IBA
Zombie – IBA
Blend ∙ 4 min ∙ 18.8% ABV ∙
The Zombie is an IBA tiki cocktail blending three rums with lime, falernum, grapefruit-cinnamon Donn's Mix, grenadine, bitters, and a hint of Pernod.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Blend all ingredients with cracked ice: Jamaican aged rum 45 mlLight gold rum 45 mlDemerara rum 30 mlLime juice 20 mlFalernum liqueur 15 mlDonn’s Mix 15 mlGrenadine syrup 5 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 1 dashPernod 3 dashes
- Pulse blend for a few seconds
- Pour into the tiki mug
- Garnish with a mint sprig
- Note: Donn’s Mix: 2 parts of fresh yellow grapefruit and 1 part of cinnamon syrup
Tips
- Pulse the blender for just a few seconds with the cracked ice; run it longer and you get a watery slush.
- Keep the Pernod to 3 dashes; a few more and the drink tastes of anise instead of rum and grapefruit.
History
The Zombie – IBA is the International Bartenders Association's official specification of the classic tiki Zombie, added to the IBA's list of official cocktails in 2020. Its blend of several rums follows the elaborate, syrup-and-juice-laden style of the original rather than the simplified two-rum versions that later became common in home bars.
The Zombie was invented by Donn Beach at his Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Hollywood in 1934 and was popularized on the East Coast after being served at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Beach guarded the recipe closely for decades, doling out ingredients under code names, so the original formula was only reconstructed much later by tiki historian Jeff "Beachbum" Berry from old bar manuals and former employees.
FAQ
What is in a Zombie cocktail?
Three rums (Jamaican aged, light gold Puerto Rican and Demerara), with lime juice, falernum liqueur and Donn's Mix (grapefruit juice and cinnamon syrup). Grenadine, a dash of Angostura bitters and three dashes of Pernod finish it.
How do you make a Zombie cocktail?
Blend all the ingredients with cracked ice in short pulses for a few seconds, then pour into a chilled tiki mug and garnish with a mint sprig.
Why is it called a Zombie cocktail?
The name is commonly said to come from its strength. As tiki lore tells it, a bar patron who tried one returned the next day complaining it had turned him into a walking zombie. This version is about 18.8% ABV.
