Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds
Strain into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice
Garnish with pineapple wedge and freshly grated nutmeg
Glassware
Served over crushed ice in a hurricane glass
Garnish
Fresh pineapple wedge
Freshly grated nutmeg
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use freshly grated nutmeg for the signature aroma
Shake hard to fully emulsify the cream of coconut
Crushed ice keeps the drink frosty and dilutes slowly
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Painkiller.
PKNY
A defiant evolution of the Painkiller born from a trademark lawsuit, featuring a complex blend of three rums, acid-adjusted orange juice, and modern mixology techniques for superior balance and depth.
Passionfruit Painkiller
A modern tropical masterpiece that elevates the classic Painkiller with vibrant, tart passion fruit, showcasing sophisticated balance of rich rum, creamy coconut, and bright multi-dimensional fruit.
Fat-Washed Painkiller
A modern elevation of the classic tiki cocktail, infusing the rum with coconut oil for a luxurious, silky mouthfeel and enhanced depth of flavor.
Other Variations
Painkiller #3
Upping the rum to 3 oz for extra punch
Changes
Citrus Kick
Adds a squeeze of lime juice for brighter acidity
Changes
History & Heritage
“Daphne Henderson began serving the Painkiller at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the 1970s, blending Pusser's rum with pineapple, orange, and cream of coconut for beachgoers who swam ashore with wet cash. Pusser's later trademarked the name, sparking controversy when they sued a New York bar over its use and igniting a bartender boycott. Despite the dispute, the drink endures as a relaxed cousin of the Piña Colada and a symbol of island escapism.”
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Fat-Washed Painkiller
A modern elevation of the classic tiki cocktail, infusing the rum with coconut oil for a luxurious, silky mouthfeel and enhanced depth of flavor.
Passionfruit Painkiller
A modern tropical masterpiece that elevates the classic Painkiller with vibrant, tart passion fruit, showcasing sophisticated balance of rich rum, creamy coconut, and bright multi-dimensional fruit.
Virgin Piña Colada
Creamy pineapple and coconut served blender-smooth for a booze-free taste of the tropics.