Three Dots & A Dash Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Treat yourself to one of the finest libations on the Tiki scene, the party-in-a-glass called Three Dots & A Dash.

Seeing the name of this drink brought me right back to the 7th grade. My family had just moved to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where my father was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division. The 24th has a long and impressive wartime career, making history in a number of armed conflicts. Everywhere that you went on post, the division’s slogans “First to Fight” and “V for Victory” were hard to miss. In fact, the word “victory” became an integral part of how anything was named. If memory serves, there was a Victory Bowling Alley, Victory Youth Center and so on.

The Army reflagged the 24th as the 3rd Infantry Division in 1996, only a few years after we were there. Starting as a Hawaiian division in 1941, I began to wonder if tonight’s drink had some relationship to the 24th, and its “V for Victory” slogan.

You see, the recipe we’re looking at is a classic Tiki cocktail called the Three Dots & A Dash. What is its name a reference to? Well, three dots and a dash in Morse code translates to “V”… for victory. I did a little digging, and while this drink does originate during the tail-end of the Second World War, a direct connection between the 24th I.D. and this full-bodied libation was impossible to come by.

A strong, tropical-tasting rum-based Tiki tipple, the Three Dots & A Dash was invented by legendary Tiki god Donn Beach, aka Don the Beachcomber. And with its moniker being a play on “V for Victory”, the large floral and citrusy sipper indeed wins with every round that’s served.

What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Three Dots & A Dash Cocktail?

Our recipe suggests using a Jamaican or Demerara rum. The latter comes from Guyana, and is a robust melding of fruits and caramel. Jamaican rums are often funkier in flavor, with unique fruit and spiced notes throughout, sometimes featuring banana. I’m more familiar with Jamaican brands, and often enjoy Appleton Estate, Blackwell, Smith & Cross, and for a clear colored spirit, Wray & Nephew. For the falernum liqueur, there’s Velvet, The Bitter Truth and Fee Brothers, just to name a few. And regarding the pimento dram, or allspice dram, St. Elizabeth, Hamilton, as well as The Bitter Truth all make a fine liqueur.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

If you love a Tiki drink from time to time, think about investing in a Tiki mug or two to enjoy this and other cocktails in. If you don’t have one handy, a large pilsner glass will work just fine. Once your drink is blended and poured in, garnish with a few maraschino cherries and a pineapple frond to complete the tropical vibe.

IS A STRAW NECESSARY?

For thicker, frozen-style libations, a straw not only looks cool but makes sipping these kinds of cocktails easier.

Other Tiki Drinks Worth Trying

Here in Southern California, Tiki culture is still just as popular and fun as when it was introduced decades ago. If you can’t make it out to some of our more well-known Tiki bars, like Tiki-Ti, Tonga Hut, Broken Compass, and Damon’s, Twist & Toast can help you out by providing some easy-to-make recipes that you can try at home. Check these out to start with, and get those Dick Dale and calypso records ready to play.

• Mai Tai – The granddaddy of all Tiki drinks, and one that every armchair bartender should know how to make.
• Fog Cutter – Credited to Trader Vic, this cocktail is a real eye-opener.
• Saturn – Another Tiki classic, this tipple is out of this world.
• Zombie – Another concoction invented by Don the Beachcomber.