Zombie

Donn Beach’s three-rum monster

The Zombie was built in 1934 at Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood, and the house rule was two per customer. The original leaned on cinnamon syrup, grapefruit and a splash of absinthe; what this card describes is the simpler mid-century build most bars pour, and it is still a long, layered drink rather than a rum highball with juice in it.

Three rums doing three jobs

One ounce of light rum is the base and disappears into the fruit. One ounce of dark rum adds molasses weight. The half ounce of 151-proof rum is not there for flavour in the glass but for the aroma: floated on top and never stirred in, it puts a plume of alcohol vapour under your nose with every sip. Keeping it as a float also keeps the drink under control — mix it through and you have a 25% ABV punch that tastes like fruit juice.

The juices, and the apricot brandy

An ounce each of lime, orange and pineapple, plus half an ounce of grenadine, is a great deal of sweetness. The lime is the brake pedal and it has to be fresh; bottled lime cordial turns the Zombie into syrup. Apricot brandy sits between the juices and the rums, giving a soft stone-fruit middle that nothing else in the glass provides.

Building the glass

Shake everything except the overproof rum with cubed ice for twelve seconds. Strain into a tall glass or tiki mug packed with crushed ice, then float the 151 on top by pouring it over the back of a barspoon. Garnish with mint and a spent lime shell.

Strength and calories

About 16% ABV in the glass and over 350 calories — a drink to have one of, not four.

Mistakes

• Stirring the float in and losing the aromatic top note.
• Shaking with crushed ice, which over-dilutes the drink before it is strained.
• Leaving out the apricot brandy, which opens a gap between the rum and the juice.

Variations

A Jet Pilot replaces the grenadine with cinnamon syrup and adds a dash of absinthe. A Planter’s Punch keeps the same rum skeleton and drops the apricot.

Is the 151-proof rum essential?

Yes, if you want the Zombie’s signature aroma. A navy-strength rum at 57% works, and a barspoon of it is enough.

Why only two per customer?

Because the fruit hides roughly four ounces of spirit. The drink tastes like a juice cocktail at 16% ABV, and that is the trap.