Pusser's Rum Painkiller Cocktail - Give the Painkiller a hearty shake for foamy head, generous sprinkle of nutmeg for nutty spice flavoring and orange slice garnish for splash of color. - photo by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist — Pusser’s Rum Painkiller Cocktail – Give the Painkiller a hearty shake for foamy head, generous sprinkle of nutmeg for nutty spice flavoring and orange slice garnish for splash of color. – photo by Mixologist Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist

The Pusser’s Rum Painkiller began its long cocktail career at the Soggy Dollar Bar at White Bay on the Island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. The Soggy Dollar Bar is a swim up bar, so customers pay with soggy dollar bills. Hence the bar’s name.

Pusser’s Rum is made in the same wooden pot-stills that were in use over two centuries ago. Since wood soaks up the flavor of the liquids within it, you could say these wooden pot-stills impart two centuries worth of flavor into every bottle of Pusser’s Rum. Pusser’s Rum is 84 proof / 42% ABV.

Pusser’s Rum Painkiller Cocktail Recipe

Painkiller

2 ounces Pusser’s Rum

3 ounces Pineapple Juice

1 ounce Orange Juice

1 ounce Cream of Coconut

Orange Slice and Fresh Grated Nutmeg Garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into goblet over fresh ice. Garnish with orange slice and generous sprinkling of fresh grated nutmeg over the top.

Shake this cocktail! Get a little foamy goodness going on the top. Don’t skimp on that generous sprinkle of nutmeg. It adds aroma and yummy nutty spice to this delicious cocktail.

Pusser’s Rum Painkiller Proof Notes

I think it is rather perplexing when I see the Painkiller cocktail on restaurant bar menus with the notation “limit 2 per customer.” Somehow there is this idea that the Painkiller cocktail is overflowing with alcohol. Look at the recipe. There are 2 ounces of 42% ABV Pusser’s Rum in the drink. This is a 7 ounce drink shaken over ice and then served over ice. Let’s assume there is at least bare minimum 1 ounce of ice melt between shaking the ingredients and consuming the drink. I have sipped Painkiller cocktails on a sunny beach. Trust me. There is way more than 1 ounce of ice melt going on in the glass in that situation, but we will still be frugal by saying only 1 ounce of ice melt {or water} is going into the volume of the drink.

The math: 2 ounces of 42% ABV Pusser’s Rum divided by 8 ounces volume of the drink x 100 = .105 which is approximately a 21% ABV drink.

The math clearly shows the Painkiller is one killer of a flavorful cocktail, but it does not go overboard on alcohol. Even so, use your best judgment before, during and especially after consuming any alcoholic beverage. Enjoy responsibly so you can live to sip another day.

Sample courtesy Pusser’s Rum. Join Pusser’s Rum in conversation on facebook.com/pussers and twitter.com/pussers.