The Ultimate Zombie

Let’s make the Ultimate Zombie. At least according to the folks at Punch, who did a taste test of 8 different rum Zombies from bartenders around the country. I’ll be making the winning entry from Anton Kinloch, of Fuchsia Tiki and soon to open cocktail bar The Lone Wolf in Kingston NY.
Recipe:
- 1 1/2 ounces Puerto Rican rum, preferably Havana Club Añejo Clásico
- 1 1/2 ounces Jamaican rum, preferably Hampden Estate 8-year
- 1 ounce overproof Demerara rum, preferably Hamilton 151
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- 1/2 ounce falernum, preferably Maggie’s Farm Falernum Liqueur
- 1/2 ounce Don’s Mix (see below)
- 1 tablespoon grenadine (see below)
- 2 dashes absinthe
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled.
2. Strain into a glass over crushed ice.
*Don’s Mix*
Combine 2 parts cinnamon bark syrup (see below) with 1 part grapefruit juice.
*Cinnamon Bark Syrup*
17 grams Vietnamese cinnamon bark
450 milliliters filtered water
450 grams cane sugar
In a pan, toast the cinnamon bark over medium heat until aromatic. Add the water and sugar to the pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, let cool, then strain out the solids through a cheesecloth or Superbag. Keeps, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.
*Grenadine*
250 milliliters pomegranate juice, preferably POM
250 grams cane sugar
1.88 grams malic acid
1.25 grams citric acid
0.15 grams Terra Spice orange extract
Combine all ingredients in a blender, and process until sugar is fully dissolved. Keeps, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.
#rum #zombie #drinks #cocktail #halloween #cocktails

[@icharuswing]

That's a beautiful shirt man

[@therumrevival]

Thank you!

[@TRusheeRush]

I struggle with this cocktail on a few points:
1. I find that the Puerto Rican rum dilutes the flavor of the demerara and Jamaican rum without adding much (I use Barrilito 3 stars which is no slouch)
2. I also find this cocktail gets overdiluted by the crushed ice.
3. The subtler flavors tend to get lost for me. I'm usually hard pressed to pick out the cinnamon or the grapefruit.
4. I just can't figure out what I want from the rum in this cocktail: age, funk, texture, sweetness, proof, etc. Real funky Jamaican rum seems to crowd out the subtler ingredients (I did Hamilton 151 with a split Jamaican mix of Smith and Cross, Hamilton Gold, Monymusk EMB 8yr, and Great House 2022 last night; the Hamilton/Worthy Park funk actually was the most potent!). 151 demerara or OFTD seem correct to me but I can't decide which Jamaican or Spanish style rums would be ideal here.

[@therumrevival]

All great points to consider. While a lot of thought and discussion has been made around what rums to use in a Mai Tai, there is so much less of that for the Zombie. Personally, I want a Zombie to be big, bold and a little ridiculous. I've pretty much always stuck with the use of the Puerto Rican rum to maybe dilute the stronger Demerara and Jamaican rum notes, but maybe its time to jump in the deep end and just skip it altogether?

[@kidyuki1]

I think I will do just that tomorrow. I just got a bottle of Maggie's Farm falernum a few weeks ago and have yet to crack it open.

[@therumrevival]

Awesome! My favorite Falernum hands down.

[@cdrikari]

Seconded on the MF falernum.

[@joshgeorge83]

Just found your page and lovin it !! Are you consciously holding the labels facing you so we don’t see what product you are using ?

[@therumrevival]

Nope, just me not really paying attention. Would have been nice if the labels were facing the camera lol

[@dagerlandolsen9021]

Love the shirt!! 🤩

[@therumrevival]

Thank you!

[@TJ-sp9xp]

So pretty much the 34 zombie with just the Pernod dialed back

[@therumrevival]

I guess so

[@Fireslingerpirate]

Great presentation! Just FYI a tablespoon = half an ounce

[@therumrevival]

Thanks for the info!

[@rickdubois3569]

My favorite Zombie to date is Jason Alexander's Atomic Zombie. I'm not a fan of the 1934 original.

[@therumrevival]

I love Jason's cocktails. I'll have to try that one.

[@rickdubois3569]

@@therumrevival I got the recipe from B.G. Reynolds, but I believe it's in Minimalist Tiki, IIRC.

[@johnolmos8670]

That’s just a 34 zombie not much deviation from the original

[@robertquail5838]

What is the ultimate Zombie? Nobody knows but isn't it fun looking for it?
Drink what you like
Like what you drink
CHEERS

[@therumrevival]

Cheers to that!