The Jungle Bird is a tiki cocktail from 1970’s Malaysia and is one of the few using Campari, a bitter Italian liqueur, as bitter Italians aren’t your first thought when talking Tiki. But the Malaysians liked it when it rolled out in 1973 at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton. Originally it was served in a special glass shaped like a bird and you sipped it out of the bird’s tail. Hmm.
It fell off the cocktail radar, despite being debuted in 1989, and was “rediscovered” in Jeff Berry’s book, “Intoxica!” in 2002.
Blackstrap molasses rum is used in this drink. It is VERY sweet and rich in molasses flavor. Cocktails like Dark ‘n Stormy and Corn ’n Oil use this type of rum. But, if you are lacking in Blackstrap, feel free to swap with the darkest rum you have.