Zombie
Ingrédients
- Rum 1 1/2 oz
- Gold rum 1 1/2 oz
- 151 proof rum 1 oz
- Pernod 1 tsp
- Grenadine 1 tsp
- Lime juice 1 tsp
- Angostura Bitters 1 drop
Instructions
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.
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.
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.
Techniques utilisées
Compare Zombie
Embed on your site — CocktailFYI
Add the widget to any webpage using a script tag.
<div data-cocktailfyi="recipe" data-slug="zombie"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Embed using a standard iframe — works in any CMS.
<iframe src="https://cocktailfyi.com/iframe/recipe/zombie/" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="CocktailFYI recipe widget"></iframe>Paste the URL into WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-aware editor.
https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/zombie/Add a badge linking back to CocktailFYI.
<a href="https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/zombie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://cocktailfyi.com/badge/site.svg" alt="CocktailFYI" height="20">
</a>
Use the CocktailFYI WordPress plugin shortcode.
[drinkfyi-recipe site="cocktailfyi" slug="zombie"]Use as a native HTML custom element in modern browsers.
<cocktailfyi-recipe slug="zombie" theme="light"></cocktailfyi-recipe>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Powered by CocktailFYI
Docs →