Shark's Tooth Cocktail Recipe featuring Barbados and Jamaica Rums

Looking for your summer drinks to have a little bite? The Shark’s Tooth cocktail is a vintage tiki gem from Don the Beachcomber’s legendary lineup.

Originally surfacing during tiki's heyday, today there are variations to suit every palate. Here the recipe is very rum-forward, served straight up after a quick shake with ice, and the presentation is more understated than might typically be expected.

But what it may lack in visual drama, it delivers with a flavor punch, This drink doesn’t mess around. Smooth Barbados rum is at its foundation, balanced and fruity. But lurking on top is a float of funky Jamaican rum, adding a rich molasses kick that circles your palate and strikes with every sip.

To balance out the rums, the Shark’s Tooth employs Cherry Heering, lush with ripe, dark cherry notes, alongside Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, known for its distinct, nutty almond undertones. These two liqueurs play off each other brilliantly—fruity brightness meets sophisticated nuttiness in a dangerously delicious combination.

Fresh lime and pineapple juice dive in to keep things vibrant, juicy, and tangy, bringing the cocktail to life with the sort of refreshing zing you want when temperatures rise. In short: the Shark’s Tooth delivers just the right amount of tiki trouble. One taste, and you'll be hooked.

Bonus: because you don't need fancy glassware, crushed ice, or exotic garnishes, this is an accessible tiki drink for dabblers and for those whose cocktail motto may as well be "low effort, high reward."