The DeRosier cocktail is nicely dark and mysterious. It uses very light chocolate and cherry notes to bring out the sweet notes in the rum and bourbon, with the overall effect of being just slightly sweet.
This drink is great for after dinner or as a nightcap – there’s something about it that’s just right for a chilly evening. It goes down easily, but the taste is complex enough to keep you interested to the very end.
What it Tastes Like
The DeRosier is smooth, just sweet enough and intriguing. The rum gives it a soft sugarcane character, while the bourbon adds vanilla, oak, and caramel notes.
Dark crème de cacao brings a rounded chocolate flavor without making the drink taste like melted candy. The cherry brandy works more like an accent than a main ingredient, adding a small burst of ripe fruit and a fragrant finish.
Choosing the spirits
A clean, lightly aged, or silver rum works well here. Bacardi is absolutely a good choice. Don’t go for anything overly pricey or special – you’d be wasting a good bottle in a cocktail.
The bourbon also doesn’t need to be expensive. I’d avoid rye because the spiciness might not work with the rest of the cocktail. Makers Mark, Jim Beam and Jack Daniels are all good options.
Dark crème de cacao is usually sweeter and more dessert-like than many other chocolate liqueurs. Brand flavors vary, so check the label before pouring. This provides all the sweetness in the drink, so you don’t need to worry too much about the bottle here.
Cherry brandies vary a lot. Since you only use a “splash” in this drink, the quality of the bottle won’t matter much. Yes, that’s a recurring theme with this drink, and isn’t it nice not hearing that you need to go buy some expensive bottles?
Measure the splash
If you prefer exact measurements, I totally get that. Go with about 1/4 ounce of cherry brandy. That’s enough to add aroma and fruitiness without hiding the rum.
If the drink tastes too chocolate-heavy, you can increase the cherry brandy slightly. If it tastes too fruity or sweet, reduce it the next time.
A standard jigger makes this easier. Measure the larger pours first, then add the cherry brandy. The ingredients can go straight into the shaker, so there’s no need to dirty a mixing glass.
Chill the glass first
A chilled cocktail glass keeps the drink cold longer and helps prevent the first sip from tasting too warm. Place the glass in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes, or fill it with ice and cold water while you make the drink. Empty and dry it before straining.
A coupe, Nick and Nora glass, or small martini glass all work. Use a glass that holds roughly 5 to 7 ounces. A large glass can make the portion look small and lets the drink warm up faster.
Garnish?
I like this one without a garnish, giving the person being served no hint what the drink will taste like. It’s just this mysterious dark brown drink that looks luscious and tastes even better than you imagined.
Prep Time
3 minutes
Total Time
3 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 ounces light rum
- 1 ounce bourbon
- 1 ounce dark creme de cacao
- Splash of cherry brandy
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour all ingredients into the shaker.
- Shake well until chilled, about 10-15 seconds.
- Pour into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve.