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.
From Kuala Lumpur to cocktail menus worldwide, the Jungle Bird turns 50. Here are 14 original riffs to keep the flock flying.
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…
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…
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…
Flavor Profile: Spiced, tropical, herbal, smoky Created in collaboration with Dos Maderas, Gran Canaria is a bold and layered riff on the Jungle Bird that blends Caribbean fruit with Spanish influence. The base spirit — Dos Maderas 5+3 — is aged in both the Caribbean and Sherry casks, adding depth and sweetness to the tropical…
Flavor Profile: Herbal, tropical, spiced, complex Mammoth Tusk is an over-the-top tiki cocktail by Chad Austin featured in Minimalist Tiki. It’s a full-throttle blend of agricole rum, Green Chartreuse, falernum, and multiple tropical mixers that build into a powerful and layered experience. The name matches the drink: bold, wild, and impossible to ignore. Chartreuse adds…
Flavor Profile: Tropical, fruity, citrusy, herbal The Toucan is a sunny, equal-parts tribute to the Yellow Bird — a tropical cocktail often found at cruise ship bars and beachside resorts. But unlike its classic cousin, this riff swaps out Galliano for Yellow Chartreuse and leans into bold banana flavor with a hit of Giffard Banane…
Flavor Profile: Citrus-forward, bold, herbal, smooth Monologue is an adventurous equal parts riff built on bold contrasts. Inspired by the classic Last Word, this cocktail swaps in Jägermeister for Chartreuse and blood orange liqueur for Maraschino, creating something deeper, darker, and entirely new. The result is a drink with a striking citrus base, rounded out…