You won't notice any pain when you try this cocktail cousin of the piña colada. The painkiller cocktail is a delightful combo of rum, pineapple, coconut, and orange with an aromatic nutmeg garnish. And while it may not stop your head from hurting, drinking one or two glasses of tropical deliciousness will certainly make you care a lot less that it hurts in the first place.
How to Make a Painkiller Drink
If you love a piña colada, then you'll love its slightly more citrussy cousin, the painkiller.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Pusser's rum
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add the ice, rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a hurricane glass or cocktail glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and grated nutmeg.
Related: Simple Piña Colada Recipes With Vacation-Worthy Flavor
Variations and Substitutions for Painkiller Drink Ingredients
Don't be intimidated by how to make a painkiller drink; it's a pretty easy and forgiving drink with ingredients begging for experimentation and play.
- If you can't find Pusser's rum, go back to the painkiller's roots and use Cruzan rum. Otherwise, a Navy, overproof, or dark rum can always be the drink's base.
- Use equal parts orange juice and pineapple juice.
- Up the coconut flavor by adding a little extra cream of coconut, a half ounce of coconut milk, or even a splash of coconut rum. Alternatively, if you're not a big coconut fan, go ahead and use just half an ounce.
- Experiment with rums in combination: a light rum with dark rum, but take care not to exceed two ounces total.
Pankiller Drink Garnishes
A pineapple wedge with grated nutmeg is the most traditional garnish for the painkiller. The nutmeg adds an aromatic touch that's unbeatable.
- Add an orange slice, wedge, or wheel. You can also use a different citrus, such as lemon or lime.
- Citrus zest makes an excellent, colorful touch. Any citrus will do; sprinkle a little on top in combination with the grated nutmeg or on its own.
- A pineapple leaf ups the tropical factor — add it to the traditional garnish or with other garnishes, too.
- Sprinkle grated coconut onto the drink on its own or with a pineapple wedge.
The Tropical Drink to Soothe the Soul
The painkiller is an excellent swap when you're tired of your blue lagoons or want something a bit bolder than your usual piña colada. While mysterious and relatively under the radar, the ingredients for a painkiller are no more complicated than any other rum cocktail. Now that's a bit of homemade medicine.
