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This classic Zombie cocktail recipe mixes up a few types of rum, fruit juice, and passion fruit syrup for a delicious (and potent) tiki classic. Here’s how to make it at home!
Here’s a rum cocktail that’s completely over the top, but worth making if you’re an adventurous home bartender. Try the classic Zombie cocktail! This drink packs a potent punch, with four types of rum, three fruit juices and two fruit syrups.
While it’s got a 1970’s vibe, this cocktail actually comes from the 1930’s and was one of the first of its kind. As a home mixology expert, I had to try it at least once! Here’s what you need to know about the special ingredients and how to make it at home.
Why It’s Named The Zombie
The Zombie cocktail is a mixed drink made with various types of rum, fruit juices and syrups. With the tropical tiki rum drink vibe, you might think it was a 1960’s or 1970’s drink. But it was invented in 1934 by a man named Donn Beach at his Hollywood restaurant called Don the Beachcomber.
The story goes that Donn invented the drink for a hung over customer to get through a business meeting. The customer later complained the drink was so strong, it turned him into a “zombie.” This reminds me of the Corpse Reviver, a drink so strong it would revive someone from the dead — but the opposite!
Zombie Cocktail Ingredients
The recipe for the Zombie cocktail was kept secret through the years. Many restaurants and bars tried to copy it, and it became popular at tiki restaurants. (Since Tiki culture is built on appropriation, I won’t exalt the virtues of that phenomenon!)
The original Zombie recipe has some very unique ingredients that are very hard to find today: Pernod, falernum, and Donn’s mix (grapefruit and cinnamon syrup). Because there’s a wide variation in the way bartenders make a Zombie, I put our own spin on the drink using common substitutes. Here are the Zombie cocktail ingredients:
- White rum, spiced rum, dark rum, and 151 rum (optional): Using all these types makes for a unique, nuanced flavor. Skip the 151 if you like, and see more below about the rum.
- Lime and lemon juice: These citrus juices brighten the flavor; always use fresh-squeeze lemon and lime juice for cocktails.
- Pineapple juice: Pineapple brings the tropical fruitiness; make sure to use 100% juice.
- Passion fruit syrup: This sweet tart syrup is the signature flavor, and there’s really no substitute. I found Monin Passion Fruit Syrup online (see my Notes below).
- Orange bitters: This adds a bitter edge to the drink.
- Grenadine: Finally, this pomegranate syrup sinks to the bottom to make a gradient look, like in a Tequila Sunrise.
Tips For The Rum
This is the only rum cocktail we’ve made that calls for a whopping four types of rum! Most rum drinks use white rum, aged rum (also called golden), or dark rum. But the Zombie calls for two other types: spiced rum and 151 rum, though the former is optional. Here’s a bit more about these types of rum:
- Spiced rum: Spiced rum is usually aged about the same time as black rum, and it has spices added like cloves and cinnamon. I use Capitan Morgan brand for this drink.
- 151 rum (optional): 151 rum is a high-alcohol content rum. It’s 151 proof of a whopping 75% alcohol, instead of 40% alcohol like most rums. Bacardi 151 was a popular version of this rum, but it was discontinued in 2006. We used Cruzan 151, though Gosling’s Black Seal Dark 151 Rum is also a good choice. Because 151 rum is so high in alcohol, some people light this drink on fire! We tried but couldn’t get a good flame going. Experiment at your own risk.
Unlike white, aged and dark rum, aren’t many other cocktails that use spiced and 151 rum. They’re definitely a special purchase for the Zombie cocktail!
Finding Passion Fruit Syrup
The fruit juices in the Zombie cocktail are easy to find: buy a lime, a lemon, and a jar of pineapple juice. But the syrups are where things get interesting! The most unique non-alcoholic ingredient in the Zombie is passion fruit syrup. Here’s what to know about this special ingredient:
- Passion fruit syrup is a syrup made from passion fruit pulp and sugar. It’s a burst of tropical, sweet tart and fruity flavor.
- What is a substitute for passion fruit syrup? Passion fruit has such a unique flavor that there’s really no substitute! If you want to make a Zombie cocktail, you have to make it right! Passion fruit is required for that signature flavor.
- Where to buy passion fruit syrup? We bought this Monin Passion Fruit Syrup online. You could also look at your local liquor store.
- What other cocktails use passion fruit syrup? The most famous is the Hurricane, a popular New Orleans cocktail.
How to Make a Zombie Cocktail
Once you’ve compiled everything, it’s smooth sailing. It just takes a while to measure out the 10 ingredients. Shake them up, then float the grenadine and rum. Here’s what to do:
- Shake in a cocktail shaker. Place all ingredients except the 151 rum and grenadine in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake. (Don’t have one? Use a mason jar!) Strain it into a glass.
- Add the grenadine and 151 rum. Pour the grenadine into the drink and it will settle to the bottom. Pour the 151 rum on top of the drink, and it will settle in a single layer.
- Strain into a glass and garnish. Strain the drink into a lowball glass. The traditional garnish is fresh mint and a lime wedge.
Make Ahead and Party Batching
If you want to make this for a party, stir together the rum, juices, passion fruit syrup and bitters in a pitcher; if making 8 drinks, just change the word “ounces” to “cups”. Before serving, add 3 handfuls of ice and stir well.
Right before serving, pour each drink into a glass, then add the grenadine and ice.
When to Serve This Cocktail
The Zombie cocktail is a fun drink I reserve mostly for special occasions, since it calls for so muhc rum!
- Halloween parties: Add it to a spread of Halloween cocktails.
- Tiki drink inspired night: Serve it with a Mai Tai, Painkiller or Jungle Bird.
- Summer drink: Try it with summer rum cocktails.
- Vacation at home: Pair it with other tropical drinks
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s fruity, tropical and sweet tart. The pineapple and passion fruit are present along with the finish of the spiced rum.
Very strong, so drink it responsibly. My recipe has 3 ½ ounces of rum with the 151 added, whereas most cocktails have 1.5 to 2 oz liquor.
Yes! The 151 rum is totally optional. The drink tastes just as good without it (I actually like it better).
Yes, for a true Zombie. But in a pinch, you can use 3 ounces of aged rum or dark rum in place of the white, spiced and dark.
Zombie Cocktail Recipe
This classic Zombie cocktail recipe mixes up a few types of rum, fruit juice, and passion fruit syrup for a delicious (and potent) tiki classic. Here’s how to make it at home!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ounce* white rum
- 1 ounce spiced rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- 1 ounce passion fruit syrup (we used Monin Passion Fruit Syrup)
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- ½ ounce grenadine
- ½ ounce 151 rum (optional)
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
- For the garnish: Fresh mint
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except for the grenadine and 151 rum in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls ice and shake until cold.
- Strain into an ice filled highball glass. Pour the grenadine into the drink over the back of spoon: it will sink to the bottom. Then if using, pour the 151 rum over back of spoon onto the drink: it will float on top. Add the fresh mint garnish and serve.
Notes
*1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
what would the mocktail version of this be?
I got a little ai-help and i think it’s a good idea! :)
🌺 Simple Zombie Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
Ingredients
3 oz pineapple juice
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz passionfruit syrup (or passionfruit purée + ½ oz simple syrup)
2 oz apple cider (sparkling if you want fizz)
½ oz grenadine
Ice
Garnish: mint sprig + lemon wedge
Instructions
Fill a tall glass with ice.
Add the pineapple juice, lemon juice, and passionfruit syrup. Stir gently.
Pour in the cider.
Slowly drizzle the grenadine down the inside of the glass or over the back of a spoon — it will sink to the bottom and create a pretty layered effect.
Garnish with mint and a lemon wedge.
The middle paragraph of the directions on How to make a Zombie cocktail just ends mid sentence, “Add the grenadine and 151 rum. Pour the grenadine into the drink and it will settle to the bottom. Pour the 151 rum on top of the drink, and it will settle in a single layer. Because 151 rum has such ”
Obviously there’s enough context to make a drink, but what was the missing thought about 151?
Great question! That was a copy/paste error — the thought was covered in an above section about 151 being so high in alcohol that some people light the drink on fire! (We weren’t able to get a flame going, however!) Thanks so much and we’ve updated this by deleting that statement — it’s covered in the paragraph above. Thank you!