Post #748510 by kkocka on Mon, Aug 3, 2015 10:14 AM

On 2015-08-02 13:17, wupput wrote:
I tried a couple of new drinks out last night. First, the verdict on the long-awaited Jungle Bird was unanimously negative. Nobody finished theirs, except me, which also meant I finished my wife's. I enjoyed the three distinct flavors you get in that drink but the Cruzan Blackstrap just seemed to take the drink over. I found it passable while my guests found it undrinkable. Maybe we'd prefer it with Goslings or Coruba or El Dorado 12?

So my first experience was pretty much the same - I made two versions between the wife and I: one with blackstrap ala Hale Pele and the other w/Coruba. Coruba was pretty awful, but nothing compared to the blackstrap. Only drink i've made where we had to toss them out completely. I don't think I put too much Campari in there, but maybe we weren't used to the taste. I'm more accustomed to it now, but the last one I made was with passionfruit syrup instead of simple syrup, and Plantation Pineapple over a dark rum. This was based off the recommendation of Jason Alexander from Tacoma Cabana and made all the difference in the world. I think the passionfruit over simple is the biggest difference maker. Try it again, with both those ingredients if you have them, and you'll change your mind.

Besides those changes, I don't see what the big deal is about this drink. Maybe it's for Campari lovers or people who don't typically like exotic cocktails.