Zombie (4 versions)
Zombie (4 versions)
Absinthe
Apricot Brandy
Bitters
Grapefruit
Grenadine
Lemon
Lime
Pineapple
Rum
Triple Sec

Zombie is the most popular tropical cocktail (apart from Mai Tai), invented by Donn Beach in 1934. I make 4 versions of this rum classic, including the original, as well as variations by Dale DeGroff, Gary Regan, and Roman Tabakov.

Ingredients

Donn’s Mix No. 2

  • 2 part Grapefruit juice
  • 1 part Cinnamon syrup

Don Beach's Zombie

  • 1½ oz. / 45 ml Gold Puerto Rican rum
  • 1½ oz. / 45 ml Gold or Dark Jamaican rum
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml 151° Overproof Demerara Rum
  • ½ oz. / 15 ml Falernum liqueur or syrup
  • ½ oz. / 15 ml Donn’s Mix No. 2
  • 6 drops Pernod or Absinthe
  • ¾ oz. / 22 ml Lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon / 5 ml Grenadine syrup
  • A dash of Angostura bitters
  • Garnish with a Mint sprig
  • Blend with crushed ice
  • Highball glass with ice

Gary Regan’s Zombie No. 1

  • 2 oz. / 60 ml Anejo rum
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Light rum
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Dark rum
  • ½ oz. / 15 ml Lime juice
  • ¾ oz. / 22 ml Pineapple juice
  • ¼ oz. / 7 ml Apricot brandy liqueur
  • Angostura bitters to taste
  • ¼ oz. / 7 ml Overproof rum (float, optional)
  • Garnish with a couple Maraschino cherries and a Mint sprig
  • Shake, highball glass with ice

Dale DeGroff's Zombie

  • ½ oz. / 15 ml Lime juice
  • ½ oz. / 15 ml Lemon juice
  • 1½ oz. / 45 ml Orange juice
  • 1½ oz. / 45 ml Passion fruit puree
  • ¼ oz. / 7 ml Grenadine
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Orange curacao (or Apricot brandy)
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Dark rum
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Light rum
  • 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
  • A Float of overproof rum is optional
  • Garnish with a Mint sprig and Seasonal fruit
  • Shake, highball glass with ice

Roman Tabakov's Zombie

  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Donn’s Mix No. 2
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Cachaca
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Anejo rum
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Another Aneho rum
  • ¼ oz. / 7 ml Grenadine
  • ¼ oz. / 7 ml Absitnthe infused with hibiscus
  • 1 oz. / 30 ml Lime juice
  • ¼ oz. / 7 ml Cherry Brandy Liqueur
  • 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
  • Fast Shake with ice cubes, top up with crushed ice after shaking
  • Garnish with a Ming sprig and a Lime half

Absinthe infused with hibiscus

  • 2 tablespoons of Dried Hibiscus leaves (Carcadet)
  • 500 ml of Absinthe
  • Infuse for 12 hours to 3 days, then strain