Absolut Bird
Cocktail Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT
RECIPE BY: RICARDO DYNAN

The Absolut Bird is a twist on the traditional Jungle Bird tiki drink, swapping out Blackstrap Rum for Absolut Vodka.

“Wait, what? A Tiki drink with Vodka?”, you ask. Yep, you got it!

So, what does it taste like? “The Italian Aperitivo Liqueur, fresh Pineapple Juice, and Lime Juice really come through,” shares its 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.

How To Make the Absolut Bird

Ingredients

1 ½ Parts Absolut Vodka

45 ml Absolut Vodka

1 ½ oz Absolut Vodka
1 ½ Parts Pineapple Juice

45 ml Pineapple Juice

1 ½ oz Pineapple Juice
½ Parts Italian Aperitivo Liqueur

15 ml Italian Aperitivo Liqueur

½ oz Italian Aperitivo Liqueur
⅛ Parts Lime Juice

15 ml Lime Juice

½ oz Lime Juice
½ Parts Demerara Syrup

15 ml Demerara Syrup

½ oz Demerara Syrup
1 Wedge Pineapple

1 Wedge Pineapple

1 Wedge Pineapple
Ice Cubes

Ice Cubes

Ice Cubes

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What You’ll Need

Paring Knife
Jigger or Measuring Instrument
Citrus Elbow
Boston Shaker
Medium-Sized Glass Bowl
Blender
Sieve
Hawthorne Strainer
Rocks Glass

How to Mix

Use a Paring Knife to cut one Lime in half.
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.
Use a Paring Knife to cut a Pineapple into small chunks, removing the rind and core. Save a Pineapple Wedge for garnishing.
Put the Pineapple Chunks into a Blender and blend until liquified and smooth.
Strain the Pineapple Juice through a Sieve into a Medium-Sized Glass Bowl or Container.
Measure and pour the Pineapple Juice into your Shaker, followed by Demerara Syrup.
Measure and pour Italian Aperitivo Liqueur into the Shaker, followed by Absolut Vodka.
Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes and shake vigorously.
Fill a Rocks Glass halfway with Crushed Ice.
Open your Shaker, place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin, and pour the cocktail into the Rocks Glass.
Top up your Glass with Crushed Ice.
Place a Pineapple Wedge and a Pineapple Leaf on the side of your Glass to garnish.
Sip and enjoy!

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

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.

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

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!