
Absolut Bird
Average
Fruity & Sweet
5 Minutes
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
The Absolut Bird is a twist on the classic tiki drink, the Jungle Bird.
It follows the same recipe as the original but swaps blackstrap rum for Absolut Vodka “Wait, what?! A Tiki drink with vodka?”. Yep, you got it!
Ready? Grab your shaker and let’s make a twist on a tiki classic!
How To Make the absolut bird cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need

Boston Shaker

Citrus Press

Knife

Fine Strainer

Jigger

Hawthorne Strainer
How to Mix
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Use a Paring Knife to cut one Lime in half.
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Use a Citrus Press to juice one Lime half directly into your Jigger before pouring the correct measurement into the smaller tin of your Boston Shaker.
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Use a Paring Knife to cut a Pineapple into small chunks, removing the rind and core. Save a Pineapple Wedge for garnishing.
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Put the Pineapple Chunks into a Blender and blend until liquified and smooth.
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Strain the Pineapple Juice through a Sieve into a Medium-Sized Glass Bowl or Container.
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Measure and pour the Pineapple Juice into your Shaker, followed by Demerara Syrup.
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Measure and pour Italian Aperitivo Liqueur into the Shaker, followed by Absolut Vodka.
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Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes and shake vigorously.
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Fill a Rocks Glass halfway with Crushed Ice.
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Open your Shaker, place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin, and pour the cocktail into the Rocks Glass.
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Top up your Glass with Crushed Ice.
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Place a Pineapple Wedge and a Pineapple Leaf on the side of your Glass to garnish.
Watch Rico make The Jungle Bird & The Absolut Bird:
What is the Absolut Bird cocktail?
The Absolut Bird is a vodka variation of the tiki drink, The Jungle Bird. Where the original classic cocktail uses blackstrap rum as its base, the Absolut Bird uses Absolut Vodka.
What Does the Absolut Bird Cocktail Taste Like?
Sweet, fruity and slightly tart. “The Italian red bitter liqueur, fresh pineapple juice, and lime juice really come through,” shares the Absolut Bird’s creator, Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
“You do lose some of the richness without the blackstrap rum’s caramel and thickness, but this is a whole new drink…and it’s pretty banging,” he adds.
The History of the Absolut Bird
The Jungle Bird, which was the inspiration for the Absolut Bird, is a classic tiki cocktail that was created in 1973 as a welcome drink at a 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
And the Absolut Bird? Well, while making the original Jungle Bird for an episode of Absolut Drinks with Rico in the Spring of 2024, Rico decided to make a version that swapped the Blackstrap Rum for Absolut Vodka. And voila! A new Vodka Tiki drink was created.
Tips for Making the Perfect Absolut Bird Cocktail
Juice your own Pineapple Juice
As we always say, making your own fresh juice is almost always going to taste better than the stuff you can buy in a supermarket…except for Cranberry Juice. But we’ll save that story for another time.
To make your own Pineapple Juice, cut a Pineapple into small chunks and blend them in a standard household blender. Store-bought Pineapple Juice is often made from concentrate and often contains potato starch and preservatives, and, well, nothing beats fresh juice.
The sweetness of Pineapple can change depending on the season and where it’s from. So, if your drink needs a little extra sweetness, feel free to add more Demerara Syrup to balance it out.
Variations of the Absolut Bird Cocktail
The Jungle Bird
The inspiration for the Absolut Bird is, of course, the Jungle Bird, a tiki favorite that’s hard to beat when it comes to charm and lasting appeal.
Unlike many other Tiki drinks, such as the Mai Tai or the Zombie, the Jungle Bird isn’t overly sweet. “It’s very delectable – perfectly balanced and a great sipper,” says Rico. Check out the recipe for the Jungle Bird.
Serving and Garnish Ideas for the Absolut Bird
Like the original Jungle Bird, we suggest serving the Absolut Bird in a Rocks Glass filled with Crushed Ice. To garnish, use a Pineapple Wedge. It’s tiki, baby!
ABSOLUT BIRD FAQ
Use the Italian Aperitivo Liqueur that’s commonly used in Spritzers, not the one used in Negronis.
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Italian Aperitivo Liqueur
