cocktaildna

Havana, Cuba

Mary Pickford

A sweet, fruity rum cocktail that tastes like a tropical dessert in a glass.

pineapplecherrytropicalsweetrumfruit-forwardprohibition-erashakendessert-like

%

ABV

Difficulty

Mary Pickford

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is all pineapple and sweet cherry, soft and candy-like. The middle rounds out with the vanilla and grassy notes of the rum pushing through the sugar. It finishes short and clean, leaving a lingering tropical fruit sweetness on the tongue.

Who will like it

This is for drinkers who like sweet, fruit-forward cocktails and want something that goes down easy without any bite.

When to drink

Serve this at brunch or as a sunny afternoon sipper when you want something that feels like a mini vacation.

Ordering tip

Ask the bartender to go easy on the grenadine if you don't want the drink to turn into pure sugar.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $8–$12Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a sweet, fruit-driven drink that leans hard on pineapple and cherry flavors. The white rum gives it a soft vanilla backbone without any harsh alcohol burn. A hint of maraschino liqueur tries to dry things out, but the grenadine usually wins, keeping the whole sip candied and soft. It is light and easy to drink, tasting more like tropical juice than a stiff cocktail.

Finish: The finish is short and clean, leaving a lingering pineapple and cherry sweetness on the back of the tongue.

Primary tastes

sweetfruity

Secondary

floralnutty

Aroma

pineapplecherrylight rum
  • Sweetnessvery sweet

    Grenadine and pineapple juice stack up a lot of sugar, making this one of the sweender classic cocktails.

  • Sournessmild acidity

    The pineapple brings a little tartness, but it gets buried under the heavy sweetness.

  • Strengthmoderate strength

    The rum is there, but the large volume of juice and syrup hides the alcohol well.

  • Refreshingfairly refreshing

    Cold and fruity with a light body, it drinks like a tropical cooler.

  • Creaminesslight body

    The pineapple juice gives it a bit of texture, but it stays light and juicy rather than creamy.

  • Complexitymodest complexity

    The maraschino liqueur adds a dry nutty layer, though the sweet fruit flavors dominate the profile.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on White Rum. A light, unaged or lightly aged rum works best here

Before you start

Stick your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes before you start so it gets frosty. If you have fresh pineapple, squeeze the juice right before making the drink.

Ingredients

  • White RumBase Spirit60ml
  • Pineapple JuiceJuiceFresh squeezed makes a huge difference60ml
  • GrenadineSyrupUse real pomegranate grenadine if you can find it7.5ml
  • Maraschino LiqueurLiqueurAdds a dry, nutty cherry depth that cuts the sweetness7.5ml
  • Maraschino CherryGarnish1 piece

Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Tools

  • Cocktail Shaker · Shaking

    To combine and chill the juice and rum quickly with ice

    At home: A large mason jar with a tight lid

  • Jigger · Measuring

    To measure the rum, juice, and syrups accurately

    At home: A measuring shot glass or tablespoon set

  • Hawthorne Strainer · Straining

    To hold back the ice while pouring the drink into the glass

    At home: A fine mesh kitchen sieve

  • Coupe Glass · Serving

    To serve the drink chilled and elegant without ice

    At home: A small wine glass or champagne saucer

  • Fine Mesh Strainer · optional · Straining

    To catch any small ice chips or pineapple pulp when pouring

    At home: A regular kitchen sieve

Ingredients and tools to make Mary Pickford
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Take your cocktail shaker and pour in 60ml white rum, 60ml pineapple juice, 7.5ml grenadine, and 7.5ml maraschino liqueur using your jigger. The liquids will look pale pink at the bottom of the shaker.

    Step 1 — how to make Mary Pickford

    !Pouring the grenadine first makes it stick to the bottom and harder to mix in evenly.

  2. 2

    Fill the shaker about three-quarters full with ice cubes. Make sure the ice comes up above the liquid line so everything chills fast when you shake.

    Step 2 — how to make Mary Pickford

    !Using too little ice means the drink gets watered down instead of chilled.

  3. 3

    Put the top on the shaker and shake it hard for about 10 seconds. You want to feel the outside of the metal shaker get very cold and start frosting up in your hand.

    ~10s

    Step 3 — how to make Mary Pickford

    !Shaking too gently leaves the drink warm and doesn't wake up the pineapple juice.

  4. 4

    Take the top off the shaker and fit your Hawthorne strainer over the opening. Pour the drink through the strainer into your chilled coupe glass. If you hate floating ice chips, hold a small fine mesh strainer over the glass while you pour.

    Step 4 — how to make Mary Pickford

    !Pouring too fast can splash the drink over the rim of the small glass.

  5. 5

    Drop a maraschino cherry right into the center of the glass. Serve it right away while it is still cold and the surface is smooth.

    Step 5 — how to make Mary Pickford

    !Leaving the drink sitting on the bar too long lets it warm up and separate.

Serve

Serve it straight up in the chilled coupe glass right after straining. The pale pink color and single cherry on the bottom make it look as sweet as it tastes.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for White Rum

  • White RumAged Rum
    Match
    Common availability

    White Rum → Aged Rum: Adds deeper vanilla and oak notes that push back against the sweetness.

Swap options for Grenadine

  • GrenadinePomegranate Molasses diluted with water
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Grenadine → Pomegranate Molasses diluted with water: Brings a tart, earthy pomegranate flavor that makes the drink less candy-like.

Swap options for Maraschino Liqueur

  • Maraschino LiqueurCherry Heering
    Match
    Specialty availability

    Maraschino Liqueur → Cherry Heering: Makes the drink sweeter and fruitier with a richer, jammy cherry taste.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Bahia

Similar cocktail

Bahia

Bahia uses coconut cream instead of grenadine and maraschino, making it richer and more tropical.

Match

Both drinks taste like tropical pineapple juice, but the Bahia drinks thicker and creamier from the coconut, while the Mary Pickford stays lighter and sharper with its cherry notes.

In common: shaken, tropical, fruit-forward, served up

Ingredients

Both share

White Rum, Pineapple Juice

Only in Mary Pickford

Grenadine, Maraschino Liqueur

Only in Bahia

Coconut Cream

Swapping the cherry and pomegranate syrups for coconut cream turns the drink from a bright, candy-like sipper into a heavier, richer tropical cocktail.

Flavor

Shared flavors

pineapple-forward, sweet, light rum base

How Bahia differs

creamier, less tart, more body

View recipe & details →

Hemingway Daiquiri

Similar cocktail

Hemingway Daiquiri

The Hemingway Daiquiri uses lime and grapefruit juice instead of grenadine, making it much drier and sharper.

Match

The Hemingway Daiquiri is a dry, acidic drink for people who want a sharp edge, whereas the Mary Pickford is soft and candied for those who want their alcohol hidden in fruit.

In common: shaken, served up, rum-based, contains maraschino

Ingredients

Both share

White Rum, Maraschino Liqueur, Pineapple Juice

Only in Mary Pickford

Grenadine

Only in Hemingway Daiquiri

Lime Juice, Grapefruit Juice

Replacing the sweet grenadine with tart lime and grapefruit juices completely shifts the drink from sweet and fruity to tart and bracing.

Flavor

Shared flavors

rum backbone, maraschino nuance, pineapple hint

How Hemingway Daiquiri differs

much tarter, drier finish, less sweet

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

This cocktail was created in Havana during Prohibition, likely at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba. It is named after the famous silent film actress Mary Pickford, who was reportedly visiting Cuba at the time. The exact creator is disputed, with credit usually split between bartender Fred Kaufmann and Eddie Woelke.

Creator
Fred Kaufmann or Eddie Woelke
Era
1920s
IBA
The Unforgettables
Data version
IBA current spec
Confidence

The IBA recipe is widely accepted, though older recipes sometimes vary the ratios of grenadine and maraschino liqueur.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Use fresh pineapple juice if you can; the canned stuff tastes flat.
  • A good quality grenadine with real pomegranate keeps it from tasting like cough syrup.
  • Shake it well to get the pineapple juice nice and frothy on top.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Do not use cheap neon-red grenadine, it ruins the flavor.
  • Do not skip the maraschino liqueur, it is the only thing cutting the sweetness.