Zombie Punch (California)

Possibly one of the original recipes of this style, this zombie punch dates to 1934 and is credited to Don Beach. It's made by the glass and is a well-balanced drink that outshines all the modern Halloween punches that have also taken the name. What's interesting here is that Beach's zombie punch is nearly identical to the jet pilot. It is also blended and includes the same ingredients but in slightly different proportions. The key difference is that grenadine is added for a hint of sweetness and colour. Since you'll have everything you need, comparing the two cocktails is easy.

¾ cup ice
1½ oz Jamaican rum
1½ oz gold Puerto Rican rum
1 oz 151-proof demerara rum
½ oz falernum
6 drops Herbsaint, or Pernod
¾ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
2 tsp. grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
1 tsp. cinnamon syrup
1 tsp. grenadine
1 dash aromatic bitters

Garnish:
mint sprig

In a blender, crush ¾ cup of ice.

Add all of the liquid ingredients.

Blend on high speed for 5 seconds.

Pour into a tall glass, adding more ice cubes until full.

Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Makes 1 cocktail.

Cook's Notes:

• This zombie punch blends up to be a very tall drink. At around 12 oz, you might want to split it into two glasses and share the tiki experience.
  The Rums
• A signature of tiki cocktails is to combine various styles of rum. The zombie punch takes that to an extreme, requiring three shots to create a rather strong drink. The key here is to interpret Don the Beachcomber's rum picks into modern-day offerings.
• Jamaican Rum: The Caribbean island is known for producing heavy, full-flavoured rums and the government has some of the strictest regulations found in the rum industry. Look for brands like Appleton Estate, Hampden, J Wray and Nephew, and Rum Nation, though there is no shortage of rum coming out of Jamaica.
• Gold Puerto Rican Rum: Puerto Rico claims to be the "Rum Capital of the World" and some very fine rums come from the island. These rums must be aged in American oak barrels for at least a year and use continuous distillation. While there are other styles of rum produced there, this recipe specifically calls for gold rum. Look for bottles of this from Bacardi, Don Q, and Ron Castillo.
• 151-Proof Demerara Rum: This overproof rum really gives the zombie punch a kick and it's very specific. The demerara version of overproof rum has a smokiness that gives it a nearly burnt taste, so it's a nice addition to such a complex drink. For this one, you don't have many options: Lemon Hart and Hamilton are two brands to look for. In a pinch, try another 151 rum, such as that from Cruzan.