Knickerbocker
Serves 1 · 5 minutes · Old-fashioned glass
Last updated 24 October 2026
The Knickerbocker is a Victorian New York classic — rum, raspberry syrup, lime and a touch of curaçao over ice, garnished with berries. The cited specification uses a generous 75ml rum measure; we preserve it as published and count it honestly rather than quietly shrinking it.
Ingredients
- — 75ml BACARDÍ Carta Oro gold rum (37.5% ABV, UK bottling)
- — 15ml raspberry syrup
- — 15ml fresh lime juice
- — 5ml Ferrand Dry Curaçao (40% ABV)
- — Cubed and crushed ice
- — A squeezed half-lime shell and fresh seasonal berries, to garnish
Method
- Measure the rum, raspberry syrup, lime juice and curaçao into a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10–15 seconds until chilled.
- Strain into an old-fashioned glass two-thirds filled with cubed ice, then top with crushed ice.
- Garnish with the squeezed lime shell and berries, add a straw and serve.
Why it works
Raspberry and lime give a fruit-and-acid structure similar to a daiquiri but softer and redder, while the small curaçao measure adds orange depth. The large rum measure is historical; the balance still works because the syrup and lime are proportioned to it.
The classic vs the spiced version
The cited Difford's Guide specification uses 75ml light gold rum, 15ml raspberry syrup, 15ml lime and 5ml curaçao. We keep those measures and name verified UK bottles. Replace the 75ml gold rum with the same measure of Dilay only for a clearly labelled spiced adaptation; its cardamom and ginger sit behind the raspberry rather than reproducing the gold-rum original.
Tips for getting it right
- — Seventy-five millilitres is a large rum measure — 2.81 UK units from the rum alone at 37.5%. This is the published specification, not a serving recommendation; a 50ml adaptation is a legitimate choice if you prefer a smaller drink.
- — Raspberry syrup is non-alcoholic. Raspberry liqueur is a different ingredient and would add to the units.
- — The curaçao is a small 5ml measure for orange depth. It is alcoholic and counted below.
- — Seasonal berries are a garnish, not an ingredient to muddle in quantity. The raspberry character comes from the measured syrup.
Related serves
For a smaller rum-and-lime classic, make a Daiquiri
For another berry-fruit serve, see the strawberry rum drinks
Frequently asked questions
Why is the rum measure so large?
The cited published specification uses 75ml. We preserve it for fidelity and count the resulting 3.01 UK units openly. Scaling all ingredients down proportionally for a smaller serve is a reasonable adaptation.
Is a Knickerbocker always made with rum?
The rum version is the best known, but the name has a long history with other spirits. This page covers the rum specification only.
Can I use raspberry liqueur instead of syrup?
That changes the drink: liqueur adds alcohol and less sweetness per millilitre. Treat it as your own adaptation and recalculate the units.
Can I use spiced rum?
Yes as a labelled adaptation. Substitute the same measure of Dilay; the raspberry, lime and curaçao stay unchanged.
Try Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum in this recipe.
BUY DILAY 1949 PANJABI SPICED RUMRecipe references
Our method and spiced adaptations are described separately from the referenced classic specifications.
Approx. 3.01 UK units per serving from the measured alcoholic ingredients. 3.01 UK units per serving with the named bottles: 75ml at 37.5% plus 5ml at 40%. This is one of the strongest single serves on this site because the published rum measure is large. The syrup and berries are non-alcoholic.
Please drink responsibly. 18+. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.