Cocktails

Veteran

Veteran is an alcoholic cocktail built on Dark Rum. It leans vanilla, caramel and fruit. Built and served in a Old-Fashioned Glass. Expect about 40% ABV and roughly 182 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic40% ABV2 ingredients

At a Glance

182 kcalCalories

40%ABV

4.4gSugar

5.9gCarbs

1.67Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatestirred drink

Why: 2 ingredients, stirred drink, requires bar spoon

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

2 ozDark rumBase Spirit
1/2 ozCherry brandyBase Spirit

How to Make It

Pour the rum and cherry brandy into an old-fashioned glass almost filled with ice cubes.Pour
Stir well.Stirred

How to Serve

Glass: Old-Fashioned Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Cubed ice
Method: Stirred

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Vanilla Caramel Fruit

Supporting notes

Molasses Oak Spice

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

High ABV
Full-bodied

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

DessertSuggested from its vanilla notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme and recipe metadata. This assignment was approved from the missing-occasion review queue.

Food pairings

BBQ Steak Grilled Meat

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Dark Rum2 oz

Aged RumWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Use the same amount; taste before changing sweetener.
What changes: Aged rum can replace dark rum when a somewhat drier, oak-led profile is acceptable.

Light RumWorks, but changes the drink

How much to use: Use the same amount; expect less depth and dark sugar character.
What changes: Light rum can replace dark rum only when a lighter, cleaner result is acceptable.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated June 18, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Veteran?: The Veteran is a cocktail made with 2 ingredients, traditionally served in a Old-Fashioned Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 40.0%. A standard serving contains approximately 182 calories.
What does a Veteran taste like?: Veteran has a flavour profile featuring Vanilla, Caramel, Fruit, Molasses. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a Veteran?: Veteran pairs well with BBQ, Steak, Grilled Meat. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a Veteran?: The Veteran has an ABV of approximately 40.0%. That's approximately 1.67 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 182 kcal, 4.4g sugar, 5.9g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a Veteran typically served?: Veteran is often suggested for Dessert, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a Veteran?: If you enjoy Veteran, the "similar flavour profile" suggestions on this page point to cocktails that share its flavour character. Drinks with a matching spirit base and comparable body and acidity feel closest.
Can I make a Veteran at home?: Yes. The Veteran uses 2 ingredients, making it easy to prepare at home. You will need a Old-Fashioned Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Body (light to full), Dryness (sweet to bone dry), Acidity (flat to crisp), Fruitiness (subtle to prominent) and Boldness (delicate to bold). Each scale helps you compare cocktails at a glance and find ones with similar character.
How do I use sensory profiles to find cocktails I like?: Compare the Body, Acidity and Fruitiness of Veteran with other cocktails. If you enjoy this drink, look for others with a similar profile. Adjust one dimension at a time to discover new favourites while staying in your flavour comfort zone.