The Origins of the Test Pilot Cocktail
The Test Pilot is a vintage tiki drink that holds a significant place in the world of tiki culture. Invented by the legendary Donn Beach, a prominent figure in the tiki movement, the cocktail has gained a reputation for its complex and varied recipes, making it one of Beach’s most frequently imitated and varied tiki drinks.
The Ingredients and Recipes
At its core, the Test Pilot cocktail typically consists of multiple rums, falernum syrup, and lime juice. Some popular versions also incorporate Pernod (pastis/absinthe) and bitters, adding depth and complexity to the flavor profile. However, the recipes for the Test Pilot vary, and different sources provide different variations of the cocktail.
One recipe from a Don the Beachcomber drink guide calls for:
- 1 oz of Lemon Hart Demerara 151 proof rum
- 3/4 oz each of Jamaican dark rum, Puerto Rican dark rum, lime juice, grape juice, and honey
- Two dashes each of bitters and grenadine
This version is then flash blended with cracked ice and served in a double old fashioned glass.
Another recipe attributed to Donn Beach from circa 1941 includes:
- 1 1/2 oz of Jamaican dark rum
- 3/4 oz of Puerto Rican light rum
- 3 teaspoons of Cointreau
- 1/8 teaspoon of Pernod
- 1/2 oz of both lime juice and falernum syrup
- A dash of bitters
Variations and Influence
The Trader Vic’s version, listed in their 1972 revised drink guide, switches the lime juice for lemon and omits the Pernod and bitters, calling for:
- 1 3/4 oz dark Jamaican rum
- 3/4 oz light Puerto Rican rum
- 1/4 oz of Cointreau
- 1/4 oz falernum
- 1/4 oz lemon juice
A similar cocktail, the Jet Pilot, was created by Beach’s competitors and featured a spicier profile with the addition of stronger rum, grapefruit juice, and cinnamon syrup.
The Test Pilot cocktail has had a significant impact on tiki culture, inspiring other aviation-themed tiki cocktails such as the Ace Pilot, Q.B. Cooler, and PB2Y. There is even a tiki bar named “Test Pilot” in Santa Barbara, California, that serves its own unique version of the cocktail with a flavor profile of “house rum blend, clove, citrus, bitters, and absinthe foam“.
