Lion's Tooth
The Lion's Tooth is a sophisticated yet approachable tiki drink from the legendary Don the Beachcomber. It balances the deep molasses notes of dark Jamaican rum with the herbal sweetness of vermouth and the bright acidity of orange juice. A touch of allspice dram adds a warm, spicy complexity, making it a perfectly balanced tropical sipper that's less common but no less delicious than its more famous tiki brethren.
Preparation
Preparation time: 4 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
The Lion's Tooth is a classic tiki cocktail, known for its use of rum, fruit juice, and exotic spices. It falls squarely into the category of tropical drinks originating from the mid-20th century, often associated with Don the Beachcomber.
Serving
Serve this cocktail ice-cold and 'up' in a pre-chilled coupe glass. It has a moderate alcohol strength, making for a flavorful but not overwhelming sipping experience.
Serving size
Approximately 120 ml / 4 oz
Alcohol content
Estimated 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled
Backstory
This cocktail is credited to Donn Beach (Don the Beachcomber), the founding father of tiki culture, and is believed to have been created in the 1930s or 1940s. Like many of his recipes, it was shrouded in a bit of mystery, featuring a complex interplay of flavors that defined his style. It's a testament to the creativity of the early tiki era, showcasing how classic ingredients like vermouth could be integrated into tropical drinks.
Origin
United States, likely created in a Don the Beachcomber restaurant in the 1930s-1940s.
Lion's Tooth
The drink is consistently known as the Lion's Tooth or Lion's Tooth Cocktail, with no significant alternative names.
Original name
Lion's Tooth
Alternative name
Lion's Tooth Cocktail
Characteristics overview
This is a smooth, medium-bodied cocktail with a complex flavor profile blending fruity orange, warm allspice, and rich rum notes. Its golden amber appearance is matched by a warming, spicy aftertaste.
Flavor
Fruity, spicy, rich, complex, herbal
Aroma
Orange zest, allspice, molasses, dark rum
Taste balance
Sweet, sour, spicy
Aftertaste
Warming, spicy, long
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Golden amber, translucent, orange-brown hue
Texture
Smooth, silky, medium-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery, all-season
Flavor intensity & Experience
This drink offers a medium-high flavor intensity, with a balanced interplay of fruitiness, sweetness, and spice. The alcohol strength is present but well-integrated, and it is a completely still cocktail.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
To make a Lion's Tooth, you will need dark Jamaican rum, sweet vermouth, fresh orange juice, allspice dram, and a touch of simple syrup. The interplay of these five ingredients creates its signature spicy and fruity profile.
- Dark Jamaican Rum45 ml / 1.5 ozA funky, pot-still Jamaican rum like Smith & Cross or Appleton Estate works best.
- Sweet Vermouth15 ml / 0.5 ozA quality Italian-style sweet vermouth is recommended.
- Fresh Orange Juice15 ml / 0.5 ozFreshly squeezed is essential for brightness.
- Allspice Dram7.5 ml / 0.25 ozAlso known as pimento dram. St. Elizabeth is a popular brand.
- Simple Syrup7.5 ml / 0.25 oz1:1 sugar to water ratio. Adjust to taste depending on the sweetness of your other ingredients.
Ice type
- Cubed
Mixing equipments
You'll need standard cocktail-making equipment: a shaker to mix and chill the drink, a jigger for accurate measurements, and a strainer for a clean pour.
- Cocktail shaker - for chilling and combining ingredients.
- Jigger - for measuring ingredients.
- Strainer - for separating ice from the liquid.
Instructions
Preparation involves shaking all ingredients with ice until well-chilled, then double-straining into a chilled coupe glass. Finish with an orange twist garnish.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
2. Add all ingredients—dark Jamaican rum, sweet vermouth, fresh orange juice, allspice dram, and simple syrup—to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
4. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Double-strain the mixture into your pre-chilled coupe glass.
6. Garnish with an expressed orange twist.
Garnishing
A simple orange twist is the perfect garnish, adding aromatic oils that complement the orange juice in the drink.
- Orange twist - Express the oils over the drink before dropping it in.
Dietary Information
This cocktail is generally free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, gluten, and nuts. To ensure it is vegan, verify that the sweet vermouth used was not processed with animal-based fining agents.
✓ 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, primarily from the alcohol and sugar. It typically has around 10-14 grams of carbohydrates and sugar per serving.
Calories
Averagely 180-220 kcal / 753-920 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 10-14 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 9-13 g
Sugar level
Occasions
This cocktail is perfect for summer gatherings, tropical-themed parties, or simply as a unique choice for happy hour. Its warming spice notes also make it a pleasant drink for a relaxing evening at home.
- Summer party
- Happy hour
- Tropical themed event
- Relaxing evening
Pairing suggestions
The Lion's Tooth pairs wonderfully with the sweet and savory flavors found in Polynesian-style cuisine, such as grilled meats or a classic pu pu platter. Its spice notes also complement spicy appetizers and can cut through the richness of aged cheeses.
- Spicy appetizers
- Grilled pork or chicken
- Pu pu platters
- Aged cheeses
The Lion's Tooth: A Forgotten Tiki Classic's Spicy Bite
The Lion's Tooth is a hidden gem from the golden era of tiki, offering a more spirit-forward and complex experience than many fruit-heavy tropical drinks. It masterfully combines the funk of Jamaican rum with the herbal notes of vermouth, the brightness of orange, and a distinctive kick from allspice dram. Easy to make yet sophisticated in flavor, it's an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore beyond the more common tiki cocktails and appreciate the genius of Don the Beachcomber.
Similar Cocktails
You May Also Like
Radler
A refreshing and simple German beer cocktail made by mixing beer with sparkling lemonade or citrus soda.
Rusty Nail
A simple, sophisticated, and warming sipper made with Scotch whisky and the honeyed herbal liqueur, Drambuie.
Ron Collins
A refreshing and simple rum-based highball that is a tropical twist on the classic Tom Collins.
Kamikaze
A sharp and refreshing cocktail made with vodka, orange liqueur, and lime juice, often served as a shot or straight up.
Have You Tried These Yet?
Pink Squirrel
A sweet, creamy, and nutty almond-flavored dessert cocktail with a distinctive pastel pink hue.
Benson Cocktail
A sophisticated and aromatic whiskey cocktail with herbal notes from Bénédictine and the dryness of vermouth.
Improved Chartreuse Cocktail
A complex, aromatic, and herbaceous gin cocktail featuring Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and a fragrant absinthe rinse.
Knee Buckler
A crisp and zesty highball featuring the spicy kick of ginger beer balanced with the botanical notes of gin and bright lime.