Painkiller
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 9.6% ABV ∙
The Painkiller is a shaken tiki drink of navy rum, pineapple and orange juice, and cream of coconut, seasoned with four dashes of Angostura bitters.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Navy rum 45 mlPineapple juice 90 mlOrange juice 20 mlCream of coconut 15 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 4 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge
Tips
- Cream of coconut is thick, so shake hard for a full 12–15 seconds or it won't blend into the pineapple and orange juice.
- If the cream of coconut has separated in the can, stir it smooth before measuring so it doesn't clump in the shaker.
History
The Painkiller was created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar, a small beach bar at White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. The bar's name came from patrons having to swim ashore, soaking their cash in the process. Most accounts credit the drink to Daphne Henderson, the bar's owner at the time, who mixed it with Cruzan rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut, topped with grated nutmeg. Other sources instead name George and Marie Myrick, earlier owners of the bar, as the true originators.
Henderson reportedly kept her exact recipe secret, and Charles Tobias, founder of Pusser's Rum, is said to have obtained a sample and worked out his own version built around his navy-style rum, which he began promoting commercially and credited to her as inspiration. In 1989 Pusser's Rum Ltd. filed a US trademark on the Painkiller's name and recipe. In 2011, when a tiki bar called Painkiller opened in New York City, Pusser's issued a cease-and-desist to owners Giuseppe Gonzalez and Richard Boccato over both the bar's name and its use of rums other than Pusser's. The dispute was settled with the bar renamed PKNY, prompting a wave of bartender boycotts against the rum brand.
FAQ
What is a Painkiller drink made of?
Navy rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut, with four dashes of Angostura bitters.
Is a Painkiller cocktail strong?
Not very. At about 9.6% ABV it is lighter than a spirit-forward drink, because juice and cream of coconut make up most of the glass. The navy rum still comes through, but the fruit and sweetness soften it.
What's the difference between a Piña Colada and a Painkiller?
A Piña Colada is rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut, blended smooth, often with ice. A Painkiller is shaken instead and adds orange juice and Angostura bitters, which make it spicier and less sweet.
