Zombie cocktail in a hurricane glass — made with Rum, Gold rum, and 151 proof rum

Zombie

Schwierigkeitsgrad Hard
Kalorien ~383 kcal
ABV 35,04%

Zutaten

Anweisungen

Blend at high speed for no more than 5 seconds. Pour into a glass, add ice cubes to fill, then add the garnish. *Donn’s mix: Bring 3 crushed cinnamon sticks, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and let sit for at least 2 hours before straining into a clean glass bottle. Then add 1 part of the syrup and 2 parts of fresh grapefruit juice together.

IBA Classic Tiki Strong

The Zombie is a legendary tiki cocktail made with rum, gold rum, 151-proof rum, Pernod, grenadine, lime juice, and Angostura bitters, blended and poured into a hurricane glass. Donn Beach, who created it, famously limited customers to two per sitting due to its formidable potency — at 35% ABV it is one of the strongest standard cocktails in the tiki canon. It is an IBA Classic and one of the defining drinks of the tiki movement.

History & Origins

The Zombie was created by Donn Beach (Donn the Beachcomber) at his Hollywood tiki bar in 1934, reportedly to revive a sick businessman who returned three days later and claimed the drinks had turned him into a zombie. Beach guarded his recipe obsessively, with several variations circulating for decades until his original was reconstructed by drinks historian Jeff Berry from a former employee's notes. The IBA includes it among its Classic cocktails, and it remains a cornerstone of serious tiki bars globally.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Complex and tropical — multiple rums layered with Pernod's anise, grenadine's pomegranate sweetness, lime's tartness, and Angostura's spiced bitters. Palate: Rich and formidably strong, with the three rum components — light, gold, and high-proof — each contributing different dimensions of sugarcane character; Pernod adds an aromatic anise thread, grenadine provides sweetness, and lime and bitters keep the entire construction from toppling into pure sweetness. Finish: Long, warm, and complex with lingering rum, anise, and bitters spice — and a warning for the next round.

tropical complex anise strong spiced

Pro Tip

Limit consumption to two — as Donn Beach prescribed — and pour the 151-proof rum as the last addition to partially float it for maximum aromatic impact on the nose.

Verwendete Techniken

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