Sharks Tooth (Trader Vic’s)
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 12.2% ABV ∙
A Trader Vic's tiki original, the Shark's Tooth shakes overproof rum with lime, lemon, sugar, and grenadine, then tops with soda in a sling glass. Bracing and effervescent, it hits hot from the overproof backbone before citrus and a berry-sweet undertone settle into a fizzy, clean-finishing lift.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Save a spent lime shell from juicing for garnish
- Shake the first 5 ingredients with ice: White overproof rum 40 mlLime juice 15 mlLemon juice 15 mlSugar syrup 10 mlGrenadine syrup 10 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass while also pouring Soda water 60 ml
- Garnish with the spent lime shell
Tips
- Shake hard and fast over ice — a short shake underchills an overproof rum base and leaves it hot.
- Save the spent lime shell from juicing rather than a fresh wedge; it's the drink's intended garnish.
- Pre-chill the glass so the ice-filled serve stays cold as the soda water is poured in.
History
Trader Vic's Shark's Tooth is Victor Bergeron's own version of a tiki drink he included in Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide, the 1972 revised edition, where he described it as one of the earliest drinks made at his restaurant. Bergeron, known as Trader Vic, built his tiki-bar career after converting his Oakland restaurant, Hinky Dink's, into Trader Vic's in the 1930s, and his guide lists this simple rum, citrus, and grenadine highball built with a splash of soda.
The name Shark's Tooth was also used by Bergeron's rival Donn Beach for an unrelated recipe served at Don the Beachcomber restaurants beginning in the 1930s, a blended drink combining rum with pineapple juice and maraschino syrup. That version, decoded and published decades later by tiki historian Jeff Berry, is a different build from Trader Vic's rendition, and the two "Shark's Tooth" drinks are best understood as separate recipes sharing only a name.
FAQ
What are the signature cocktails at Trader Vic's?
Trader Vic's, the tiki restaurant chain founded by Victor Bergeron, is known for a range of rum-based originals including the Mai Tai, widely credited to Bergeron himself, alongside other house creations such as the Shark's Tooth.
What is in a Shark's Tooth cocktail?
White overproof rum, fresh lime and lemon juice, sugar syrup, and grenadine, shaken and strained over ice with soda water added, garnished with a spent lime shell.
How strong is a Shark's Tooth cocktail?
About 12.2% ABV. The soda water and citrus stretch the overproof rum into a long, fizzy drink, so it lands lighter than a straight rum pour despite the strong base spirit.
