Painkiller Cocktail
One sip of this Painkiller Cocktail and you’ll be transported to the topics! It’s similar to a piña colada, but less sweet and with a more complex flavor. This is the perfect rum cocktail for summer!
About this Drink Recipe
On the last day of our family trip to Destin, we had dinner at what is now one of my absolute favorite restaurants — Boshamps.
When perusing the cocktail list, the name “Painkiller” stood out to me. As any parent knows, a family vacation is both fun and exhausting. And after seven days of traveling with four kids, what mom isn’t ready for a Painkiller — er, vacation from the vacation?
This was the first time I had ever had a Painkiller cocktail. I love piña coladas, and after one look at the ingredient list — which is very similar! — I was sold.
It was so tasty! Ever since that trip to Destin, we’ve made them at least a couple times each summer while at home.
What Is a Painkiller Cocktail?
A Painkiller is a tropical rum cocktail that’s made with a simple yet refreshing blend of dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and orange juice.
“Painkiller” is actually a trademarked name. It’s the signature drink of Pusser’s Rum (the rum of choice for this cocktail) and is extremely popular throughout the Caribbean.
A Brief History of the Painkiller Cocktail
The first ever Painkiller drink was created by Daphne Henderson at the Soggy Dollar Bar, located on Jost Van Dyke island (part of the British Virgin Islands).
Pusser’s Rum founder, Charles Tobias, heard talk of Henderson’s incredible rum cocktail and went to try it for himself. He loved the Painkiller so much that he asked Henderson for her recipe, but she refused to give it to him.
The story goes that after a couple years of friendship — and long chats over more than a few Painkillers, I’m sure — Tobias took a Painkiller back to his own kitchen to recreate the drink as best he could.
In the end, he came up with what he thought was the correct ratio for the Painkiller mixed drink: “4-1-1-1.” That’s four parts pineapple, one part cream of coconut, one part orange juice, then adding Pusser’s Rum to taste.
Tobias took his version of the Painkiller back to Henderson’s bar and passed it around. Everyone agreed that Tobias’ version was better.
From that point on, Tobias began promoting the Painkiller cocktail at his own restaurants and its popularity soared from there.
What Does a Painkiller Cocktail Taste Like?
A Painkiller is a tropical rum cocktail that’s fruity but not too sweet. The pineapple and orange juices keeps the drink sweet-tart, while the dark rum adds a subtly spicy, nuanced flavor. The cream of coconut adds sweetness and creaminess.
Dare I say this cocktail tastes like the Caribbean in a cup? I think so!
What’s the Difference Between a Painkiller and a Piña Colada?
A Painkiller is similar to a piña colada, but there are a few key differences:
- Painkillers are made with dark rum and include orange juice. They’re less sweet than piña coladas and have a more complex flavor.
- Piña coladas use white rum and do not include orange juice. They’re fairly sweet and taste strongly of pineapple and coconut.
Tools Needed to Make a Painkiller
You need very few bar tools to make your own Painkiller mixed drink. Here are the tools I recommend having on hand:
- Cocktail Shaker — The cocktail is shaken and then poured over ice.
- Cocktail Strainer — Everything gets shaken with ice, but the drink must be strained and served with fresh ice.
- Jigger — For easier measuring.
Painkiller Cocktail Ingredients
This is a simple rum cocktail with a minimal ingredients list. Here’s what’s in a Painkiller:
- Rum
- Pineapple juice
- Cream of coconut
- Orange juice
- Fresh grated nutmeg
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
What Is Rum?
Rum is a popular choice for making tropical cocktails. In the simplest terms, rum is a distilled spirit that’s made from some form of sugar (most commonly pure cane sugar, a syrup, or molasses).
Rum is one of the oldest distilled spirits, and it’s been produced and consumed in the Caribbean for generations.
There are a few key types of rum to be aware of: light or white, gold or amber (a medium-bodied rum), aged, and dark. Each variety of rum has its own unique flavor, but rum is generally subtly sweet, smooth, and smoky.
Note that Painkillers are made with dark rum, which is the richest tasting rum that’s been aged in charred oak casks.
What’s the Best Type of Rum for a Painkiller?
Historically Painkiller cocktails have been made with Pusser’s Rum. It’s the company’s signature drink.
However, any dark or navy rum may be used to make a Painkiller.
What Is Cream of Coconut?
Cream of coconut is a thick and sweet coconut product, similar to a syrup. I recommend buying cream of coconut from either Coco Lopez or Coco Real for best results.
Do NOT confuse cream of coconut with coconut cream, which is essentially coconut milk that contains a higher amount of coconut solids. The two are NOT interchangeable.
How to Make a Painkiller
If you’re searching for an easy but delicious rum cocktail for the summer, look no further! You can start sipping on this drink in no time:
- In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine the rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut.
- Place the lid securely on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Strain the prepared cocktail into a large cocktail glass filled with ice.
- To garnish, grate fresh nutmeg over top of the cocktail using a microplane zester. Then, pop a slice of fresh orange and a maraschino cherry on top.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Painkiller Garnish Ideas
You’re welcome to garnish your Painkiller with any tropical fruit you have on hand, but the traditional garnishes are as follows:
- Fresh Grated Nutmeg
- Orange Slice
- Maraschino Cherry
Tips for Making This Tropical Rum Cocktail
- Use fresh orange juice — This is such a simple rum cocktail, and you can tell when bottled orange juice has been used to prepare it. Buy a couple of oranges and juice them yourself for the freshest, brightest flavor!
- Use quality pineapple juice — In a perfect world, you’d use freshly pressed pineapple juice in your cocktail. If you can’t get your hands on any, opt for a carton of pineapple juice that’s NOT from concentrate and doesn’t contain added sugars or flavorings.
- Don’t mistake cream of coconut for coconut milk or coconut cream — You need to use cream of coconut in this cocktail. It’s a coconut syrup of sorts. Coconut milk and coconut cream and not the same thing!
- Don’t skip the grated nutmeg on top! Freshly grated nutmeg adds a delicate aroma and subtle spice to the cocktail.
- Use a quality rum — Just like your fruit juices, it’s important to use a good dark or navy rum in this cocktail. You only need an ounce or two of rum for most rum cocktails, so a bottle will last for a while!
Cocktail FAQs
Have questions about how to make this tropical rum cocktail? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Is a Painkiller shaken or stirred?
A Painkiller is always shaken, never stirred.
Is a Painkiller served over ice?
Yes! Personally, I love lots of nugget ice for this rum cocktail (here is the ice maker we have). However, you may use regular ice cubes if that’s what you have on hand.
What is this cocktail garnished with?
A Painkiller is traditionally garnished with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice.
However, you could also use pineapple leaves, a pineapple wedge, or serve the drink in a pineapple cup!
If I can’t find Pusser’s Rum, what should I use?
If you can’t find Pusser’s Rum, use a dark, navy, or aged rum instead. I do not recommend using white rum for this recipe as it doesn’t provide the right flavor profile.
Can you make a Painkiller pitcher cocktail?
You can make a Painkiller pitcher cocktail up to 48 hours in advance. Store the cocktail mixture in the fridge until ready to serve but do NOT add ice to the pitcher.
You’ll want to add ice to the individual glasses and pour the Painkiller mixture over the ice.
To prepare a pitcher of Painkiller cocktails, measure out the ingredients below using ratios rather than ounces or tablespoons.
Can you make a Painkiller mocktail?
Absolutely! Alcohol-free spirits are a wonderful alternative if you’re sober curious or don’t consume alcohol.
I’ve never made a Painkiller with alcohol-free spirits so I can’t speak to the exact taste, but here are some highly rated non-alcoholic spirits you can try out:
You could also replace the rum with water that’s been mixed with a splash of rum extract. Or, simply omit the rum entirely for a mocktail!
Safety tip: Depending on the brand you use, some alcohol-removed spirits may still contain trace amounts of alcohol. Check before using if you’re pregnant, serving the mocktails to kids, etc.
Try This Summer Rum Cocktail at Home!
Next time you’re looking for a tropical cocktail with rum, give this Painkiller recipe a try!
Did you think it was the perfect summertime drink? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this simple Painkiller cocktail.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this Painkiller mixed drink!
More Tropical Cocktails to Make:
Ditch the blender and make Piña Colada on the Rocks instead. It’s the classic pineapple, coconut, and rum cocktail — just served over ice! You’ll love how easy these shaken piña coladas are to make!
Strong, tart, and slightly sweet, a Mai Tai Cocktail is a classic rum cocktail that will transport you straight to the tropics!
Pineapple, cilantro, and lime juice infuse this Pineapple Margarita with refreshing summer flavors. Make a small batch or prepare in a pitcher for parties!
Sweet and sour from the passion fruit and lime juices and slightly smoky from the mezcal, this Passion Fruit Margarita recipe makes a unique cocktail that everyone will love.
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Painkiller Cocktail
One sip of this Painkiller Cocktail and you’ll be transported to the topics! It’s similar to a piña colada, but less sweet and with a more complex flavor. This is the perfect rum cocktail for summer!
Ingredients
For the Cocktail:
- 2 ounces Rum
- 4 ounces Pineapple Juice
- 1 ounce Orange Juice
- 1 ounce Cream of Coconut
Garnishes:
- Fresh Grated Nutmeg
- Orange Slice
- Maraschino Cherry
Instructions
To Make the Cocktail:
- In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine the rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut.
- Place the lid securely on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously, for about 30 seconds.
- Strain the prepared painkiller cocktail into a large cocktail glass filled with ice.
Garnishing the Cocktail:
- Using a microplane zester, grate fresh nutmeg over top of the cocktail. Then, serve garnished with a slice of fresh orange and a maraschino cherry.
- Enjoy immediately!
Notes
I recommend serving this cocktail over nugget ice.
A hurricane glass, highball glass, other tall glass, or a goblet glass works well for serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 349Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 4gSugar: 24gProtein: 2g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy. This provided information is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
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