Dunlop – Classic Rum, Dry Sherry & Angostura Cocktail

The Dunlop Cocktail keeps things spare: light rum, dry sherry, and Angostura bitters, shaken cold and served up. The rum brings a clean sugarcane base, sherry adds dry, nutty depth, and bitters provide warm spice. For drinkers who enjoy compact, spirit-forward classics, this three-ingredient combination offers plenty of character without citrus, syrup, or extra ornament.

A Rum-and-Sherry Classic

The precise origin of the Dunlop is unclear in the available recipe data. Its structure fits the older cocktail tradition of pairing a base spirit with fortified wine and bitters, a style that was well established by the late 1800s. Here, rum takes the lead while dry sherry softens and deepens the drink without making it sweet.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Light Rum – provides the clean, lightly sweet backbone of the cocktail.
• Dry Sherry – adds dryness, nuttiness, and fortified-wine complexity.
• Angostura Bitters – brings concentrated spice and aromatic depth.

Useful substitutions

• No light rum? Try a lightly aged rum for a rounder profile with subtle oak character.
• No dry sherry? Dry vermouth can produce a lean, herbal variation, though it will no longer taste like the classic spec.
• No Angostura? Another aromatic bitters can work, but expect the spice profile to change.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Jigger
• Hawthorne strainer
• Coupe or coupette glass

Rum in a Different Lane

The Dunlop avoids the citrus, sugar, and tropical flavors found in many familiar rum drinks. Dry sherry instead gives the rum a savory, nutty counterpoint, while Angostura adds just enough spice to connect the two. The result is dry, aromatic, and more restrained than its three ingredients might suggest.

Substitutions & Variations

• Use lightly aged rum for extra vanilla and oak while keeping the drink rum-forward.
• Try Amontillado sherry for a nuttier, richer variation.
• Use Fino or Manzanilla when you want the driest, crispest sherry profile.
• Try another aromatic bitters to change the spice character without altering the basic structure.
• Add a lemon or orange twist as an optional garnish if you want a brighter aroma.

Helpful Tips

• Chill the coupe before mixing so the drink stays cold after straining.
• Measure the rum and sherry rather than free-pouring; the simple recipe makes ratio changes noticeable.
• Keep the shake brief and purposeful to chill the drink without excessive dilution.
• Refrigerate opened sherry to slow oxidation and preserve its character.
• Serve alongside salted almonds, olives, or other savory snacks that complement the sherry.
• For several servings, pre-batch the rum, sherry, and bitters, then shake each portion with ice before serving.