Jungle Bird Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Jungle Bird is a tiki drink favorite that’s hard to beat when it comes to charm and lasting appeal. 

With its distinctive blend of tropical flavors and striking presentation, the Jungle Bird cocktail is the king of the tiki jungle! It’s also a favorite among home bartenders. 

“Fruity, bitter, and Tiki. It’s everything you could want in a drink,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador. However, 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,” Rico adds. 

How To Make a Jungle Bird Cocktail

What You’ll Need

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

How to Mix

1. Use a Paring Knife to cut one Lime in half.
2. 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.
3. Use a Paring Knife to cut a Pineapple into small chunks, removing the rind and core. Save a Pineapple Wedge for garnishing.
4. Put the Pineapple Chunks into a Blender and blend until liquified and smooth.
5. Strain the Pineapple Juice through a Sieve into a Medium-Sized Glass Bowl or Container.
6. Measure and pour the Pineapple Juice into your Shaker, followed by Demerara Syrup.
7. Measure and pour Italian Aperitivo Liqueur into the Shaker, followed by Blackstrap Rum.
8. Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes and shake vigorously.
9. Fill a Rocks Glass halfway with Crushed Ice.
10. Open your Shaker, place a Hawthorne Strainer over the larger tin, and pour the cocktail into the Rocks Glass.
11. Top up your Glass with Crushed Ice.
12. Place a Maraschino Cherry and a Pineapple Wedge on a Cocktail Pick and place it on the side of your Glass to garnish. 
13. Sip and enjoy!

The History of the Jungle Bird Cocktail

The Jungle Bird cocktail was created in 1973 as a welcome drink at a 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

During the 1970s, when tiki culture and tropical-themed cocktails were regaining popularity, the beverage manager at the hotel’s bar crafted this drink.

Inspired by the exotic ambiance, lush surroundings, and colorful birds visible from the bar window, he aimed to evoke the spirit of the jungle while delighting guests. 

Tips for Making the Perfect Jungle Bird 

• Make your own Demerara Syrup
  Demerara Syrup is also known as Brown Sugar Syrup. To make this syrup, follow the instructions on how to make simple syrup, but use Brown Sugar instead of Superfine Sugar and change the ratio from 1:1 to 2:1.

• Make your own Pineapple Juice
  Store-bought Pineapple Juice is often made from concentrate and may contain potato starch and preservatives. By using a real Pineapple, you get pure fruit juice.

  Simply cut fresh Pineapple into small chunks and blend them in a standard household blender to make your own juice.

  Note that the sweetness of the Pineapple will vary depending on the season and region, so adjust the sweetness of your drink accordingly.

Variations of a Jungle Bird Cocktail

Vodka Jungle Bird
Wait, what? A Tiki drink with Vodka? Seemingly impossible…but true! Follow the recipe above but substitute Rum for Vodka and leaving out the Maraschino Cherry. And the result?

“You do lose some richness without the Blackstrap Rum’s caramel and thickness, but this is a whole new drink,” says Rico. “The Italian Aperitivo Liqueur, fresh Pineapple Juice, and Lime Juice really come through. It’s pretty banging.”

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Jungle Bird 

Serve the Jungle Bird in a Rocks Glass filled with Crushed Ice, garnished with a Pineapple Wedge and Maraschino Cherry on a single cocktail pick, Tiki style!