Monday, December 26, 2011

The Bushwacker: A Virgin Island Cocktail Delight

Revisiting the Bushwacker

This is a great frozen cocktail with it's origins in St. Thomas, but no one seems to know what bar was the originator. This is a very decadent cocktail with some resemblance to a Pina Colada or a Mudslide. There is a bar called "Sandshakers" in Pensacola, Florida that claims to be the home of the original Bushwacker, but they admit that the recipe came to them in 1975 when the then owner visited Sapphire Beach on the eastern side of St. Thomas and there he tasted the Bushwacker and brought it back to try out on his customers at "Sandshakers".


My first introduction to the Bushwacker was at "Flip Flops" the pool bar at Sapphire Beach Resort. The drink immediately got my attention, but it is one of those cocktails that you don't want to drink too many of because they are so rich and filling.

The recipe is a clean and simple one, but there are several variations of it that I have seen in my travels including some of my own.
 
 
 
 Bushwacker Recipe
  • Cream of Coconut
  • Dark Rum
  • Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
  • Dark Creme de Cocoa
  • Milk or Half and Half

All of the ingredient are put in the blender with ice and blended until smooth. I like to put a swirl of chocolate syrup on the sides of the glass before pouring the ingredients into the glass. I also top it with fresh ground nutmeg, an orange slice and a cherry. These are optional, but add a nice little appearance thing that the customers like. You can float the Bushwacker with a dark rum like Myer's or even the Kraken, another viable option.
 
    No matter how you make it it's a great cocktail that you and your friends can enjoy. ;o)