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The Peking Cocktail is a rum based drink with a hint of anise flavor. That’s the Pernod, a liqueur flavored with Chinese star anise.

With grenadine and lemon juice, it becomes a very refreshing cocktail. You only use one-fourth of an ounce of the Pernod, so it’s not overpowering.

Orange Peking Cocktail in decorative martini glass

What is the Peking Cocktail?

The Peking Cocktail is a captivating rum-based drink that offers a fairly unique blend of flavors. It combines dark rum, lemon juice, Pernod (an anise-flavored liqueur), and grenadine.

The Taste of the Peking Cocktail

The drink overall is sweet, tart and herbal. Even if you’re not sure you like it, you can’t stop going back for another taste as you try to sort out the flavors on your tongue.

The dominant flavors in this cocktail are lemon and anise. It also has vanilla which makes a wonderful contrast with the grenadine in the drink.

What’s In the Peking Cocktail?

Dark Rum

At the heart of the Peking Cocktail is a generous pour of dark rum. The choice of dark rum over white rum adds depth and complexity to the drink, with its rich, caramelized notes complementing the other ingredients.

Go for a high-quality brand that boasts a smooth, well-balanced flavor profile.

Lemon Juice

Freshly squeezed lemon juice plays a crucial role in the Peking Cocktail, providing a bright, tart counterpoint to the sweetness of the other ingredients. The lemon juice helps to balance the overall flavor and adds a refreshing zing to the drink.

Pernod

The unique flavor of the Peking Cocktail is largely attributed to the addition of Pernod, an anise-flavored liqueur. Pernod is made with a blend of herbs and spices, including the distinctive star anise, which lends a subtle yet captivating licorice-like aroma and taste to the drink.

While the amount of Pernod used is relatively small, its influence on the overall flavor profile is significant.

Grenadine

Grenadine, a sweet and tart pomegranate-based syrup, rounds out the Peking Cocktail’s flavor profile. It adds a beautiful ruby-red hue to the drink and contributes to the overall sweetness, creating a delightful balance with the tartness of the lemon juice and the herbal notes of the Pernod.

Choose a hand-crafted bottle of grenadine, or even better, make your own grenadine!

Overhead view of Peking Cocktail against dark background

Pairing the Peking Cocktail

Serve this drink it alongside dishes that feature complementary flavors or dishes which have a mild flavor.

Try dishes like a spicy tuna roll, pork belly bahn mi, or sesame ginger chicken. For sweets, try coconut cake, croissants or cheesecake with an orange glaze.