Welcome to the Flock: Jungle Bird Cocktails That Soar
From Kuala Lumpur to cocktail menus worldwide, the Jungle Bird turns 50. Here are 14 original riffs to keep the flock flying.
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Jungle Bird | Originals | Recipes | Rum | Tiki Cocktails | Winter Cocktails
Nightjar
Flavor Profile: Tropical, bitter, earthy, contemplative Nightjar is a moody take on the Jungle Bird, made for slow sipping under dim lights. Built around the earthy bitterness of Cynar, this riff trades the bright bite of Campari for something deeper and more herbal — without losing the tropical vibes. Pineapple juice and pineapple gum syrup…
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One for the Birds
Flavor Profile: Tropical, herbaceous, bitter, overproof funk One for the Birds is a Jungle Bird riff from Barlow Gilmore, swapping in clear amaro for Campari and tweaking the rum combo for extra brightness. I used an amaro from Waterpocket Distillery — light, herbal, and just bitter enough. The result is vibrant, funky, and wonderfully yellow…
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Jungle Bird-a-Rita
Flavor Profile: Fruity, floral, tart, gently bitter Jungle Bird meets Margarita in this vibrant and playful hybrid. The Jungle Bird-a-Rita blends pineapple, Campari, and tequila with floral and spicy touches to create a tropical cocktail with attitude. It started by accident—grabbing pineapple and Campari for a margarita idea—and quickly became something bigger. Hibiscus syrup and…
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Jungle Bird | Mezcal | Recipes | Tequila | Tiki Cocktails
Jungle Booby
Flavor Profile: Smoky, bitter, citrusy, complex Jungle Booby is an unexpected riff from NYC bartender Brian Miller that swaps rum for a smoky combo of tequila and mezcal. First published in Imbibe, this version adds grapefruit juice, absinthe, and a generous hit of Campari for one of the boldest spins on the Jungle Bird we’ve…
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Kentucky Bird
Flavor Profile: Bold, tangy, tropical, bittersweet Kentucky Bird is a bold riff on the Jungle Bird by bartender Stephen Kurpinsky, replacing rum with bourbon and layering in bright lemon, passionfruit syrup, and Campari for a bittersweet kick. The addition of house-made oleo saccharum gives it a citrusy lift and a silky texture. This drink hits…
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Jungle Bird | Recipes | Rum | Tiki Cocktails
Jungle Bird
Flavor Profile: Bittersweet, tropical, rich, balanced The Jungle Bird is a true tiki original — created in 1973 at the Aviary Bar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s one of the only classic tropical cocktails to feature a bitter aperitif, and it works beautifully. This bittersweet blend of blackstrap rum, Campari, pineapple, lime, and demerara syrup…
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Jungle Bird | Recipes | Rum | Tiki Cocktails
Getaway Car
Flavor Profile: Spicy, tropical, smoky, bold Created by NYC bartender Ginger Rickey of Raines Law Room, the Getaway Car offers a fiery twist on the Jungle Bird template. It swaps Campari for Ancho Reyes, trading bitterness for warm spice and smoky depth. Pineapple, lime, and rum bring the tropical base, while a dusting of ancho…
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Alpine Bird
Flavor Profile: Spiced, bitter, warming, tropical Created by Vasile Petric of Riverhorse On Main in Park City, Utah, the Alpine Bird is a wintery take on the Jungle Bird. This modern riff swaps in Alpine Distilling’s spicy Lafayette bourbon and Preserve liqueur, adding a layer of holiday warmth to the drink’s tropical roots. Balanced by…
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Gin | Jungle Bird | Originals | Recipes | Tiki Cocktails
Jungle Rabbit
Flavor Profile: Fruity, spiced, bitter-sweet, tropical The Jungle Rabbit is a gin-based Jungle Bird riff that swaps out Campari for Aperol and leans into warming spice with vanilla allspice syrup. Inspired by the original “Jungle Cat” cocktail using Tom Cat gin and maple syrup, this twist blends tropical brightness with cozy depth. Barrel-aged gin and…
