Smooth-Talking Zombie

A modern spin on the infamous Zombie cocktail—layered rums, fresh juices, and a flaming garnish take this tropical classic from lethal to legendary.

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Course: Beverage

Cuisine: Caribbean, Tiki

Keyword: backyard luau, Don the Beachcomber, falernum drink, flaming garnish, grapefruit lime, Halloween cocktails, rum punch, Tiki drink, tropical cocktails, Zombie cocktail

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: cocktail

Calories: 234kcal

Equipment

1 Cocktail shaker for mixing
1 Strainer for pouring
1 tiki glass for serving
1 Bar Spoon for floating rum
1 lighter or long match for flaming garnish

Ingredients

1 oz gold rum
1 oz dark rum
1 oz white rum
0.5 oz lime juice freshly squeezed
0.5 oz grapefruit juice freshly squeezed
0.5 oz falernum
0.25 oz absinthe or pastis
0.5 oz cinnamon syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
0.5 oz overproof rum for float and flame
1 mint sprig for garnish
1 lime shell for flaming garnish

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Instructions

Add gold rum, dark rum, white rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice, falernum, absinthe, cinnamon syrup, and bitters to a shaker with ice.
1 oz gold rum, 1 oz dark rum, 1 oz white rum, 0.5 oz lime juice, 0.5 oz grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz falernum, 0.25 oz absinthe, 0.5 oz cinnamon syrup, 1 dash Angostura bitters
Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds to chill and mix.
Strain into a tall tiki glass filled with crushed ice.
Carefully float the overproof rum on top by pouring over the back of a spoon.
0.5 oz overproof rum
Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime shell filled with a few drops of overproof rum.
0.5 oz overproof rum, 1 mint sprig, 1 lime shell
Carefully ignite the rum in the lime shell with a long match or lighter. Blow out before drinking.
0.5 oz overproof rum, 1 lime shell

Notes

To reduce the booze but keep the vibe, swap in zero-proof rums and skip the float. If flaming the garnish, always light it away from guests and never use indoors without proper safety precautions.

Nutrition