Easy Jungle Bird Cocktail (Tropical Rum + Campari Recipe)
The Jungle Bird Cocktail is a delicious tropical rum cocktail made with Campari, pineapple, lime juice and simple syrup.
Jungle Bird Cocktail
The Jungle Bird is one of my favorite tiki drinks. This rum-based cocktail balances bright, tropical flavors with bitter notes, so you feel like you’re lounging in a tropical paradise when you’re enjoying it. This classic tiki cocktail made with 5 ingredients including dark rum, Campari, lime juice, pineapple juice, and simple syrup.
Jungle Bird Cocktail History
The Jungle Bird was created by Jeffrey Ong in the late 1970s at the Aviary Bar at Kuala Lumpur Hilton in Malaysia as a welcome drink. The cocktail was later featured in “The New American Bartender’s Guide” by John J Poister. The first written recipe included generic dark rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime and simple syrup.
Ingredients for the Jungle Bird
- Dark rum: Pick a good dark rum for this one. Dark Jamaican rum or blackstrap rum are often used in this cocktail.
- Campari: The bitterness of Campari really adds depth and balances the sweetness from the pineapple juice. If you don’t have Campari substitute for another red bitter liqueur.
- Pineapple juice: a splash of sweet pineapple juice will balance beautifully with the dark rum and Campari. Fresh pineapple juice works best but bottled will do as well.
- Lime juice: fresh lime juice is always best.
- Simple syrup: Give this cocktail a hint of sweetness by incorporating simple syrup. I like to make my own using 1 part sugar to 1 part water, but bottled works as well. Maple syrup or demerara syrup (made with demerara sugar and water) also works well in this recipe.
- Garnish: Pineapple wedge, pineapple fronds, and lime
How to Make the Jungle Bird Cocktail
The Jungle Bird is as simple as it gets. Grab your cocktail shaker and preferred cocktail glass and shake up this refreshing libation.
Start by adding all of the cocktail ingredients – dark rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously, until the outside of the shaker is chilled.
Next, fill a cocktail glass with fresh ice and strain the cocktail mixture into the glass. You can check out some of my favorite cocktail glasses here.
Garnish with a pineapple slice, pineapple leaves, and a lime slice. This is optional but highly recommended for all the tropical vibes! Enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the flavor of the Jungle Bird?
The Jungle Bird has a bright, tropical acidity common in many tropical drinks balanced with bitter notes of Campari.
Can you use Aperol in a Jungle Bird?
Yes! Aperol is a great replacement for Campari in the Jungle Bird. Because Campari is more bitter than Aperol, the cocktail will have a more mild flavor.
Can I make a Jungle Bird without rum?
Try tequila or whiskey as a rum alternative.
More Tropical Cocktails to Try
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Jungle Bird
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ oz dark rum
- ½ oz Campari
- 1½ oz pineapple juice
- ½ oz lime juice fresh squeezed
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Pineapple slice, pineapple fronds and lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- Add all cocktail ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously, until chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple slice, pineapple fronds and a lime slice.
