The Zombie is a classic, high-potency Tiki cocktail created in 1934 by Donn Beach (Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt) at his Hollywood restaurant, Don the Beachcomber. Famous for its heavy rum base and complex spice profile, the drink was originally so strong that bars famously limited patrons to just two.
Ingredients
- 1 1⁄2 ounces gold puerto rican (or Cuban-style rum)
- 1 1⁄2 ounces dark jamaican rum
- 1 ounce 151-proof demerara rum (such as Lemon Hart or Hamilton)
- 3⁄4 ounce lime juice
- 1⁄2 ounce don's mix (2 parts white grapefruit juice to 1 part cinnamon syrup)
- 1⁄2 ounce velvet falernum
- 1 teaspoon grenadine
- 1 dash angostura bitters
- 6 drops absinthe (or Pernod)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or cocktail shaker with 6 oz of crushed ice.
- Flash-blend or shake briefly (about 5 seconds) to chill and lightly dilute.
- Pour the entire mixture (unstrained/"dirty dump") into a tall Zombie or Collins glass, top with more crushed ice, and garnish generously with a fresh mint sprig and a cherry.