How to Make the Absolut Bird Cocktail

Skill Level

Average

Taste

Fruity & Sweet

Preparation Time

5 Minutes

Glass Type

Rocks Glass

Ingredients

Parts ml

1 ½ Parts Absolut Vodka

45 ml Absolut Vodka
1 ½ Parts Pineapple Juice

45 ml Pineapple Juice
½ Parts Italian Aperitivo Liqueur

15 ml Italian Aperitivo Liqueur
½ Parts Lime Juice

15 ml Lime Juice
½ Parts Demerara Syrup

15 ml Demerara Syrup
1 Wedge Pineapple

1 Wedge Pineapple
Ice Cubes

Ice Cubes

Number of Servings

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

Watch Rico make The Jungle Bird & The Absolut Bird:

Rate this recipe

5 from 1 votes

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!