The best classic tiki cocktails
The top 3 according to 1,555 votes from people: Mai Tai · Jungle Bird · Zombie. (Updated Mar 8, 2025.)
The rum-heavy tropical drinks born in Don the Beachcomber's and Trader Vic's bars, as ranked by Paste Magazine and Difford's Guide's top-rated tiki cocktails: from the Mai Tai and the Zombie to the Jungle Bird.
Top 14
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1
Mai Tai
Trader Vic's 1944 classic: aged rum, lime, orange curaçao and orgeat.
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2
Jungle Bird
Born in 1970s Kuala Lumpur: dark rum, Campari, pineapple and lime.
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3
Zombie
Don the Beachcomber's potent blend of three rums, falernum and spices.
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4
Painkiller
The Soggy Dollar Bar's rum, pineapple, orange and coconut cream with nutmeg.
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5
Navy Grog
Three rums with grapefruit, lime and honey, served over an ice cone.
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6
Scorpion Bowl
A communal punch of rum, brandy and orgeat.
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7
Fog Cutter
Rum, gin, brandy and orgeat with a sherry float.
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8
Hurricane
New Orleans' passion-fruit and rum drink from Pat O'Brien's.
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9
Planter's Punch
The old Jamaican rum punch: one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong.
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10
Three Dots and a Dash
Don the Beachcomber's tribute to victory in Morse code.
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11
Saturn
A rare gin-based tiki drink with passion fruit and falernum.
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12
Pearl Diver
Rum with Don's gardenia mix of butter, honey and spices.
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13
Singapore Sling
Gin, cherry liqueur and pineapple from Raffles Hotel, a tiki-bar staple.
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14
Piña Colada
Rum, pineapple and coconut cream, Puerto Rico's national drink.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 14… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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15
Test Pilot
Don the Beachcomber's 1940s blend of rums, falernum, Cointreau and lime.
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16
Suffering Bastard
Created by Joe Scialom at Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo in 1942, with gin, brandy, lime and ginger beer.
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17
Missionary's Downfall
Don the Beachcomber's frozen rum cocktail with pineapple, mint, peach brandy and lime.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (7)
Mai Tai, Trader Vic's 1944 original, not the fruit punch version.
Add the Suffering Bastard, the Test Pilot and the Missionary's Downfall.
Jungle Bird, the tiki drink for Campari lovers.
Painkiller from the Soggy Dollar Bar in the BVI.
Zombie by Donn Beach, limit two per customer!
Three Dots and a Dash, Morse code for V for Victory.
Tiki culture is so fun.