speakeater.
Bootlegger · 1920s · Havana

Mary Pickford.

Named for the silent film star "America's Sweetheart," who drank these on holiday in Havana with Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.

Spirit
White rum
Glass
Coupe
ABV
~18%
Prep
3 min
Era
Bootlegger
Quick answer

The Mary Pickford is a bootlegger cocktail from Havana, 1920s. Built on white rum, served in a coupe, around 18% ABV. Named for the silent film star "America's Sweetheart," who drank these on holiday in Havana with Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks during American Prohibition. The drink is the holiday.

Ingredients

What goes in a Mary Pickford?

Method

How do you make a Mary Pickford?

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake hard until very cold.
  3. Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Drop the cherry in.
Pair it with dinner Grilled pineapple with chili-lime salt. Double-down on the pineapple.
Bartender's notes

What should you know before making a Mary Pickford?

History

Where did the Mary Pickford come from?

Named for the silent film star "America's Sweetheart," who drank these on holiday in Havana with Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks during American Prohibition. The drink is the holiday. Fred Kaufman of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba mixed it for her party. Sloppy Joe's Bar in Havana later printed the recipe in their 1932 bartender's guide.

According to Hotel Nacional de Cuba, attributed to Fred Kaufman.

Variations

What cocktails are similar to a Mary Pickford?

Pickford's Bramble
Add a dash of Angostura bitters and float a barspoon of crème de mûre.
Daiquiri No. 4
Same era, same Hotel Nacional. Pineapple, lime, sugar, white rum. Sister cocktail.
FAQ

Common questions.

What is in a Mary Pickford cocktail?

Two ounces of white rum, two ounces of fresh pineapple juice, a teaspoon of real grenadine, and a teaspoon of maraschino liqueur. Shaken with ice and strained into a coupe.

Who was Mary Pickford?

A silent film star and co-founder of United Artists, called "America's Sweetheart" in the 1910s and 1920s. She vacationed in Havana during Prohibition because Cuba was wet.

Can I use canned pineapple juice in a Mary Pickford?

You can but it will taste like a sugar drink. Fresh pineapple juice (juiced from a real pineapple, strained) is the entire flavor of this cocktail.

What rum should I use for a Mary Pickford?

A Cuban-style white rum. Bacardi Carta Blanca is the historical default. Havana Club 3-year, where available, is closer to the original 1920s spec.

Kyle Schulgen Founder, Speakeater
Builder of Speakeater, the cooking app for people tired of asking what's for dinner. Hand-transcribes pre-Prohibition cocktail manuscripts as a hobby, ships them in the app's cellar.
Last updated: 2026-05-02

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