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Home » Recipes » Drinks

Painkiller Cocktail

March 23, 2022 Updated March 31, 2022 by Lisa Goldfinger 7 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

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Close up of a creamy yellow painkiller cocktail on ice in a rounded cocktail glass with a wedge of orange and a wedge of pineapple attached to the rim

Nothing says palm trees and ocean breezes like an ice cold Painkiller, the ultimate Caribbean cocktail. Pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream and rum are shaken, poured over ice, and topped with fresh grated nutmeg, to make this terrific drink that literally tastes like the tropics. 

painkiller cocktail in focus in the foreground with garnishes of orange and pineapple on the glass and two fuzzy focused painkiller cocktails in the background

 

You will love sipping a painkiller over brunch, at a summer barbecue or anytime you feel festive or want to feel festive. A painkiller cocktail transports you to a beach overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. After a few sips you'll be feeling those happy tranquil island vibes.

Why is it called a Painkiller?

Because it makes you feel good.

And it really does. When we travelled to the Island of St. John a few years back, the first thing we did when we got off the boat was head to nearest bar for a round of painkillers. We had heard raves about this legendary island cocktail and it didn't disappoint. A few sips in and we and we were all smiles, feeling vacation relaxation come over us. 

Here's what you need to make Painkillers

You need orange juice, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and Pusser's dark rum. These four main ingredients plus ice, freshly ground nutmeg, and thin slices of pineapple and/or orange to garnish the glasses.

Kitchen counter with a container of orange juice, a bottle of Pusser's rum, a bottle of pineapple juice, a can of coco lopez and, in the foreground a small patter with thin orange slices and triangular pineapple slices

Is there an authentic painkiller cocktail recipe?

The most authentic painkiller recipe is the one served at the Soggy Dollar Bar, on the Island of Jost Van Dyke where this drink was invented. However, they keep their proportions secret. Their version of the painkiller is legendary, but you've got to go there to enjoy it. (I'm in!). 

If you search the web for painkiller recipes you will discover that all the recipes out there use the same ingredients. It's only the proportions that differ slightly. Most painkiller recipes, including liquor.com's recipe, follow the proportions recommended by Pusser's rum. We tested out that version and found it to be pure perfection. See our printable recipe card below for all the details.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS COCKTAIL

CAN I MAKE THIS WITH ANOTHER RUM BESIDES PUSSER'S?
Technically yes. Legally no. Pusser's Rum has a U.S. trademark which stipulates that for a drink to be called a "painkiller" it has to be made with Pusser's Rum. (more on this below)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PAINKILLER AND A PINA COLADA?
Both drinks contain pineapple juice, coconut cream and rum but they are quite different. A painkiller is less sweet than a piña colada and has additional ingredients which give it a richer and more complex flavor. Piña coladas use white rum; painkillers use dark. Piña coladas are blended with ice; painkillers are served over ice. Piña coladas use equal parts pineapple juice, coconut cream and rum; painkillers use 4 parts pineapple juice, 2 parts rum, 1 part coconut cream plus 1 part orange juice.

HOW DO I MAKE A PITCHER OF PAINKILLERS?
The recipe card below gives you the proportions for making two drinks but it's easy to amp it up and make painkillers for a crowd using the same proportions: 4 parts pineapple juice, 2 parts rum, 1 part orange juice and 1 part coconut cream. Mix all the ingredients in a pitcher and pour into large, ice-filled glasses. For best results, chill the rum and the two juices the fridge for a few hours, before mixing. However don't chill the coconut cream because it will get solid and difficult to mix.

overhead shot of 4 large round cocktail glasses filled with painkiller cocktails on ice, each glass garnished with a slice of orange and a slice of pineapple, a white rectangular dish holds a few extra fruit slices.

 

History, intrigue and drama surround this drink

The story of the painkiller cocktail began in 1971 on the British Virgin Island of Jost Van Dyke at an open-air, beachfront bar called The Soggy Dollar, which got its name because the only way to get there was to jump off your boat and swim over, so the dollars in your pocket that you used to pay for drinks, were wet and soggy. 

The owners of the Soggy Dollar invented a rum drink called a Painkiller, made with fruit juices, coconut cream and local Cruzan Dark Rum. News spread about how good it was and boaters came from far and wide to try it. One of those boaters was an American named Charles Tobias.

Cut to 1979. Charles Tobias bought the rights to produce and sell a dark rum that had previously been owned by the British Admiralty, and was served to the Royal Navy Sailors. Tobias named this rum Pusser's, after the "pursers" on the ships who served the rum to the sailors. 

As the story goes, Tobias had this new rum business and now he wanted the painkiller recipe. But when tried to convince the owners of the Soggy Dollar to give it to him and they refused, he figured out his own version which he deemed to be very close to theirs, only better.

Now comes the zany part. In 1989 Tobias filed a U.S. trademark which stipulated that for a drink to be called a "painkiller" it has to be made with Pusser's Rum. This actually led to some legal legal battles and questions as to whether it's even fair to trademark a recipe. 

These days things seemed to have settled down and it's pretty much accepted that a painkiller has to be made with Pusser's Rum. Pusser's is a delicious dark rum and works beautifully in this drink and until I uncovered the info about the trademark, I just assumed that Pusser's Rum is uniquely the most perfect rum for this cocktail. But now I know, and you know, that there is more to it than just that!

Close up of a creamy yellow painkiller cocktail on ice in a rounded cocktail glass with a wedge of orange and a wedge of pineapple attached to the rim

Here's the Painkiller Cocktail recipe. If you make this, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think.

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Close up of a creamy yellow painkiller cocktail on ice in a rounded cocktail glass with a wedge of orange and a wedge of pineapple attached to the rim

Painkiller Cocktail


★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Lisa
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 drinks 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This creamy, fruity, refreshing rum drink is the signature cocktail of the Virgin Islands. It's similar to a piña colada, only less sweet and more sophisticated, with rich, smooth, subtle flavors. A wonderful drink for a festive brunch or for cocktails on a summer night.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 8 ounces pineapple juice
  • 4 ounces Pusser's Rum
  • 2 ounce orange juice (no pulp)
  • 2 ounce coconut cream, stirred well, such as coco lopez or Coco Real
  • 1 Whole nutmeg (for grating)
  • Ice
  • Thin wedges of pineapple and/or thin slices of orange, to garnish

Instructions

  1. Add pineapple juice, rum, orange juice and coconut cream to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
  2. Strain into 2 big glasses filled with ice. Grate fresh nutmeg on top.
  3. Garnish with orange slices and/or pineapple slices.

Notes

Nutmeg Grater: I use this grater for nutmeg. It also works for grating parmesan cheese and zesting lemons. Here's a good choice if you want a dedicated nutmeg grater. 

How to make a pitcher of Painkillers: Use the proportions 4 parts pineapple juice, 2 parts rum, 1 part orange juice and 1 part coconut cream. Mix all the ingredients in a pitcher and pour into large, ice-filled glasses. For best results, chill the rum and the two juices the fridge for a few hours, before mixing. However don't chill the coconut cream because it will get solid and difficult to mix.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Category: Cocktail
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: Caribbean

Keywords: Caribbean cocktail with rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this recipe, please let me know how it turns out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on instagram with the hashtag #panningtheglobe

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Filed Under: Drinks, Entertaining, Quick and Easy, The United States, vegan, Vegetarian

Reader Interactions

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Datanya M.

    July 31, 2022 at 12:18 pm

    This was delicious!! I did not have the rum from the recipe, but I did have some Puerto Rican darm rum (Ron Del Barrilito) and that's what I used instead. I also appreciated you giving us the measurements to make a pitcher of this drink instead which is what I used. Thank you for sharing, this will be my go to recipe.

    Reply
  2. M Cross

    June 30, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    Can this be made without the coconut?

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 01, 2022 at 8:00 am

      I suppose you could use evaporated milk. You'll need something to give the drink some creaminess. It won't be quite the same tropical flavor without the coconut but it should still be a good cocktail.

      Reply
  3. Marisa C

    April 03, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    This drink is amazing!! I first had it at the Soggy Dollar Bar years ago on a day trip to Jost Van Dyke… which I love the name of the bar and the story behind the name!! Quite true- the dollars I paid with were indeed- soggy! I didn’t know about the legal aspect of the story- so thank you for sharing! To all… drink up and enjoy! 🍹

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Lisa

      April 04, 2022 at 5:43 am

      The soggy dollar sounds like such a fun destination. I hope to get there one day. Thanks for your note. Cheers!

      Reply
  4. Joe Barnes

    March 24, 2022 at 7:25 am

    These look so good. I can't wait to make painkillers! I'm waiting for the weekend. Thanks for the recipe and for telling the story. Interesting stuff!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Charlene Davis

    March 23, 2022 at 5:55 pm

    It is sometimes difficult to find coco Lopez, etc, but it is super easy to make it. These are perfect icebreaker cocktails that nearly everyone loves!

    Reply

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