Don the Beachcomber's Planter's Punch

“Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt (later Donn Beach) encountered the simple Jamaican Planter's Punch during his Caribbean travels in the 1920s-30s, specifically at the Myrtle Bank Hotel in Kingston. When he opened Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood in 1934, he transformed this rustic "one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak" formula into a sophisticated "Rhum Rhapsody." The 1937 recipe, discovered through Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's meticulous research of Donn's original bartenders' notes, became the template for countless tiki cocktails. By blending three distinct rums and layering complex sweeteners and spices, Donn created more than a drink—he crafted the foundation of modern tiki culture and elevated American mixology from simple cocktails to intricate, multi-dimensional creations.”