Zombie Cocktail

The Zombie Cocktail is a famous Tiki-style cocktail well-known for its potent strength and complex flavor. It originated in 1934 at the Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Hollywood, USA.

Tiki-style cocktails are inspired by the culture and ambiance of the Pacific Islands, especially the Polynesian culture of ethnic groups residing in various Pacific archipelagos.

Donn Beach: The Godfather of Tiki, Creator of Experiences

The story of the Zombie Cocktail begins in the 1930s (1930-1939). The significant individual credited with its invention is Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, also known as Donn Beach. He pioneered Tiki Culture in the United States and is hailed as the Father of Tiki Cocktails.

In the past, Donn Beach was a sailor who traveled the world and developed a deep fascination with Polynesian culture. Later, in 1934, he opened a restaurant and bar in Hollywood, USA, named Don's Beachcomber (later renamed Don the Beachcomber).

Donn Beach was not merely a bar owner; he was a pioneer in creating a customer experience. He designed the bar's interior to resemble a South Pacific island, adorned with bamboo, Tiki Masks, and shell lamps, accompanied by beautiful Hawaiian melodies. Most importantly, he offered his unique cocktail recipes, predominantly rum-based, blended with fresh fruit juices, spices, and secret syrups.

The Legend of the Zombie Cocktail: Drunkenness That Became a Name

One of Donn Beach's most creative drinks was the Zombie Cocktail. Legend has it that a friend of Donn's came to his bar with a severe hangover and had to fly to a business meeting in New York the next day. This friend needed a drink to help him recover. Donn concocted a drink blending various rums, fruit juices, and syrups to make his friend feel better. However, the result was the opposite; his friend returned to say he felt like a zombie throughout his journey.

This made Donn Beach laugh. He then decided to start serving this drink to his customers, naming it the Zombie Cocktail. From then on, the drink quickly gained popularity among drinkers seeking new experiences.

The Original Recipe and Donn Beach's Secret

The mystery of the Zombie Cocktail extended beyond its intriguing name to Donn Beach's intensely guarded recipe. He believed that keeping the recipe secret was key to making his drink special and preventing imitation. Donn would often have his bartenders pre-mix certain ingredients or use code names that no one understood, to prevent anyone from knowing the true proportions. This made the Zombie Cocktail a signature drink of Donn the Beachcomber and a magnet for numerous customers.

In the 1930s - 1950s, the Tiki Culture flourished in the United States. Don the Beachcomber became the epicenter of Tiki culture, and the Zombie Cocktail became a must-try drink. However, due to its high alcohol content, Don the Beachcomber limited customers to only two glasses per person.

As its popularity grew, other bars across the country attempted to imitate and create their own versions of the Zombie Cocktail, even without knowing the true original recipe. Some recipes added Absinthe or Brandy, while others reduced sweetness or increased tartness with lime and orange juice.

The Revelation of the Secret Recipe by Jeff Beachbum Berry

For over 70 years after the Zombie Cocktail's inception, its original recipe remained a mystery. It wasn't until Jeff Beachbum Berry, a renowned cocktail historian and author, dedicated years to researching and deciphering the recipe from secret notebooks and interviews with former Don the Beachcomber bartenders. He successfully revealed the original Zombie recipe in his book Sippin Safari in 2007.

The Original Zombie Cocktail Recipe (according to Jeff Beachbum Berry) includes:

• 1.5 oz Jamaican Rum
• 1.5 oz Puerto Rican Rum
• 1 oz 151-Proof Rum (for Float)
• 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 0.5 oz Falernum
• 0.5 oz Grenadine
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• 0.25 oz Pernod
• 1 oz Dons Mix (Cinnamon Syrup + Grapefruit Juice)
• 170g Crushed Ice
• Garnish with Mint Sprig and preferred fruit
  
  Instructions
  Combine all ingredients (except the 151-Proof Rum) in a blender with ice. Blend until combined. Pour into a tall glass. Then, float the 151-Proof Rum on top. Garnish with a mint sprig or preferred fruit.
  
  Caution
  Due to the Zombie's very high alcohol content, consumption should be moderate and should not exceed 2 glasses per sitting, as advised by Donn Beach. Excessive consumption can lead to severe intoxication and may be harmful to health.