Mary Pickford
Alessandro Scire CalabrisottoShare
Rosy, fruity and dressed in Hollywood glamour, the Mary Pickford is a taste of the Prohibition era's golden escape. Created in Havana for one of the silent screen's brightest stars, this rum-and-pineapple classic captures the carefree spirit of 1920s Cuba, where American visitors fled the dry years to drink in style.
History of the Mary Pickford
The Mary Pickford was born during the Prohibition years of the 1920s, when Havana became a glittering playground for thirsty Americans escaping the alcohol ban back home. The cocktail is named after Mary Pickford, the Canadian-born silent film star known as “America's Sweetheart” and a co-founder of United Artists, who was among the celebrities drawn to Cuba's vibrant nightlife.
The drink is widely credited to a bartender working in Havana during that era, with the Hotel Nacional and the bartender Fred Kaufman often cited in its origin story. Combining white rum, fresh pineapple juice, grenadine and a touch of maraschino liqueur, it was designed as a sweeter, more glamorous serve — a fitting tribute to a film star at the height of her fame.
Recipe: How to Make a Classic Mary Pickford
Ingredients:
- 60 ml (2 oz) white rum
- 60 ml (2 oz) fresh pineapple juice
- 7.5 ml (0.25 oz) grenadine
- 5 ml (a barspoon) maraschino liqueur
Instructions:
- Add the white rum, pineapple juice, grenadine and maraschino liqueur to a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for around 12 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass to keep the texture clean and silky.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve immediately.
Tips for Perfection:
- Use freshly pressed pineapple juice for a brighter flavour and a beautiful natural froth on top.
- Add the grenadine sparingly — it provides colour and sweetness, but too much will overwhelm the drink.
- Shake hard and double-strain to achieve the signature smooth, lightly foamy finish.
Additional Recommendations
Variations:
- Gold rum version: swapping white rum for a lightly aged rum adds warmth and depth.
- Fresh pomegranate twist: using homemade pomegranate grenadine for a fresher, less sugary profile.
- Sparkling finish: topping with a splash of sparkling wine for a celebratory lift.
Pairings:
- Tropical fruit platters with mango and papaya.
- Light coconut-based desserts.
- Salted cashews or macadamia nuts.
Presentation:
- Serve in a chilled coupe to showcase the drink's soft pink hue.
- Finish with a single cherry and, if you like, a small pineapple leaf for a nod to its Havana roots.
Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Mary Pickford
The Mary Pickford belongs to a small club of cocktails named after Hollywood legends of the silent era, created at a time when bartenders honoured visiting stars by immortalising them in a glass. Few of these celebrity tributes have survived as gracefully — or tasted as good — as this one.