Dragon's Heart Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 12/3/21
Ron Abuelo Rum's Dragon's Heart Cocktail

Ron Abuelo Rum

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The dragon's heart cocktail is nothing short of interesting. With its combination of rum, mezcal, and blood orange, there's a lot going on inside the glass. It doesn't stop there, though, because you'll also add the sweet taste of elderflower, the tartness of lime, and a good dose of bitters to bring it all together.

The dragon's heart cocktail was created by New York City mixologist Ektoras Binikos for Ron Abuelo Rum. The occasion was the date 12/12/12, a supposedly extra-lucky day because 2012 fell in the lunar Year of the Dragon. To celebrate, Ron Abuelo had 12 mixologists create 12 cocktails using their 12-year-old rum. This one happens to be a wonderful drink for the winter months when blood oranges are in season.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, add the lime wedges, elderflower cordial, and 3 drops of bitters. Muddle well.

  3. Add the rum, mezcal, ginger liqueur, and blood orange juice, and fill the shaker with ice.

  4. Shake vigorously.

  5. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  6. Garnish with 2 drops of bitters and a blood orange slice. Serve and enjoy.

Tip

  • Elderflower cordial is a bit like lemonade flavored with the sweet taste of elderflowers. It's a popular homemade ingredient for those lucky enough to be able to forage for the wildflowers. You can also find it or elderflower syrup (much sweeter) from a number of online or specialty stores.

Recipe Variations

  • If you do not have or cannot find an elderflower cordial, St. Germain Liqueur is a fine substitute and a bottle that is very handy to have in the bar anyway.
  • One suggested variation on this recipe replaces the elderflower cordial with a mint citrus syrup. It creates a completely different flavor but is also quite interesting. You likely won't find this particular flavor at stores, so will have to make it yourself. Luckily, the recipe for mint citrus syrup is very easy and should be ready to use in just over an hour.
  • Mezcal will add a smokiness to this cocktail. If you prefer, pour tequila instead. You won't miss much because there's already a lot of flavor.

How Strong Is a Dragon's Heart Cocktail?

Filled with flavor and various liquors, this cocktail is also not the lightest drink you can mix up. Its alcohol content should fall in the 19 percent ABV (36 proof) range, making it a similar strength to the original daiquiri.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
408 Calories
1g Fat
56g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 408
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 56g 20%
Dietary Fiber 8g 28%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 111mg 556%
Calcium 101mg 8%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 409mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)