TGIF! What better way to kick off the weekend than by trying out a refreshing new drink recipe? The Jungle Bird cocktail actually dates back to the 1970s, but has seen a sudden resurgence in 2024 – just one sip will show you why. The beverage was first served as a welcome drink to guests at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton, per Liquor.com. It comes from the mind of Jeffrey Ong, who named the Jungle Bird after the porcelain avian-shaped vessel it was once served in.

The red cocktail’s first recipe book appearance came in 1989’s “The New American Bartender’s Guide” by John J. Poister, calling for a generic dark rum. Jeff “Beachbum Berry later altered the ingredients to use Jamaican rum, though some bartenders prefer blackstrap to make an extra rich Jungle Bird cocktail.

How To Make a Perfect Jungle Bird Cocktail

While the recipe below is a helpful tool, feel free to modify ingredients to suit your taste. Reducing the pineapple juice is a popular choice, and will certainly make you more aware of your rum of choice’s flavor!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Blackstrap rum
• ¾ oz. Campari
• 1 ½ oz. Pineapple juice
• ½ oz. Lime juice, freshly squeezed
• ½ oz. Demerara syrup
• 1 Pineapple wedge

Instructions:

1. Pour rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice and demerara syrup into a shaker with ice.
2. Mix until well-chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and enjoy!