Zombie

The IBA Zombie is made with white rum, gold rum, 151-proof rum, Pernod (an anise-flavored spirit), grenadine, fresh lime juice, and Angostura bitters, blended together and poured into a hurricane glass. The combination of three different rum expressions — light, aged, and overproof — creates layered complexity at formidable strength. The Pernod and bitters add aromatic depth without sweetening the drink excessively.

Donn Beach, who created the Zombie at his Hollywood bar Don the Beachcomber in the late 1930s, imposed a two-drink maximum per customer because the cocktail's high alcohol content — approximately 35% ABV — produced significant intoxication more rapidly than guests expected. The limit became legendary and was part of the drink's mystique and marketing. The policy also reflected a responsibility for customer welfare that was unusually progressive for the era.

The Zombie is one of the strongest standard cocktails in the tiki canon, with an ABV of approximately 35% largely attributable to the inclusion of 151-proof (75.5% ABV) overproof rum alongside two additional rum expressions. After blending with ice and juices, the finished drink retains very high alcohol content compared to most mixed drinks. The IBA classifies it as a Classic cocktail alongside other canonical tiki drinks.