IBA
Three Dots and a Dash – IBA
Blend ∙ 4 min ∙ 18.5% ABV ∙
Three Dots and a Dash blends agricole and dark rum with falernum, allspice dram, citrus and honey syrup, served frozen over crushed ice. Bright rum and warm allspice spice lead, with a honeyed citrus tang and a cool, slushy texture that stays refreshing to the last sip.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Blend all ingredients with a scoop of crushed ice: Agricole 45 mlDark rum 15 mlFalernum liqueur 7 mlAllspice dram liqueur 7 mlLime juice 15 mlOrange juice 15 mlHoney syrup 15 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashes
- Pour the drink into the chilled cocktail glass
- Fill the glass with more crushed ice
- Garnish with 3 maraschino cherries and a pineapple wedge
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before blending so the drink doesn't start melting the moment it's poured.
- Use fresh lime and orange juice rather than bottled — the citrus balances the honey syrup and spice.
- Blend just until the crushed ice is fully incorporated; over-blending waters down the allspice and falernum notes.
History
Three Dots and a Dash is a tiki classic created during World War II by Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, the restaurateur known as Donn Beach, at his original Don the Beachcomber bar in Hollywood. Its name renders the letter "V" in Morse code, for "Victory," and the garnish of three maraschino cherries plus a wedge or frond of pineapple was designed to spell out the same three-dots-and-a-dash pattern.
Like most of Donn Beach's cocktails, the recipe was never published and was deliberately kept secret, mixed and labeled in code to stop rival bars from copying it, so it nearly disappeared after his death in 1989. Tiki historian Jeff Berry tracked down the formula from a former Beachcomber bartender's notebook and reconstructed it, publishing the recipe in his 2007 book Sippin' Safari, and it is his version, along with later adaptations such as the one served at San Francisco's Smuggler's Cove, that underlies the cocktail as it is known today. The drink was added to the IBA's official cocktail list in its New Era Drinks category in 2024.
FAQ
How do you make a Three Dots and a Dash?
Blend agricole, dark rum, falernum, allspice dram, lime juice, orange juice, honey syrup, and Angostura bitters with a scoop of crushed ice, then pour into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Top the glass with more crushed ice and garnish with three maraschino cherries and a pineapple wedge, which give the drink its name from the dash and three dots of garnish on the rim.
What is in a Three Dots and a Dash?
Agricole and dark rum form the base, joined by falernum and allspice dram for spice, lime and orange juice for tartness, honey syrup for sweetness, and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. It is blended with crushed ice and served in a cocktail glass topped with more crushed ice.
What is an IBA cocktail?
An IBA cocktail is one of the official drinks recognized by the International Bartenders Association as a world classic, organized into categories such as unforgettables, contemporary classics, and new era drinks. The Three Dots and a Dash is listed among the IBA's official cocktails.