Every grownup needs a childlike treat every now and again – and this is when we like to mix up a Bushwacker cocktail. Essentially, this dreamily creamy drink is the equivalent of a decadent chocolate milkshake with the swagger of a Piña Colada. It’s cool, and smooth, with a gorgeously rich flavor that incorporates aromas of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee. This makes it equally suitable for a sun-dappled chill session on the porch in the summertime, or a fire-side hangout in fall.
Bushwacker Cocktail
PREP TIME 2 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth
02
Pour into a tall glass with a straw, adding your chosen garnish
The Bushwacker cocktail story
The Bushwacker cocktail recipe was concocted in the Virgin Islands in 1975. It was here, while working at a laid-back beach resort, that buddies Angie Conigliaro and Tom Brokamp dared to dream this creamy drink into being. They named the new drink in honor of Old Bushwack, the dog owned by one of their regulars and much loved by everyone at the resort. And if you love a Mexican Hot Chocolate or Chocolate Martini, this is the cocktail you need to try next!
Cream of coconut vs coconut cream
One tricky thing about the list of Bushwacker cocktail ingredients is that cream of coconut sounds a lot like coconut cream. However, these are two completely different things. Coconut cream is a thick, fatty cream, typically sold in cans, that has a very strong coconut flavor.
Cream of coconut, on the other hand (the one you want for this drink!) is a sweetened syrup used to make cocktails. It comes in a squeeze bottle and is made from coconut cream with plenty of added sugar.
Coffee liqueur substitutes
The coffee liqueur used in the Bushwacker cocktail gives it a very nice depth of flavor. However, if you aren’t all that big on the coffee vibe, you can easily take it in a different direction. Adding Frangelico will yield a lovely nuttiness, while Grand Marnier will make things more fruity. Play around to see what you like and develop your own signature take on the Bushwacker cocktail.
Crème de Cacao alternatives
Another way to put your own spin on the drink when you learn how to make a Bushwacker cocktail is to switch out the Crème de Cacao. This chocolate bean-flavored liqueur is a great thing to have on hand to make a bunch of other drinks, including the iconic Grasshopper, but you could use any other chocolate liqueur.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Crème de Cacao is a sweet alcoholic liqueur (chocolate bean) flavored liqueur, often scented with a hint of vanilla.
A Bushwacker Cocktail is a great summer drink, and also makes a nice signature drink for a dinner party or home-bound happy hour.
Hospitality buddies Angie Conigliaro and Tom Brokamp first made it at a holiday resort in the Virgin Islands in 1975, and named it after one of their regulars’ dogs. His name was Bushwack.
A Bushwacker cocktail combines Appleton Estate Rum, coffee liqueur, creme de cacao, cream of coconut, and milk, that is all blitzed with ice to make a very creamy milkshake-style cocktail.
Hospitality buddies Angie Conigliaro and Tom Brokamp first made it at a holiday resort in the Virgin Islands in 1975, and named it after one of their regulars’ dogs. His name was Bushwack.
Hospitality buddies Angie Conigliaro and Tom Brokamp first made the Bushwacker cocktail at a holiday resort in the Virgin Islands in 1975, and named it after one of their regulars’ dogs. His name was Bushwack.
