrup to a shaker tin with ice.
- Shake vigorously for ten to twelve seconds to thoroughly chill and dilute the mixture.
- Fill a tall chimney glass or rocks glass completely with crushed ice.
- Strain the shaken cocktail over the fresh crushed ice, packing it gently to form a snowy dome.
- Garnish with a fresh raspberry and mint sprig before serving with a straw.
Garnish
Garnish with a fresh raspberry and a mint sprig.
Pro tip
Using genuine rich raspberry syrup and quality aged rum provides the necessary depth to stand up to the tart citrus and crushed ice dilution. Pack the glass tightly with fresh crushed ice to ensure proper frost formation on the exterior.
History of the Knickerbocker
First published in Jerry Thomas’s seminal 1862 cocktail guide, How to Mix Drinks, the Knickerbocker stands as one of the nineteenth century's most celebrated crushed-ice sours. While often attributed entirely to Thomas's pioneering compilation, similar rum-and-raspberry libations circulated widely in upscale New York watering holes during the mid-Victorian era. The drink popularized the technique of combining a sturdy spirit base with fruit syrups and citrus, served over an undulating mountain of crushed ice that presaged the tropical tiki wave by nearly a century.
Flavour profile
Tart, Fruity, Citrusy, Complex
Variations
- London Knickerbocker — Substitute London dry gin for the aged rum to create a bright, botanical variation.
- Knickerbocker à la Française — Use cognac as the primary spirit base in place of rum for an opulent, French-leaning profile.
Practise making the Knickerbocker in the free Virtual Bar game.