Lord Rodney

Lord Rodney is a rich and tropical tasting drink. The most famous Lord Rodney was a Royal Navy officer and merchant. I like how the Karaken Rum bottle label is creeping out behind the anthologies and encircling the ship in its tentacles. It's like that part of an old map that warns "There be dragons."

The drink calls for coconut syrup, which you can make like orgeat. I decided that cream of coconut (not coconut puree) would be the best substitute. I took 1/2 tsp. of cream of coconut and added 1/2 tsp. of coconut rum to thin it out. Then I strained it into the shaker through a fine mesh to catch any coconut chunks in the syrup. Here's how to do the rest.

• 2 oz. blended whiskey
• 1 oz. dark rum
• 1/4 tsp. creme de cacao
• 1 tsp. coconut syrup

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.