The Rebirth of the Zombie: Tasting the legend for the first time - Tiki Drinks and Food

T telescopes Tiki Socialite Palm Springs Joined: May 06, 2007 Posts: 618	T telescopes Posted posted on Wed, Jul 25, 2007 7:43 PM On 2007-07-25 12:37, martiki wrote: The result was pretty spectacular: dry, tart & dynamic, with bold anise & strong oak flavors, with a dash of cinnamon & bitters. Certainly many of Don's signature flavors, and a showcase of the interplay between good rums. I've already made both the 1950 Speivak and the 1958 Caberet Zombie, so after reading your post, I decided it was time to take the 1937 Zombie out for a spin. Wow. Your above description was absolutely on the nose. The Bum compared this early version of the drink to the Colorado River and I am inclined to agree with him. It's good, and it's strong and yet it is missing the refinements made to the Caberet Zombie are very evident; same drink, a few changes - no cinnamon-syrup, the addition of pineapple and Maraschino liqueur and you have a much smoother drink -l a zombie with a much more refined and smoother taste. I am inclined to agree with you, Martiki, that the Speivak Zombie is an absolutely decent version of this drink. Of the four published Bum recipes, I'd be curious which one he would choose for his own personal drinking pleasure. I am half way through my 1937 Dick Santiago Zombie and as an artifact of tiki ground zero, I have to say it's definitely worth making and trying. However, as a party drink, I think I'd make up a pitcher of Speivak's. Easier by the numbers and the ingredients are more at hand. Honestly, I still can't believe I had the right ingredients to make these drinks in my liqueur cabinet to begin with. As a closing note, I have to add that the Pearl Diver is my new favorite Beachcomber drink outted by the Bum. Like the Zombie, it uses some of Donn's secret ingredients and additives, and yet, it is smooth as butter and honey while retaining the touch of bitters, cinnamon, and even a kiss of vanilla and allspice. The folks at TC have been give a real gift in the Bum's latest book... The boards will be hot with new topics for years to come. [ Edited by: telescopes 2007-07-25 19:46 ]

On 2007-07-25 12:37, martiki wrote:
The result was pretty spectacular: dry, tart & dynamic, with bold anise & strong oak flavors, with a dash of cinnamon & bitters. Certainly many of Don's signature flavors, and a showcase of the interplay between good rums.

I've already made both the 1950 Speivak and the 1958 Caberet Zombie, so after reading your post, I decided it was time to take the 1937 Zombie out for a spin. Wow. Your above description was absolutely on the nose. The Bum compared this early version of the drink to the Colorado River and I am inclined to agree with him. It's good, and it's strong and yet it is missing the refinements made to the Caberet Zombie are very evident; same drink, a few changes - no cinnamon-syrup, the addition of pineapple and Maraschino liqueur and you have a much smoother drink -l a zombie with a much more refined and smoother taste.

I am inclined to agree with you, Martiki, that the Speivak Zombie is an absolutely decent version of this drink. Of the four published Bum recipes, I'd be curious which one he would choose for his own personal drinking pleasure.

I am half way through my 1937 Dick Santiago Zombie and as an artifact of tiki ground zero, I have to say it's definitely worth making and trying. However, as a party drink, I think I'd make up a pitcher of Speivak's. Easier by the numbers and the ingredients are more at hand. Honestly, I still can't believe I had the right ingredients to make these drinks in my liqueur cabinet to begin with.

As a closing note, I have to add that the Pearl Diver is my new favorite Beachcomber drink outted by the Bum. Like the Zombie, it uses some of Donn's secret ingredients and additives, and yet, it is smooth as butter and honey while retaining the touch of bitters, cinnamon, and even a kiss of vanilla and allspice. The folks at TC have been give a real gift in the Bum's latest book... The boards will be hot with new topics for years to come.

[ Edited by: telescopes 2007-07-25 19:46 ]

Post #321202 by telescopes on Wed, Jul 25, 2007 7:43 PM