Drunken Monkey Rum Cocktails
Drunken Monkey Rum Cocktail is a playful and tropical beverage that is known for its sweet and fruity profile, creating a delightful punch reminiscent of carefree island life!

Why We Love This Drunken Monkey Rum Cocktail Recipe
If you need a summertime drink to make you feel like you are living island life, this Drunken Monkey Fruit Cocktail is exactly what you need! The combinations of fruit juice, two kinds of rum, nutmeg, bitters and fruit come together beautifully to create a delicious Caribbean cocktail!
I have to be honest, these are a vibrant fruity tiki drink, but they are powerful and go down so easy. You can definitely get yourself in trouble, so be careful!
We’ve made these Drunken Monkey Cocktails several times since we first had them during a vacation in the Caribbean. Each time we laugh at our hazy Caribbean memory of that hot sticky day and the cocktail that kicked our butts.
Even so, I think you will love this boozy Caribbean rum punch that tastes of the islands. It’s a cross between a Jungle Bird and a Painkiller cocktail.
Shake up a batch with friends when you plan to stay in for the evening, and enjoy making your own hazy memories!
Ingredients You Need
This Drunken Monkey Recipe uses simple, fruity ingredients to create the perfect cocktail! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Pineapple Orange Juice Blend
- Coconut Rum – white rum with coconut flavor
- Spiced Rum – or aged rum, or dark rum
- Bitters – I used orange bitters for this recipe
- Fresh Ground Nutmeg
- Maraschino Cherries – in juices
- Lime Slices – This is for finishing the cocktail with a garnish
- Fresh Pineapple Wedges – To use as a garnish as well
How to Make Caribbean Rum Cocktails
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the juice, coconut rum, spiced rum, and 4-5 shakes of bitters. Shake for 30 seconds.
- Pour into two iced tumblers or one tall glass. Then pour in 1-2 teaspoons of cherry juice and let it settle at the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a lime slice, pineapple wedge, and a cherry.
- Zest fresh nutmeg over the top and serve!
Get The Full (Printable) Drunken Monkey Rum Drinks Recipe + Video Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Classic orange bitters are great in this cocktail, but you could get fancy, if you want, with specialty bitters like ginger-flavored or smoked bitters. For a Caribbean touch, you can go for Angostura bitters!
For this fruity cocktail recipe, I used Captain Morgan’s Original spiced gold rum, but you can use any type of Spiced Rum that you like.
I like to garnish mine with a lime slice and a piece of fresh pineapple, however, you can serve it with an orange slice or lemon slice instead!
Absolutely! This recipe makes 2 individual fruit cocktails. To make enough for 8 people, multiply the recipe by 4, combine the ingredients in the pitcher, and stir well.
To make a mocktail drunken monkey, omit the two rums and the bitter in this recipe and replace the liquid with coconut water! This will be hydrating and super delicious.
Links for Our Best Rum Drinks + Other Favorites!
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- Perfect Manhattan Cocktail
- Plum Ginger Whiskey Sour
- “The Champ” Bourbon Cocktail
- How to Make a Mint Julep
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- Perfect Manhattan Cocktail
- No Wait Frose Recipe
- Lt. Dan’s Best Bloody Mary Mix Recipe
- Perfect Mojito (Pitcher Recipe)
We’ve recently released a brand-spanking new ebook called Craft Cocktails for the Home Mixologist. It’s a digital cookbook to keep on your phone or tablet, so you can make amazing cocktails no matter where you wander!
Drunken Monkey Rum Drinks Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 6 ounces orange-pineapple juice blend
- 3 ounces coconut rum
- 1 ounce spiced rum
- 4-5 dashes bitters
- Fresh ground nutmeg
- Maraschino cherries in juices
- Lime slices
- Fresh pineapple wedges
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the juice, coconut rum, spiced rum, and 4-5 shakes of bitters. Shake for 30 seconds.
- Pour into 2 iced tumblers or one tall glass. Then pour in 1-2 teaspoons of cherry juice and let it settle at the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a lime slice, pineapple wedge, and a cherry.
- Zest fresh nutmeg over the top and serve!
Love it! Reminds me of a certain 80’s movie. :)
So… if you figure that Captain Morgan is 40% alcohol and Malibu Coconut Liqueur is 21% alcohol.. each having one drink. One shot of Morgan and basically a shot and a half of Malibu… you were hammered on 2 1/2 drinks (2 1/2 beers equivalent). Huh, sloppy public drunk on basically 2 1/2 beers. I remember when I was 16 years old too! 🙄
How do you name a cocktail with the word “monkey” in it, if the recipe doesn’t contain something “Banana”… Just saying…
Exactly. This recipe is basically a rum punch that every island makes. I make a drink with Aged rum, white rum and a Banana Liquor I make at home with some fruit punch drink they sell down here with the nutmeg and bitters and it’s a true Drunken Monkey (especially as the white rum is 69 proof)
The best party drink! Makes you feel like you’re on vacation no matter where you are. Try it with mango nectar as well-Amazing!
Hey Sommer,
Please let LT Dan know that we appreciated his
Investigation into the matter of the Drunken monkey . Please keep us posted on his latest updates . Very satisfying on a tropical hurricane day and night . Thanks for the recommendation LT Dan .
Spicy “Drunken Monkey Cocktail”. I love it.
nice colors
I really like your foods, this looking so pretty and testy…
The story behind this drink is stunning. The flavors unquestionably help me to remember simple summer living!
This look amazing love all of your wonderful drinks!
This sounds amazing! Perfect for Summer!
My mouth is watering just reading this and looking at the pics. Now that that the weather is getting hotter, this sounds like perfect comfort drink after a long day.