Jungle Bird Cocktail

Tropical, fruity, and strong—the Jungle Bird Cocktail is a fun rum cocktail made with dark rum, pineapple, fresh lime and Campari.

Juicy sweet, perfectly golden pineapple, dark rum, zesty lime, and bold Campari the color of fire opals combine to make the joyful Jungle Bird Cocktail.

Can you tell how much I like making this tropical cocktail?

Once you make the Jungle Bird Cocktail, you’ll instantly feel like you’ve been transported to your favorite Caribbean resort, replete with aquamarine waters, the perfect lounger in the shade, and only two tasks to complete: sip and relax.

Ready to learn all about today’s pineapple drink? Let’s make it!

Pouring Jungle Bird Drink mixture

Jungle Bird Cocktail Ingredients

Owing its signature tropical flavor to a combo of pineapple and lime juice, the Jungle Bird is a fiery red orange due to Campari, an Italian liqueur once dyed red with the use of insects!

  • Dark or blackstrap rum – Choose dark rum for a barrel-aged taste or blackstrap rum which has a richer flavor thanks to blackstrap molasses. [1] [2]
  • Campari – fans of the Aperol Spritz might also like this sister Italian liqueur, also boldly red orange and made with a fruit and herb infusion. [3]
  • Pineapple juice – canned pineapple juice works well here and is easy to obtain
  • Lime juice – opt for freshly-squeezed lime juice, which will have a brighter, zestier, and less bitter flavor than bottled lime juice
  • Simple syrup or demerara syrup

What is a Jungle Bird Cocktail

The Jungle Bird Cocktail is a tropical rum drink made with dark rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, and simple syrup, with its bright red orange color due to the addition of Italian liqueur Campari.

Two photos showing How to Make a Jungle Bird Cocktail – straining the drink mixture from a cocktail shaker into a glass filled with ice

How to Make a Jungle Bird Cocktail

An intoxicating mix of pineapple, rum, and lime, this drink recipe is well balanced and ready for the beach with a pineapple garnish and maraschino cherry skewer.

To make a Jungle Bird Cocktail, begin by adding all ingredients to a cocktail shaker half- of two-thirds-filled with ice: rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, and demerara syrup.

Cover the cocktail shaker, then shake until very well chilled and mixed. You’ll know it’s done when the body of your shaker is covered in condensation.

Then, strain the mixture into a cocktail glass filled with ice.

Lastly, garnish with a wedge of pineapple, pineapple leaves for flair, and a maraschino cherry skewer.

Two photos showing How to Make a Jungle Bird Cocktail – adding a pineapple cherry garnish

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to your most frequently asked questions about the Jungle Bird drink.

When was the jungle bird cocktail invented?

The jungle bird cocktail was invented in 1978 by Penangite Jeffrey Ong See Teik, in Malaysia, at the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Hilton’s Aviary Bar. [4][5]

What is the story behind the jungle bird cocktail?

The Jungle Bird Cocktail was inspired by a view from the bar in which it was created, the Aviary Bar.

The Aviary Bar’s seating area boasted a view of birds kept beside the hotel’s swimming pool, in a netted area. [6]

In 2010, bartender Giuseppe González brought the Jungle Bird cocktail back into style by reworking it with blackstrap rum and decreasing the pineapple juice.

Why is it called a jungle bird?

As mentioned above, the Jungle Bird Cocktail is named after the birds located within view of the bar where it was created.

A photo showing how to make this drink – adding pineapple leaves as the final garnish

What can I use instead of Campari in a Jungle Bird?

To substitute Campari in a Jungle Bird, try using Aperol a similar, but slightly sweeter Italian liqueur close in flavor and color. Or, you can make an Aperol Spritz.

What is the best dark rum for jungle birds?

Choose a dark rum like Appleton Estate or Hamilton, or go for a bolder rum like blackstrap rum such as Gosling’s Black or Cruzan rum to hold its own against bitter orange Campari, according to González. [7]

Tools You Need

Tropical pineapple rum drink served with maraschino cherry syrup, a cocktail set and palm leaves

Jungle Vibes Only!

What is it about this jungle-inspired drink that makes me smile? I hope you feel the same way when you whip one of these up! Be sure to take a pic and post it on Instagram, tagging my @beamingbaker and #beamingbaker. ‘Til our next cocktail adventure…

Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

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Jungle Bird Cocktail served in a rocks glass

Jungle Bird Cocktail


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Description

Tropical, fruity, and strong—the Jungle Bird Cocktail is a fun rum cocktail made with dark rum, pineapple, fresh lime and Campari.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Jungle Bird Cocktail Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz dark or blackstrap rum
  • 1 oz Campari
  • 1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
  • 1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup or demerara syrup

Garnish

  • Pineapple wedge
  • Pineapple leaves
  • Maraschino cherry

Instructions

  1. Add all Jungle Bird Cocktail Ingredients to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice: blackstrap rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, and demerara syrup.
  2. Shake until very chilled and well mixed.
  3. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.
  4. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, pineapple leaves, and maraschino cherry on a skewer.
  • Prep Time: 1 minute
  • Cook Time: 0 minute
  • Category: Drinks, Cocktails
  • Method: Chill, No Cook
  • Cuisine: Asian, Malaysian

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