Don's Pearl

A classic Don the Beachcomber creation, Don's Pearl is a lesser-known but delightful tiki drink. It masterfully balances the tartness of fresh grapefruit and lime juice with the warmth of spiced honey syrup. The complex backbone from both gold and dark rum provides depth and character, making it a straightforward yet sophisticated cocktail that captures the essence of early tiki culture.
Don's Pearl

Preparation

Preparation time: 4 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

Don's Pearl is classified as a tiki cocktail. It embodies the style of Don the Beachcomber's early creations, which were often less fruit-juice-heavy than later tiki drinks, focusing on a strong, balanced interplay between rum, citrus, and spice.

Serving

Serve this potent, medium-sized drink ice-cold in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. It is served "up" without ice to showcase its color and texture.
Serving size
Approximately 150 ml (5 oz) before chilling
Alcohol content
Approximately 22-26% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

Created by the father of tiki, Donn Beach (Ernest Gantt), at his legendary Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Hollywood. Like many of his recipes, it was originally kept secret, using coded ingredients like "spices #4" for his spiced honey mix. It represents his signature style of creating complex flavors from a relatively small number of well-chosen ingredients, a hallmark of the original tiki movement.
Origin
United States, created by Donn Beach at his Don the Beachcomber restaurant, circa 1930s-1940s.

Don's Pearl

The drink is almost exclusively known as Don's Pearl. Occasionally, it is referred to as a Pearl Diver Daiquiri, though this can cause confusion with the more complex Pearl Diver cocktail, which is a different drink entirely.
Original name
Don's Pearl
Alternative name
Pearl Diver Daiquiri

Characteristics overview

This cocktail has a bright, grapefruit-forward aroma with underlying notes of honey and spice. The flavor is a crisp balance of sweet and sour, with a smooth texture and a clean, warming rum finish.
Flavor
Citrusy, spicy, sweet, rum-forward, tart
Aroma
Grapefruit, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, molasses
Taste balance
Sweet, sour
Aftertaste
Warming, spicy, clean, short
Fizziness
None, still
Color appearance
Golden amber, slightly cloudy
Texture
Smooth, crisp, light-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery, year-round

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is led by a prominent fruitiness and sourness from the citrus, balanced by a moderate sweetness and spice from the honey syrup. The alcohol strength is present but well-integrated, resulting in a vibrant and assertive taste.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This recipe requires a blend of gold and dark rum for complexity, alongside fresh grapefruit and lime juice. A homemade spiced honey syrup is the key ingredient that ties the flavors together.
  • Gold Puerto Rican Rum45 ml / 1.5 oz
    A lightly aged column-still rum provides a clean base.
  • Dark Jamaican Rum15 ml / 0.5 oz
    A pot-still rum like Coruba or Myers's adds depth and funk.
  • Fresh Pink Grapefruit Juice30 ml / 1 oz
    Freshly squeezed is essential for brightness.
  • Fresh Lime Juice15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Balances the grapefruit and adds classic sourness.
  • Spiced Honey Syrup15 ml / 0.5 oz
    To make, gently heat equal parts honey and water with a cinnamon stick and a split vanilla bean until combined. Let cool completely before use.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard cocktail shaker set, including a jigger for measuring and both a Hawthorne and fine-mesh strainer to ensure a smooth, ice-chip-free texture.
  • Cocktail shaker to combine and chill ingredients
  • Jigger or measuring tool for accurate proportions
  • Fine-mesh strainer for double straining
  • Hawthorne strainer for the shaker

Instructions

The process is straightforward: chill your glass, add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake well. Double strain the contents into the chilled glass to serve.
1. Place your coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer to chill for at least 10 minutes.
2. Combine the gold rum, dark Jamaican rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and spiced honey syrup in a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker two-thirds full with cubed ice.
4. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-frosted.
5. Double strain the mixture through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into your pre-chilled coupe glass.
6. If using, express the oils from a grapefruit twist over the surface of the drink and discard the twist or place it on the rim of the glass.

Garnishing

While traditionally served without a garnish, a fresh grapefruit twist adds a wonderful aromatic dimension. Simply express the oils from the peel over the drink's surface before serving.
  • Grapefruit twist (optional) to express oils over the drink and place on the rim

Dietary Information

This cocktail is free from caffeine, dairy, egg, soy, nuts, and gluten. It is vegetarian but not vegan due to the use of honey in the spiced syrup.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail contains a moderate amount of calories and sugar, primarily from the fruit juices and the honey syrup. The carbohydrate content is typical for a sour-style tiki drink.
Calories
Averagely 200-220 kcal / 837-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 15 grams
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 14 grams
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect for warm weather and relaxed settings. Its refreshing citrus notes make it ideal for summer parties, enjoying by the pool, or as a sophisticated happy hour choice for tiki enthusiasts.
  • Summer party
  • Poolside lounging
  • Happy hour
  • Tiki-themed event

Pairing suggestions

Don's Pearl pairs wonderfully with classic tiki appetizers (pu pu platters). Its balance of sweet, sour, and spice complements savory and slightly spicy foods like glazed chicken wings, coconut shrimp, or simple salty snacks like plantain chips.
  • Spicy glazed chicken wings
  • Coconut shrimp
  • Salty plantain chips
  • Pu pu platters

Don's Pearl: A Lost Tiki Classic

Don's Pearl is an underappreciated gem from the creator of tiki, Donn Beach. It offers a perfect introduction to the classic tiki style, balancing a potent two-rum blend with the bright acidity of grapefruit and lime. The key is the spiced honey syrup, which bridges the gap between spirit and citrus with warmth and complexity. Easy to make and deeply refreshing, it's a sophisticated sour that deserves a place in any home bartender's repertoire.

Similar Cocktails

Navy Grog

Another Donn Beach classic that uses a similar profile of rum, grapefruit, and a sweetener (honey or allspice dram), but often served over crushed ice.

Hemingway Daiquiri

Shares the combination of rum and grapefruit juice but omits the honey and dark rum, instead adding maraschino liqueur for a different flavor profile.

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