The Zombie is a classic Tiki drink from Don the Beachcomber, whose famous bar in Los Angeles helped bring on the Tiki Craze of the 1930s. These go down smoothly and are very potent. What could be spookier for Halloween than a Zombie? This classic Tiki cocktail is a great thing to serve in one of those Tiki mugs you may have sitting on a shelf from a trip to Hawaii, or you’ve visited one of my favorite bars anywhere, Trader Sam’s in Disneyland or World. If you have never experienced Trader Sam’s, it is an experience like nowhere else and worth the wait to visit if you are at one of the American Disney parks.
The original cocktail was invented to help a customer deal with a hangover and go to a meeting. He returned to Don the next day and complained he was like the walking dead at his meeting but wanted to have another anyway, and the name Zombie was born. Don had a sign limiting the powerful but smooth drink to two per person. The drink became so popular it even had a showing at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, and from there, it exploded in popularity across the country. It is still a great drink to order in a Tiki Bar today.
There are ten ingredients to The Zombie, but if you search out the ingredients, it will make Halloween a fun evening. For this recipe, the original was a closely guarded secret, and many bars tried to come up with their own version, including rival Trader Vik. I found this version by Anders Erickson to be the closest with modern ingredients to Don the Beachcombers’ version. If you don’t know about Anders, he has a YouTube channel with fabulous cocktails, and you should check him out. If done right, this cocktail tastes like a tropical sunset; you should not taste the alcohol but just the beautiful flavors. The key to a successful Zombie is good rums, not the bottom-shelf stuff but ones with a good depth of flavor.
The Zombie calls for three kinds of rum, and it can be hard to figure out all the differences. So I have tried to describe the three rums: Jamaican rum is mainly known for its strong aroma and flavor, emphasizing fruits like pineapple and overripe banana. Many people call its unique aroma as funky. Then there is Demerara rum. It is like Jamaican rum but has a smoky, almost toasty burnt flavor that can add complexity to cocktails. And finally, Golden rum is milder than the other two but still with a bit of funk. All three bring different flavors to the Zombie party. Falernum is a syrup or low-alcohol liqueur with almond, lime, ginger, and other spices. The absinthe (which you only need a little of; otherwise, it will overpower), cinnamon syrup, and grenadine are all part of what makes The Zombie an incredible cocktail. The Zombie also calls for crushed ice. You can easily crush some with a mallet and the ice in a bag, or use this kit from Amazon with this wonderful canvas bag. There are an amazing amount of different Tiki Glasses out there. Check out these on Amazon If you want to find some fun ones.
Yes, a Zombie has a million ingredients, but they are worth the effort for a great Halloween or Tiki party. I hope you try out The Zombie this spooky season or the next time you want to have fun with your guests for a great time. Please think of others in your choices. We all need to work together to survive these crazy times. Until next time!
- 1 1/2 oz Jamaican or dark Rum
- 1 1/2 oz Gold Rum
- 1 oz Demerara Rum
- 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
- 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup
- 1/4 oz Grenadine
- 1 bar spoon Absinthe
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1 sprig Mint
- Crushed Ice
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Fill a cocktail shaker halfway up with crushed ice.
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Add all the ingredients except for the mint.
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Seal the shaker and shake until very cold, about 15 seconds.
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Pour the Zombie into a Tiki or other tall glass.
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Slap the mint sprig onto the palm of your hand to wake up the oils in the leaves and garnish the finished cocktail.
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You may add a cocktail cherry and a straw if you desire.
