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–+ servings

The 'Spievak' or Mid-Century Zombie, by Donn Beach

Smooth, deep and gentle, this drink is an iron fist wrapped in a velvet glove. Appearing as a recipe in ‘Barbecue Chef’, a self-published manual by Louis Spievak (1950). It was supposedly provided to Spievak by Donn Beach himself, with the purpose of catering to more of a home market.
Although it shares very little with the ‘34 Zombie, its particular flavor profile is deemed superior by many tiki connoisseurs, fitting well with slightly more modern tastes.
Difficulty Medium
Total Time 4 minutes
Servings 1
Spievak or Mid-Century Zombie, Cocktail by Donn Beach
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Ingredients

  • 1 oz White Puerto Rican Rum
  • 1 oz Gold Puerto Rican Rum
  • 1 oz 151-proof Demerara Rum - ideally Lemon Hart
  • 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1 oz Unsweetened Pineapple Juice
  • 1 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
  • 1 tsp Demerara Simple Syrup - see quick recipe below
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • 1 Sprig of Mint

Method

  • Pour all ingredients into a shaker, adding enough crushed ice to show above the surface of the liquid.
  • Shake vigorously for around 15 seconds, until a light frosting starts to form on the outside of the shaker. Pour unstrained into either a Zombie glass, or alternatively a Collins.
  • Create your garnish by first bruising the mint and then placing it down the side of the glass into the ice.

Notes

Spievak Barbecue Book with map of Hawaii and Mid-Century Zombie recipe
An inside spread from the self published, ring bound, 'Barbecue Chef', by Louis Spievak
 
Listed in Berry's Intoxica and Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails, the 'Spievak' Zombie is a true work of genius - a perfectly balanced recipe that harkens to the expertise behind the original Zombie. The issue lies in that there's barely any overlap between the two in terms of flavor profile or ingredients. Whilst the 'Cabaret' Zombie, although distinct to the original, could easily be part of its natural evolution.
So did the ever-tinkering Donn create the Spievak Zombie as an experiment, aimed at making it accessible to a more restrictive home bar audience?
It's possible.
Seven of its nine ingredients are easy 1 oz pours, some of the more esoteric components have been replaced, and it's shaken rather than blended, making it only a little more complex than your standard cocktail.
But it seems that on this account we may never know. The trail of evidence has run its course. So I suppose the question it really boils down to is, "Who cares if it tastes this good?" 😉🌴🍹
 

Demerara Simple Syrup

  • Add 1 cup of demerara sugar to 1 cup of water in a pan (making a 1:1 simple syrup).
  • Heat the pan and bring the mix to a simmer. Do not allow to boil. If it boils then water will evaporate and your syrup has the potential to crystallize when in the bottle.
  • Stir continuously until the mix is clear and the sugar is fully incorporated.
  • Allow to cool, then pour into a sterilized bottle and refrigerate. It should last a couple of weeks.