Zombie Cocktail
The traditional Zombie cocktail is a classic tiki drink that will have you feeling like a zombie in no time! With a blend of rums, lime and grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, and velvet falernum, this tiki cocktail packs a punch. The drink is finished with a dash of absinthe for complexity and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint. Sip on one of these and you’ll be ready to join the undead.
Why we love this zombie cocktail
- The Zombie Cocktail has a rich history in the world of tiki drinks. Created by Donn Beach, a pioneer of tiki culture, this strong tropical cocktail and has been enjoyed by cocktail enthusiasts for years.
- The potent blend of rum and fruit juices gives this cocktail a complex flavor profile that is both refreshing and intoxicating.
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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Equipment
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Ingredients & substitutions
- Dark rum
- Light rum
- Overproof rum – Overproof rum has a higher alcohol content that other rums and has typically been aged longer, adding a more complex flavor to the rum. These tend to be a much harsher rum, so opting for a higher quality can really improve the taste of your cocktail.
- Lime juice
- Grapefruit juice
- Cinnamon simple syrup
- Velvet falernum – This is a sweet, spiced liqueur originating from Barbados. It is rum based and seasoned spices like lime zest, almond, ginger. The distinctive flavor adds a unique complexity to cocktails.
- Grenadine
- Angostura bitters – Bitters add an aromatic flavor to drinks, with notes of citrus, spices and bitter herbs. Just a few dashes can make a huge difference in the overall flavor of a cocktail.
- Absinthe – This is used for rinsing the glass prior to serving, to achieve a slight hint of absinthe’s distinct flavor and aroma without overpowering the cocktail.
How to make this zombie cocktail recipe
Fill a cocktail shaker. Add all ingredients expect absinthe to a cocktail shaker full of ice.
Shake. Vigorously shake contents until well chilled.
Absinthe wash. Rinse each glass with absinthe, this will leave all the aromatic goodness of the absinthe without overpowering your cocktail. Then fill each glass with crushed ice.
Serve over ice. Strain contents of the cocktail shaker over ice in each glass. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and fresh mint sprig.
Everything you need to know about the zombie drink
The zombie cocktail includes 3 different styles of rum, one of which has a significantly high alcohol content. This drink definitely packs a punch, although it is balanced out well with the combination of sweet citrus juices, cocktail syrups and hearty spices included in this historical tiki cocktail.
As with most cocktails that include citrus juices, the zombie is a shaken cocktail in a cocktail shaker. Vigorous shaking not only combines the ingredients quite well but it chills the cocktail at the same time.
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Zombie Cocktail
The traditional Zombie cocktail is a classic tiki drink that will have you feeling like a zombie in no time! With a blend of rums, lime and grapefruit juice, cinnamon syrup, and velvet falernum, this tiki cocktail packs a punch. The drink is finished with a dash of absinthe for complexity and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint. Sip on one of these and you’ll be ready to join the undead.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 3 ounces dark rum
- 3 ounces white rum
- 2 ounces overproof rum
- 1 1/2 ounces lime juice
- 2 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 1/2 ounces cinnamon syrup
- 1 ounce velvet falernum
- 1/4 ounce grenadine
- 2 – 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Absinthe, for rinsing glass
- Ice
- Mint sprig and grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add all ingredients except absinthe.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Rinse each glass with absinthe and discard contents.
- Fill each absinthe rinsed glass with ice.
- Strain contents of shaker into glasses.
- Strain and serve over crushed ice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Rum
- Method: Shaken
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 24.7 g
- Sodium: 5.4 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.9 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I don’t use or trust.
