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Revamping Classic Cocktails: The Modern Budget Zombie Inspired by Trader Vic's and Grog Log

  • Writer: The Cocktail Hour
    The Cocktail Hour
  • Aug 4
  • 2 min read
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Budget Zombie Cocktail


Ingredients (all supermarket-friendly):

  • 1 oz dark rum (any affordable brand like Myers’s, Bacardi Black, or Kraken)

  • 1 oz light rum (like Bacardi or whatever’s cheapest)

  • 1 oz orange juice

  • 1 oz pineapple juice (or use all orange juice if needed)

  • 1/2 oz lime juice (fresh or bottled)

  • 1/2 oz grenadine

  • Dash of bitters (optional)

  • Float: 1/2 oz overproof rum (if you have it — like Bacardi 151 or similar)


Mixology Instructions:

  1. Shake all ingredients (except overproof rum) with ice.

  2. Pour into a tall glass with ice.

  3. Carefully float the overproof rum on top.

  4. Garnish with a cherry, lime wedge, or mint if you’re feeling fancy.


Non-Alcoholic Zombie

Want a similar drink without the alcohol? Using the ingredients from the recipe above, you can make this fun mocktail!


Ingredients:

  • 1 oz orange juice

  • 1 oz pineapple juice

  • 1/2 oz lime juice (fresh or bottled)

  • 1/4 oz grenadine (for color and sweetness)

  • 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup (or simple syrup with a dash of ground cinnamon)

  • 1/2 oz passionfruit juice or syrup (optional but delicious)

  • Splash of club soda (for fizz, optional)


Instructions:

  1. Shake all ingredients (except soda) with ice.

  2. Strain or pour into a tall glass with fresh ice.

  3. Top with soda water for fizz (optional).

  4. Garnish with mint, a cherry, lime wheel and place in a fun tiki glass!


Cocktail Hour Food Pairings

A good cocktail hour has snacks and nosh that pair well with your Zombie drink. We tried to give you some simple ideas that don't require little to no prep. Here are some examples of what you eat with this cocktail.


Salty & Spicy

  • Spiced mixed nuts (add cayenne, brown sugar, and cinnamon)

  • Beef or pork jerky with chili or teriyaki glaze

  • Taro or plantain chips with sea salt

  • Pineapple salsa + tortilla chips


Cheesy or Fried

  • Cheddar cheese cubes + candied pineapple

  • Mozzarella sticks with a smoky chipotle dip

  • Mini spring rolls  with sweet chili sauce


Fresh & Fruity

  • Mango with Tajín (chili-lime seasoning)

  • Grilled pineapple skewers with brown sugar glaze

  • Fruit kabobs with papaya, melon, and lime zest

 
 
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