Mary Pickford Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Celebrate the mythic opulence of the Golden Age of Hollywood with the sweet and strong Mary Pickford cocktail.

The Silent Era of Hollywood is a fascinating one. So many of the films that survived from that turning point stand as a magical link between our contemporary times and what most of us might think of as “ancient history”. Some may view the art of that time as archaic and primitive, assuming those movies are all filled with jangly, out-of-tune pianos accompanying jittery, sped-up images of the Keystone Cops falling all over each other. But the reality was this: silent movies were absolutely crazy and insane. If you’ve ever marveled at Tom Cruise’s death-defying and mind-boggling stunt work, you’ve participated in a long and grand tradition of jaw-dropping spectacle that had its humble beginnings in the orange groves of Hollywood, California, at the turn of the last century.

And tonight’s cocktail is inspired by one of La-La Land’s most famous denizens, America’s Sweetheart herself, Mary Pickford. Along with her movie star/daredevil husband, Douglas Fairbanks, and their friend Charlie Chaplin, the three became so famous during the height of their popularity that Agnes de Mille once commented that the Beatles had no idea what fame was compared to the crowds that Pickford, Fairbanks and Chaplin drew. Sounds wild, but do an internet search to see some of these photographs. Your eyeballs will fall out of your head, no kidding.

Legend says that the Mary Pickford cocktail was invented at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba to honor the actress when she, her husband and Chaplin vacationed together in Havana during the 1920s. Now, many historians have refuted the claim that the trio were ever in Cuba together during this time, but it does seem that the drink was indeed invented there to honor one of Hollywood’s first ever celebrities.

As you sip on this sweet and strong rum-based elixir, close your eyes and allow your imagination to travel back to a time of hand-cranked cameras, fearless swashbucklers and doe-eyed damsels. Hooray for Hollywood!

What Is Maraschino Liqueur?

For years, I assumed that maraschino liqueur was Italian, but the clear, herbal and nutty alcohol is actually a product of Croatia. Distilled from the sour Marasca cherries that grow on the Dalmatian Coast, maraschino liqueur has been around since 1759, when the country was still a part of the Republic of Venice. To this day, it is an essential and popular element to many a legendary cocktail, such as the Martinez and Brandy Crusta.

What Is The Best Rum To Use In A Mary Pickford Cocktail?

When crafting your Mary Pickford cocktail, you’ll be going for a balanced melding of the sweet and fruity flavors that the maraschino liqueur, mixed with the pineapple juice and grenadine, brings to the party. Our recipe suggests a white rum. With its clear color and subtle, tropical notes, something like Bacardi Silver, Myers’s Platinum, or Kōloa will expertly serve this elegant libation.

What glassware and garnish are used?

Chill a coupe in your freezer for up to 30 minutes before serving, then garnish with a maraschino cherry on a cocktail skewer before you begin sipping.

Is there a Douglas Fairbanks cocktail?

Yes! Mary Pickford’s matinee idol husband also has a drink named for him, which is comprised of gin, apricot brandy, lime juice and egg white. Sometimes it’s made with rye whiskey instead of gin.

Other Cocktails Similar To The Mary Pickford

Have you been looking at the shelves of your home bar lately, taking stock of what you have and might need? Have you noticed the empty spot where a bottle of something should be? And could the missing spirit in question possibly be maraschino liqueur? If you’ve not properly experienced the joys of a cocktail made with maraschino liqueur, it’s high time you procured some and tried out a few of these fantastic recipes.

• Casino Cocktail – Gin, lemon juice and orange bitters join with maraschino liqueur for this high-rolling concoction.
• Hemingway Daiquiri – Papa Hemingway preferred his daiquiris with maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice.
• Final Ward – A modern-day riff on a historic classic.
• The Aviation – This purple-colored tipple is another iconic sipper.