The tiki drink called “Hart of Darkness” is a potent and flavorful cocktail created by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, a well-known cocktail historian and tiki expert. The drink is a modern take on mid-20th century tiki drinks and features over-proof rum, honey, lime and lemon juices, passion fruit syrup, and soda, all blended with lots of ice.
The Centerpiece Spirit: Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum
The Hart of Darkness cocktail is known for its intense flavors and the use of Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum as its centerpiece spirit. This high-alcohol, intensely flavorful mixing rum is a hat-tip to classic tiki tradition and the era of Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber. The drink’s backbone, Lemon Hart 151, is known for its flavors of sugars, molasses, dried fruit, cinnamon, and other spices, making it a key ingredient in the cocktail.
The Recipe
The recipe for the Hart of Darkness cocktail, as described by Jeff Berry, includes the following ingredients:
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz passion fruit syrup
- ½ oz honey mix (half honey, half water)
- ¼ oz soda water
- 1½ oz Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum
- 8 oz crushed ice
Preparation Techniques
The preparation involves blending all the ingredients at high speed for 5 to 10 seconds and then pouring the mixture into a tall glass. The drink can also be made without a blender by shaking it with normal ice and pouring the whole mix, unstrained, into the serving glass.
It’s worth noting that the use of crushed ice and the blending process are important aspects of the drink’s preparation. The blending process is not intended to create a slushy drink but rather to incorporate the water into the drink quickly, resulting in a delightful presentation with a frost on the glass. The use of crushed ice and thorough blending are key to achieving this effect.
A Tribute to Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum
The Hart of Darkness cocktail is a tribute to Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum, and it is emphasized that there are no substitutes for this specific rum. Jeff Berry’s commentary on the drink humorously highlights the potency of Lemon Hart 151 and the creation of the cocktail to dilute the rum’s potency while still delivering a delicious and delightful drink.
In summary, the Hart of Darkness is a modern tiki cocktail that pays homage to classic tiki tradition and the intense flavors of Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum. Its unique blend of ingredients and the careful preparation process make it a standout drink in the tiki cocktail repertoire.
