Three Dots and a Dash
A BevX Cocktail Recipe
Created by Trader Vic Bergeron during World War II, Three Dots and a Dash takes its name from the Morse code symbol for V — as in Victory. It is a complex, Rhum Agricole-anchored tiki drink with allspice dram and Orange Curacao adding depth and intrigue. Like the best tiki cocktails, it manages to be festive and contemplative at the same time. It is one of the most historically significant cocktails in the tiki canon, and it delivers on every promise its name implies.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. Rhum Agricole (blanc or aged)
1/2 oz. Aged Jamaican Rum
1/2 oz. Fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. Fresh orange juice
1/4 oz. Allspice Dram
1/4 oz. Orange Curacao
1/4 oz. Honey syrup
Occasion
A celebratory drink for warm evenings and summer gatherings. The WWII backstory makes it an ideal conversation piece.
Method
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake and pour unstrained into a tiki mug or tall glass. Garnish with three cherries and a pineapple frond — the three dots and the dash.
Variations
The choice of Rhum Agricole makes a significant difference — a grassy blanc versus a complex aged expression produces quite different drinks. The allspice dram is non-negotiable; it is the cocktail's spine. If you want to turn the kaleidoscope, swap in Mezcal.
Source: Victor Bergeron (Trader Vic), 1944