Hangman’s Blood

A High Wind in Jamaica, Richard Hughes, 1929

1 part rum

1 part gin

1 part brandy

1 part porter

Fill a Collins glass with ice.

Add all of the ingredients, stir until chilled, and enjoy.

Captain Jonsen … went on board, and mixed several gallons of that potion known in alcoholic circles as Hangman’s Blood (which is compounded of rum, gin, brandy, and porter). Innocent (merely beery) as it looks, refreshing as its tastes, it has the property of increasing rather than allaying thirst, and so, once it has made a breach, soon demolishes the whole fort.

In this tale, Jonsen is a pirate who has kidnapped several children and young people on their way home from Jamaica, which is far darker and stranger than the usual “abducted by pirates” fare. Jonsen here is trying to get in good with a group of Cubans at a Havana dock and uses a very strong drink to win them over. As you can see from the description, it packs quite the punch! It seems that Hughes invented this drink, and even if he meant it more as a joke, many have since tried making it and enjoyed it. So have a swashbuckling adventure, if you dare!