DIY Allspice Dram Recipe (2024)

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  • co*cktails
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A simple liqueur flavored with allspice berries that adds a dark, strong, and spicy counterpoint to rum and co*cktails.

By

Marcia Simmons

Marcia Simmons

Contributor

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Updated September 09, 2022

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DIY Allspice Dram Recipe (1)

In This Recipe

  • What's Available to Buy

  • Why DIY?

  • How to Use It

  • Make-Ahead and Storage

Why It Works

  • Adding spices at different stages of the infusion allows the flavor compounds in the allspice berries and cinnamon to be fully extracted.
  • Straining the infusion twice ensures the liqueur will be clear and ready for mixing into co*cktails.

Allspice dram is a simple liqueur flavored with allspice berries. It's also known as pimento dram, because allspice is a berry from the pimento tree. (But pimento makes most people think of olives, so I don't like to call it that.) There's nothing like it. It's a big part of tiki drinks, adding a dark, strong, and spicy counterpoint to rum and sweet ingredients.

For years, allspice dram was damn-near impossible to find in the States. I get a little grumpy when there's a co*cktail ingredient everyone is raving about and I can't find it anywhere. So a few years ago, just the mention of allspice dram made me a bit unpleasant to be around. I'd see recipes of fun drinks and get all excited, then I'd see that allspice dram was one of the ingredients and I would mope like a sad puppy.

The next phase of allspice dram envy was angry kitten hissing: "If it's so great, why can't I find it? It's probably stupid." Eventually, some kind soul in New Orleans made me anAncient Marinerwith allspice dram in it, and I suddenly knew what all the fuss was about.

DIY Allspice Dram Recipe (2)

What's Available to Buy

Wray & Nephew's allspice dram from Jamaica was the standard in the tropical drinks at bars like Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber, but the company stopped exporting it to the US in the early '80s. Many tiki fanatics say they've found it online, but the link chase led me to a dead end at a Reggae-themed shop that won't ship alcohol to the US or Canada. (They will, however, sell you some Jerk marinade and West Indies Cricket memorabilia no matter where you live.) I've never tasted the W & N dram myself, but a blog post by a guy whose cousin smuggled some in after his Caribbean cruise said it is amazing.

A few years ago, St. Elizabeth allspice dram came along to satisfy the growing demand for this tiki essential in a way that didn't involve international travel or subterfuge. Well-stocked liquor stores usually carry it at $25 to $30 for a 375-milliliter bottle, but this still isn't something you'll find next to the Kahlua and Baileys in most mainstream shops. The Bitter Truth Pimento Dram is even newer to the scene, though it's something most of us would have to order online. Both liqueurs are richly spiced with some bitterness, so a little goes a long way.

Why DIY?

If I could go back in time and un-buy the St. Elizabeth so that I'd only have my DIY allspice dram at home, I would. This isn't because St. Elizabeth is bad—it's actually delicious. In fact, when I taste the commercial and DIY versions side by side, St. Elizabeth has a slight edge over homemade. But allspice dram isn't something you drink straight.

Once that co*cktail shaker is out, I can't really tell the difference between the two. Saving money is rarely my motivation for DIY, but in this case, I just don't think the commercial version is worth the giant price difference. Buying allspice dram costs about five times as much as making it, and it definitely isn't five times better.

If you're a tiki fan, your bar may be incomplete without a store-bought bottle. But the casual drinker will be satisfied with the finished co*cktails that come from homemade allspice dram.

Are you able to put things in a jar, boil some water, and wait? If so, you possess the skills necessary to craft this elusive ingredient. I bought the spices from the Latin section of the supermarket, and the amount I used in this recipe cost me under $2. So the big dollar investment in this project is the cost of a little brown sugar and a cup of rum. You can go moderately priced and common, like I did, with a cup of Bacardi, or get a little fancier with some Lemon Hart 151 and use demerara sugar. I kept the spice mix minimal, but you could have a lot of fun making it more complex with some cloves, star anise, or cardamom. It's fun and not at all risky to go crazy and play around with the possibilities.

Use It!

TheAncient Marinerintroduced me to allspice dram, so I'd recommend it as the inaugural co*cktail for your DIY batch.

But it's not all tiki all the time with allspice dram. Rum isn't mandatory. TheJalisco Pearmixes in tequila and pear liqueur, and theLion's Tailis a simple bourbon drink.

February 2012

Recipe Details

DIY Allspice Dram Recipe

Prep10 mins

Cook10 mins

Active15 mins

Infusing Time336 hrs

Total336 hrs 20 mins

Serves24 servings

Makes3 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup whole allspice berries

  • 1 cup light rum

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 2/3 cup brown sugar

Directions

  1. Crush allspice berries in a mortar and pestle or grind them in a spice grinder. You want coarse, large pieces and not a fine grind.

  2. Place crushed allspice in a sealable glass jar and pour rum on top. Seal the jar and shake well. Let this mixture steep for 4 days, shaking daily. On day 5, break up the cinnamon stick and add it to the mixture.

  3. After 12 days total steeping (see notes), strain out the solids through a fine-mesh strainer. Then strain again through a coffee filter into your final bottle or jar.

  4. Heat water and sugar on medium until boiling, stirring to dissolve, about 5 minutes. Let syrup cool, then add it to the strained allspice infusion. Shake and let rest for a minimum of 2 days before using (see notes).

Special Equipment

Mortar and pestle (or spice grinder), fine-mesh strainer, coffee filters

Notes

Unlike many DIY liqueurs, opening and sampling your allspice dram as you go isn't going to give you a good indication of what the final product will taste like. While it may smell strong (and taste strong) early in the steeping process, the extra time is necessary.

If you choose to substitute an overproof rum, you may need to let the final strained liqueur rest longer.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Store at room temperature for one to two months. It isn't going to spoil, but the flavor will change over time if you keep it too long.

Read More

  • Ancient Mariner
  • Jalisco Pear
  • Lion's Tail
  • DIY Falernum
  • Rum
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
39Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories39
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 3mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 17mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

DIY Allspice Dram Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is allspice dram made of? ›

Combine the rum and crushed allspice berries in a quart-sized glass jar, seal the lid tightly and give it a good shake. Steep for 10 days. Strain the allspice-infused rum through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan and add the sugar.

What is a substitute for allspice dram? ›

Allspice dram substitute

You can make a quick substitute for allspice dram with rum, Angostura bitters, and simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water). Combine 1 oz of white rum, 3/4 oz of simple syrup and 5 dashes of Angostura bitters. Use this in place of the allspice dram in your drink recipe.

Does allspice dram go bad? ›

Note that the dram is quite intense, so a little will go a long way in a co*cktail. Store in bitter bottle. Your allspice dram will keep for six months and look fabulous on your bar in a bitter bottle. The taste may change over time, but will not spoil.

Is pimento dram the same as allspice dram? ›

Allspice dram is a simple liqueur flavored with allspice berries. It's also known as pimento dram, because allspice is a berry from the pimento tree. (But pimento makes most people think of olives, so I don't like to call it that.)

Is allspice dram the same as allspice liqueur? ›

The liqueur is made by soaking allspice berries in a rum base, which is then sweetened. Today, allspice dram is made in relatively the same manner.

What is St Elizabeth's allspice dram? ›

This spicy liqueur is made by steeping pimento berries in Jamaican pot still rum. The Pimento Dram is a dried, unripened berry from a West Indian tree called Pimenta dioica, which is related to the eucalyptus.

What is the closest spice to allspice? ›

The brand also recommends using a trio of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to make a substitute but prefers these ratios: ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves. Use as a 1:1 substitute in a recipe that calls for one teaspoon of allspice.

Is Garam Masala a good substitute for allspice? ›

Allspice has a comparable warming effect similar to garam masala, but it's not as strong. The flavor profile is pretty similar. To get the most accurate flavor without overpowering your dish, combine four parts of cumin powder with 1 part of allspice.

Can I replace allspice with mixed spice? ›

Although it is a mixture, its flavor is not as strong as allspice. Mixed spice can be used in many similar recipes as allspice but they are not interchangeable. This does not mean you can't use them interchangeably if your goals are high, but you shouldn't expect to achieve amazing results every time.

Are 10 year old spices still good? ›

Dried herbs and spices may last 1–4 years, but it depends on the type of spice and how it's processed and stored. Generally, spices will lose their aroma and flavor potency over time.

Why is it called allspice dram? ›

English explorers coined the term allspice as the berry seemed to embody the flavors of cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and clove all at once. On the Caribbean island of Jamaica, this distinctive liqueur has been produced for generations.

Does Grand Marnier get better with age? ›

Liqueurs and cordials such as Grand Marnier, Drambuie and Midori, have higher sugar content and other ingredients that make them spoil faster. The more sugar an alcohol-based product has, the faster it will expire. Once open, liqueurs and cordials will spoil quickly and become undrinkable after one year.

Where can I find allspice berries? ›

You can find whole allspice berries in well-stocked grocery stores, spice shops, or online retailers. Many supermarkets carry them in the spice or baking aisle. Additionally, you can explore online platforms or specialty spice stores for a wider selection.

What's the difference between allspice and Jamaican allspice? ›

Allspice, also known as Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento, is the dried unripe berry of Pimenta dioica, a midcanopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico, and Central America, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world.

Is allspice dram sweet? ›

This allspice dram tastes like the holidays all bottled up. Sweet, and toasty baking spices, like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and obviously allspice all melded together. Use this dram in all of your favorite tiki co*cktails!

What does Jamaican allspice have in it? ›

It is also called the Jamaica pepper, kurundu, and myrtle pepper. What spice is this? Allspice is made up of the dried berries of the plant Pimenta dioica. Some think allspice tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

What berry is allspice made from? ›

Also known as a Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, or pimento, allspice is the unripe fruit of the Pimenta dioica, an evergreen tree in the Myrtle family native to the West Indies, Southern Mexico, and Central America.

Is allspice and 7 spice the same? ›

The short answer is no. Allspice is a combination of flavors similar to cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It's just one of the spices that make up the Lebanese seven spices. However, some recipes will state to use ground allspice instead of this blend if you can't get your hands on it.

What flavor compounds are in allspice? ›

Allspice is actually a berry from the Jamaican Bayberry Tree. It is said to taste like a combination of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.

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