Cocktails

Virginia Dare

Virginia Dare is an alcoholic cocktail built on Dark Rum. It leans spice, bitter and botanical. Muddled and served in a Cocktail Glass. Expect about 27.6% ABV and roughly 352 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic27.6% ABV4 ingredients

At a Glance

352 kcalCalories

27.6%ABV

20.7gSugar

29.6gCarbs

2.79Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderatemuddled drink

Why: 4 ingredients, muddled drink, requires shaker, muddler

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients & Tools

2.0 ozRipe pearOther
2.0 ozDark rumBase Spirit
2.0 ozBenedictineLiqueur Modifier
2 dashesAngostura BittersBitters

Tools:Mixing Glass

How to Make It

Muddle 1 pear slice in mixing glass.Muddled
Add remaining ingredients.Add
Shake with ice and strain through a fine wire sieve into chilled cocktail glass.Shaken
Garnish with remaining pear slice.Garnish

How to Serve

Glass: Cocktail Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice
Method: Shaken

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Spice Bitter Botanical

Supporting notes

Caramel Herbal Honey Molasses Vanilla

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

High ABV
Noticeably sweet
Bold and complex

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

BBQ / CookoutSuggested from pairing with bbq and grilled meat.
AperitifSuggested from its bitter and botanical notes.
Winter / CozySuggested from its spice notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

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

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Not enough information

Gluten-FreeVegetarian

Find vegan-compatible cocktails

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 Rum2.0 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.

Angostura Bitters2 dashes

Aromatic BittersWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Start with the recipe’s dash count and taste before adding more.
What changes: Another aromatic bitters can replace Angostura when some change in spice and fruit character is acceptable.

Orange BittersNot a neutral swap

How much to use: Start with the recipe’s dash count and taste; the result will lose some baking-spice character.
What changes: Orange bitters can replace Angostura only when a brighter, more citrus-led result is acceptable.

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 Virginia Dare?: The Virginia Dare is a cocktail made with 4 ingredients, traditionally served in a Cocktail Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 27.6%. A standard serving contains approximately 352 calories.
What does a Virginia Dare taste like?: Virginia Dare has a flavour profile featuring Spice, Bitter, Botanical, Caramel. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a Virginia Dare?: Virginia Dare pairs well with BBQ, Steak, Grilled Meat. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a Virginia Dare?: The Virginia Dare has an ABV of approximately 27.6%. That's approximately 2.79 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 352 kcal, 20.7g sugar, 29.6g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a Virginia Dare typically served?: Virginia Dare is often suggested for Aperitif, BBQ / Cookout, Winter / Cozy, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a Virginia Dare?: If you enjoy Virginia Dare, 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 Virginia Dare at home?: Yes. The Virginia Dare uses 4 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail 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 Virginia Dare 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.