The 7 Best Substitutes For Allspice Dram

What can I use instead of Allspice Dram? The best substitutes for Allspice Dram are homemade allspice-infused rum liqueur, John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, and Angostura Bitters. For holiday and tiki cocktails, try other spiced rums, like Old New Orleans Cajun Spice, Dark Matter, Foursquare, and Diablesse Clementine.

Allspice Dram is an amber-colored herbal rum liqueur from Jamaica, characterized by its pimento flavor. Allspice tastes like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, infusing the rum with a sweet, dark heat ideal for warming coffee beverages and cocktails. Here are the seven best substitutes for Allspice Dram.

The Best Allspice Dram Substitutes

Homemade Allspice Dram

The best substitute for commercially produced Allspice Dram is homemade allspice-infused rum liqueur.

Allspice Dram is a rum infused with spices and sugar, so you can make your own using half a cup of allspice berries, 2 ½ cups navy-strength (over 50% AVB) rum, and sugar.

Begin by toasting the allspice berries in a skillet. Once toasted, roughly crush the berries and add them to the rum.

Mix well, seal, and allow to steep for 10 to 14 days. Add spices, like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, after seven days.

Strain the rum, discarding the spices.

In a small saucepan, combine two parts raw sugar with one part water and heat on low. Stir gently for 15 minutes, until the sugar dissolves, creating a syrup.

Combine the infused rum with the sugar syrup. Allow the liqueur to cool before bottling.

Use the homemade Allspice Dram in recipes requiring the liqueur.

John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum

Another excellent substitute for Allspice Dram is John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum.

Falernum is a Barbadian sweet herbal liqueur spiced with ginger, cloves, lime, almonds, and sometimes allspice.

The term can also refer to a non-alcoholic spiced syrup, which is why you should choose a brand like John D. Taylor’s brand of thick, sugar Velvet Falernum, which is 11% ABV and dates back to 1890.

Whether alcoholic or not, falernum is a popular addition to tiki cocktails, especially the Mai Tai and the Bermuda Rum Swizzle, adding mystery, complexity, and spicy depth.

Use Velvet Falernum instead of Allspice Dram to add sweetness and spiciness to classics like the Zombie and the Rum Barrel. If you’re making mocktails, use non-alcoholic falernum.

Replace Allspice Dram with the same amount of Velvet Falernum. You may want to add more rum if you want a more alcoholic cocktail.

Angostura Bitters

Angostura Bitters make a convenient substitute for Allspice Dram.

A stalwart of the bartender and mixologist, Angostura Bitters are used as a flavoring or seasoning for other beverages, with only a few drops used at a time.

“Bitters” originally referred to as a herbal tonic, created as a medicinal elixir – you’ll still encounter a similar digestif like Campari.

These alcoholic drinks are flavored with bitter botanicals like gentian, cassia, wormwood, and burdock, with optional citrus, herbs, or spices (including allspice).

Angostura Bitters are a standard component of the Manhattan and Old Fashioned, adding a hint of cloves and cinnamon.

While Angostura Bitters doesn’t have the ABV or the intense spiciness of Allspice Dram, it’s convenient for adding flavor. Infuse cocktails like the Cuba Libre, Donn Beach’s classic Three dots and a dash, or a Planter’s Punch with bittersweetness.

For every ¼ teaspoon Allspice Dram, use 4 dashes Angostura Bitters.

Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum

Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum makes a deliciously spicy alternative to Allspice Dram.

This brand of spiced rum is made in Louisiana, USA, from sugar cane. It consists of a rum blend infused with baking spices, including allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and cayenne pepper.

Old New Orleans Spice Rum offers a punch of heat that Allspice Dram doesn’t. Still, it makes a bold, tasty substitute in holiday cocktails, like a Spiked Eggnog or Tea And Krampus.

Use Old New Orleans in a Dark ‘n Stormy, as it matches well with the warmth of ginger beer.

Replace Allspice Dram with equal quantities of Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum.

Dark Matter Spiced Rum

Use Dark Matter Spiced Rum to replace Allspice Dram.

Dark Matter Spiced Rum is a Scottish, molasses-based rum infused with fresh ginger, peppercorns, and allspice. It is sweeter than Allspice Dram, with a delightful toffee undertone, so it is a gorgeous addition to your evening coffee.

Replace Allspice Dram with Dark Matter Spiced Rum in cocktails like the coffee-flavored Cuban Love, the sparkling La Cola Nostra, or the gingery Dark ‘n Stormy.

Use Dark Matter in equal proportions to Allspice Dram.

Foursquare Spiced Rum

Barbadian Foursquare Spiced Rum is a delicious replacement for Allspice Dram.

Foursquare Spiced Rum is made by a small-batch boutique distillery in Barbados and contains no artificial flavorings.

The vanilla flavor comes from the bourbon casks used for aging, while spices like cinnamon add depth and richness.

Foursquare offers a spicy and fruity Christmas cake undertone but with an appealing dryness rather than saccharine sweetness.

While Foursquare is milder than Allspice Dram, it makes an excellent substitute for a sipping rum.

Use it for an unusually spicy ginger mojito or with bourbon in an Old Fashioned or Lion’s Tail. It’s also ideal for Christmas punch, especially the Mexican Ponche Navideño.

Use Foursquare as a 1:1 replacement for Allspice Dram.

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Caribbean Rum

This citrus-flavored rum is a delightful alternative to Allspice Dram.

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum is a Guyanan aged rum, spiced with ginger, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon, with the delicious, festive flavor of fresh clementines.

Combining spiced rum’s heat with Cointreau’s sweetness, this rum is ideal for fruity cocktails like the Ancient Mariner or gingery drinks like a Rum Moscow Mule.

Use Diablesse instead of Allspice Dram in holiday cocktails, like a Hot Toddy, Hot buttered rum with ice cream, or a boozy hot chocolate. The citrus flavors are a perfect festive addition.

Replace Allspice Dram with equal measures of Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum.