The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (2024)

  • Cocktails
  • Rum Cocktails

By

Colleen Graham

The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (1)

Colleen Graham

Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.

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Updated on 09/22/24

Tested by

Tom Macy

The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (2)

Tested byTom Macy

Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."

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Prep: 3 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 3 mins

Serving: 1 serving

Yield: 1 cocktail

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The Painkiller is apopular tropical cocktail. It was created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands. It's a fun and fruity mix of pineapple, orange, coconut, and a bold rum. Perfect for a sunny day on the beach or a casual afternoon in the backyard, the recipe is simple, and the drink is delicious.

The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (3)

How Strong Is the Painkiller?

When made with Pusser's Blue Label (84 proof in the U.S.), the Painkiller ​weighs in at10 percent ABV (20 proof). This is nothing compared to cocktails like the martini (60 proof), but sweet drinks, hot days, and summer sun can quickly get you drunker than you expect.

This cocktail typically calls for "navy-style" rum, which is high-proof and often a blend of rums from multiple Caribbean islands known for producing it. The style was developed when the British Royal Navy patrolled the seas, and sailors were allowed a daily rum ration.Most often, Pusser's Original Admiralty Blend (Blue Label) is the rum of choice for the Painkiller, though any navy-style or dark rum will do just fine.

The Painkiller falls into the category of potential "hair of the dog" drinks. Like thecorpse reviver, it gives the illusion that it might help out on those days when you areplagued with a hangover (though it likely just prolongs recovery).

The History of the Painkiller

The original Painkiller was created at the Soggy Dollar Bar in the 1970s. The hotspot on the British Virgin Islands was owned by Daphne Henderson. With no dock on the beach, patrons had to swim to shore, getting their money wet along the way. This inspired the bar's name.

The Painkiller was the Soggy Dollar's signature cocktail, and it became famous in the islands. The recipe was a well-kept secret.

When Charles Tobias—who would found Pusser's Rum in 1979—befriended Henderson, he tried to figure out the secret recipe. As the story goes, Tobias recreated the drink almost exactly, though people at the Soggy Dollar enjoyed his slightly less sweet version of the bar's signature mix.

The drink took off, and Tobias trademarked it as Pusser's Painkiller. The recipe spread, and it quickly became a modern classic in the tropical cocktail scene.

Bartenders mixed up Painkillers, drinkers enjoyed the fruity concoction, and all went well. That was until a pair of well-known New York City bartenders decided to open a bar called Painkiller.They also offered the namesake cocktail, but their version did not use Pusser's. This spurred a trademark lawsuit that ended in the venue changing its name to PKNY (it closed in 2013). As the story unfolded in 2010 and 2011, the bartending community came out in support of the NYC establishment. Several boycotted the rum, and quite a few purposely promoted Painkillers with any rum other than Pusser's.

Though the story of the Painkiller does not change the appeal of the drink, it is an interesting case of who can "own" or trademark a cocktail recipe or name. It's not the first case in the courts; similar arguments have surrounded theBacardi cocktailand thedark 'n' stormy.

Tips for Making Painkiller Cocktail Recipe

  • No cream of coconut, no problem - Cream of coconut is a nonalcoholic drink mixer sweeter than coconut cream. Canned coconut cream or coconut milk can be substituted (you may want to add a sweetener such as simple syrup). Coconut milk sold in cartons will work, but it's not as thick or rich as the others.
  • No navy rum, no problem - If you do not have navy rum, choose a full-bodieddark rum; Appleton Estate Dark Rum is a favorite for this drink.
  • Mix your rums - You can also mix two styles of rum (some believe this may be truer to the original Painkiller). Light and dark rums are a popular combination.
  • Personalize it - Whatever you choose to pour, it's hard to make a badPainkiller. You'll enjoy some rums more than others, and finding that perfect combination is half the fun.

What You'll Need To Make This Painkiller Cocktail Recipe

A Cocktail Shaker
A Sleek Highball Glass
A Fine Grater

"A great cocktail cousin to the piña colada. The Painkiller is a beach vacation in a glass. This recipe is exactly what you'd get at a classic Caribbean hotel or beach bar. It's refreshing with tropical flavors, not too strong and has just enough kick from the rum." —Tom Macy

The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (7)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

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Ingredients

  • 2 ounces dark or navy rum

  • 4 ounces pineapple juice

  • 1 ounce orange juice

  • 1 ouncecream of coconut

  • Pineapple wedge, for garnish

  • Grated nutmeg, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (8)

  2. Pour 2 ounces rum, 4 ounces pineapple juice, 1 ounce orange juice, and 1 ounce cream of coconut into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

    The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (9)

  3. Shake well.

    The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (10)

  4. Strain into a chilled highball glassfilled with fresh ice.

    The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (11)

  5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and sprinkle the Painkiller with grated nutmeg on top. Serve and enjoy!

    The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (12)

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
750Calories
36g Fat
76g Carbs
5g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories750
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g46%
Saturated Fat 30g149%
Cholesterol 34mg11%
Sodium 255mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 76g28%
Dietary Fiber 10g37%
Total Sugars 55g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 110mg550%
Calcium 63mg5%
Iron 2mg12%
Potassium 659mg14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Pineapple
  • rum
  • caribbean
  • party

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The Painkiller Is an Easy, Delicious Tropical Cocktail Ready in 3 Minutes! (2024)

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