Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Caribbean Kiss, Revived by "The Rum Diary"

Like many other things in this world, cocktails are sometimes brought back to life by movies and songs.    A few years back, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet teamed up on a song call "5 O'clock Somewhere" and the Hurricane was drawn from obscurity back to the forefront.    Today a 1994 Trois Rivieres After Dinner Cocktail Winner, "Caribbean Kiss" is revived by the movie "The Rum Diary".
This Johnny Depp film is poised to be a classic, like the other Depp movies with rum loving characters.

     Researching this cocktail like so many others, there doesn't seem to be much information on the origin.     There is some reference to it being a Caribbean version of the classic cocktail "Goodnight Kiss", that is a Champagne, bitters  and Campari cocktail.    The "Caribbean Kiss" is a rum, amaretto, and a variety of other ingredients that vary with the version of the recipe that you happen to pick up.

Here are a few of the recipes:

Caribbean Kiss #1
  • 3/4 oz. Dark Rum
  • 1/4 oz. Amaretto
  • 1/4 oz. Kahlua
  • 3/4 oz. Cream
  • Dash of Cinnamon
Place all ingredients except the Cinnamon in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled, strain into a fluted martini glass with the rim coated with brown sugar.   Garnish with cinnamon.


Brugal Caribbean Kiss #2
  • 1 1/2oz. Brugal Anejo Rum
  • 1/2 oz. Amaretto
  • 1/2 oz. Simple Sugar Syrup
  • 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.     Strain into a Martini Glass and garnish with a Maraschino Cherry.


Bahama Bob's Caribbean Kiss
  • 1 oz. Plantation 5 Year Barbados Rum
  • 1 oz. Brinley's Gold Coffee Rum
  • 1/2 oz. Amaretto
  • 1/4 oz. Cane Syrup
  • 1 oz.  Half and Half
  • 1 or 2 Drops of Marie Brizard Chocolate Royal Liqueur
Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.  Strain into a Martini Glass and garnish with an orange zest and a cherry.

     All of these recipes are very good and the version you chosse should reflect your palate.   Enjoy this derivitive of the classic old cocktail.   'o)