Invented in 1934 by Donn Beach (formerly Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt) below is the original Zombie recipe that was served at his flagship Don the Beachcomber's in Hollywood. The Zombie became world famous when it was introduced at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
There are many recipes for the Zombie, several from Donn Beach himself, but according to Jeff "Beachbum" Berry the complete original recipe is below. It is a true post war mainland Tiki culture drink, complex in nature and made with mostly rum, fresh fruit juices with an additional sweetener from a spice and nut based syrup. The Zombie is deceptively easy to drink but it's a dangerously strong punch-like cocktail, so strong that Donn Beach would never allow more than 2 to be served to a customer.
I made one change and replaced the recipe's half an ounce of "Don's Mix #2" (2 parts grapefruit juice to 1 part cinnamon-infused sugar syrup) with 2 simpler ingredients so you don't have to make a whole bottle of a weird ingredient like cinnamon infused grapefruit syrup. The "Don's Mix #2" combo was part of Beach's drink recipe security. He would create syrups & mixer combinations that only he and a trusted few knew to make it harder for competitors and ex-Beachcomber bartenders to steal his drink recipes.
THE
ZOMBIE
INGREDIENTS
3/4 C. Crushed Ice
3/4 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 Oz. Falernum
1-1/2 Oz. Gold Puerto Rican Rum
1-1/2 Oz. Dark Jamaican Rum
1 Oz. 151 Overproof Demerara Rum
2 Tsp. Grenadine
6 Drops Pernod
Dash of Angostura Bitters
1/2 Oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1/4 Tsp. Cinnamon Syrup
DIRECTIONS
Blend until smooth, pour into a tall slim zombie glass, top off with additional ice if desired, then garnish with a grapefruit slice and a cocktail cherry, add biodegradable straws and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:
World Zombie Day is October 8th. Zombie Awareness Month is in May.
