Knickerbocker

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Mixology

                                       KNICKERBOCKER

After 5+ years of writing articles about rum cocktails I am always surprised when I come across one I have never heard of.   Knickerbocker, aside from being a really fun word to say, is also a really great cocktail!  The word refers to knickers, the baggy-kneed pants of the 1920’s customarily worn by boys.  Did you know that in many English speaking countries prior to World War I, young boys wore short pants until the age of puberty and then “graduated” to wearing long trousers? My goodness, how times have changed.   Knickerbocker is also a term for Dutch New Yorkers that were said to be extravagantly wealthy and loved to imbibe.  There is a 5 star hotel right in Times Square in Manhattan called the Knickerbocker, and this is also where the name comes from for the New York Knicks.  

The Knickerbocker cocktail was first written about in Jerry Thomas’ “Bon Vivant’s Companion” in 1862, one of the most iconic cocktail books in history.  There are also a couple of variations in Harry Craddock’s 1930 “Savoy Cocktail Book”.   It is unclear as to who created this drink or where but one can surmise that it happened in New York.   In the early 1800’s there was a Knickerbocker Baseball Club as well as a Knickerbocker Boat Club so it is possible the cocktail originated at one of those.  Cocktail history is sometimes scarce, especially going back this far.  

This unique rum cocktail is made with raspberry syrup and using the right one is critical.   Fresh raspberries are sweet but also a bit tart and you will want that flavor profile. If you are going to buy it, make sure you look for a syrup made from real raspberries. My preference would definitely be to make my own, by cooking down fresh raspberries with sugar and water.  Also- I would not suggest substituting with a raspberry liqueur, as that will vastly change the outcome of the cocktail.  

There are quite a few different recipes online.  They all call for the same ingredients, just different proportions depending on which one you are looking at.   I tried them all, and this is the one I found to be the most balanced.  The original recipe says “Santa Cruz Rum” from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, but any gold rum will work.    I like the richness of a Jamaican rum like Appleton for this cocktail, and here is your pro-tip for the day:  Add ¼ ounce of Smith and Cross for that lovely subtle flavor of banana.  

Enjoy!

  Knickerbocker Cocktail Recipe