Navy Grog – Victor Bergeron’s Recipe

Victor Bergeron’s Navy Grog Recipe Vs Donn Beach’s Recipe.

Donn Beach and Victor Bergeron’s Navy Grog recipes are similar and practically the same drink. The only difference between the two recipes is that Donn Beach uses honey instead of allspice dram and has an ounce of soda water added. The Biggest difference is the ice. Donn Beach’s recipe calls for a shaved ice cone around the straw. Victor Bergeron’s recipe call for shaking the cocktail with shaved or crushed ice and then pouring the entire contents of the shaker, ice and all, into the glass.

Navy Grog Mix Recipe.

If you pick up Trader Vic’s cocktail book, the recipe will call for 3 ounces of Vic’s Navy Grog Mix. This was to sell his Trader Vic branded mixers that no longer exist. Still, fortunately for us, Victor Bergeron never really kept his Navy Grog mix recipe a secret. Vic’s Navy Grog was equal parts lime juice, grapefruit juice, and Allspice Dram. Knowing that and the rest of the recipe printed in the book, we can perfectly recreate the Trader Vic’s Navy Grog cocktail.

The Most Important Ingredient.

The allspice dram sets the Victor Bergeron version apart from the Donn Beach recipe, and I feel this is the better version. While the honey in Donn’s adds more sweetness, the allspice liqueur adds nice cinnamon and clove spice. So try the two. They are nearly identical and see which one you prefer.

Recipe Resources

• 1972 Trader Vics Bartender’s Guide – Bergeron