According to legend, the first Zombie appeared in late 1934 at Hollywood’s Don the Beachcomber restaurant. It (the cocktail) was invented by Donn Beach (formerly Ernest Raymond Beaumont-Gannt) to help a hung-over customer get through a business meeting. The hapless inebriated customer later complained that the concoction, rather than aid, him turned him into a complete zombie. The smooth, fruity taste of this masterpiece works to conceal its extremely high alcoholic content to such a degree that Don the Beachcomber restaurants limit their customers to two Zombies apiece.

The below recipe for the Zombie is a close approximation to the highly safeguarded original and recipe. Happy Halloween! Please sip safely…

The Damn-Near Original Zombie Cocktail

1 1/2 oz. Jamaican rum
1 1/2 oz. gold Puerto Rican rum
1 oz. 151-proof Demerara rum
1/8 tsp. Herbsaint or Pernod
1/2 oz. falernum
*1/2 oz. Donn’s Mix
1 tsp. grenadine
1 dash Angostura bitters
6 oz. crushed ice
Tools: blender
Glass: chimney
Garnish: mint sprig

Put everything in blender but the ice.Blend at high speed for no more than 5 seconds. Pour into a glass and add ice cubes to fill. Garnish.

*Donn’s Mix
3 cinnamon sticks, crushed
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
fresh grapefruit juice

Create an infused simple syrup by heating cinnamon sticks, sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stir until sugar is dissolved. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit for at least 2 hours before straining into a clean glass bottle. Add 1 part of the syrup to 2 parts fresh grapefruit juice.