Snowbird
Blend ∙ 4 min ∙ 11.9% ABV ∙
The Snowbird is a blended mezcal cocktail made with pineapple and orange juice, cream of coconut, and a touch of triple sec. Frosty and thick, the blend turns silky from the coconut while a smoky backbone lingers beneath the fruit, finishing warm under a dusting of nutmeg.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Blend all ingredients with ice: Mezcal 45 mlPineapple juice 50 mlCream of coconut 20 mlOrange juice 20 mlTriple sec 5 ml
- Pour into the chilled glass
- Garnish with grated nutmeg
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before blending so the frozen drink doesn't start melting the moment it's poured.
- Blend just until smooth and slushy; over-blending melts the ice and thins out the coconut body.
History
The Snowbird is a mezcal-based reworking of the Painkiller, created by Danielle Crouch and Allan Katz, proprietors of the reggae-themed bar Jammyland in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the recipe dated to 2023. The pair built the drink by swapping mezcal for the rum in the Painkiller's tropical, coconut-and-pineapple base, adding an earthy, smoky edge to its sweet, fruity profile. Katz has described the drink's coconut and mezcal notes as evocative of the winter holidays, which inspired its wintry name despite its tropical roots. The Painkiller itself, on which the Snowbird is based, is a rum, pineapple, orange, and cream of coconut drink whose own origin is credited to the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands.
FAQ
What is a Snowbird drink?
It is a blended cocktail of mezcal, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice, and a small amount of triple sec, poured into a Collins glass and topped with grated nutmeg. The frozen, tropical build carries mezcal's smoke instead of the tequila or rum used in similar coconut-and-pineapple blends.
Why is it called a Snowbird?
The name likely nods to its frosty, blended texture, since the drink comes out pale and slushy from the ice and cream of coconut, with a snow-like dusting of nutmeg on top.
