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Let me paint a picture for you about our Yellow Bird Recipe.
Imagine yourself lying on a beach, the sand between your toes and the waves gently lapping against the shore in the distance.
You have a drink in your hand. It’s exotic. It’s yellow. The smell of fruit and luxurious booze fills your nose and you just have to take a sip.
What can you taste? Well, the Yellow Bird is made by mixing White Rum, Triple Sec, Galliano, and Lime Juice so it’s fruity, herbal, and very, very alcoholic.
Delicious!
What’s in a Yellow Bird?
A Yellow Bird is traditionally made by mixing White Rum, Triple Sec, Galiano, and Lime Juice
White Rum
You can read more about why we recommend Bacardi Carta Blanca right here, but we ran a number of white rums through our strict criteria and it came out on top!
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Triple Sec
Triple Sec is a type of Orange Liqueur. It’s called Triple Sec because it’s triple distilled when made – you can read more about this in our detailed article.
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What is Galliano?
…and what’s that third alcoholic ingredient? Galliano? What’s that?
Well, Galliano is a brand of sweet herbal liqueur that’s made in Italy. Its main flavour is that of vanilla-anise, but has subtle citrus and herbal undertones.
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How do you garnish a Yellow Bird?
You garnish a Yellow Bird with a slice of lime and a maraschino cherry.
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Variations
The recipe we have here is the official Yellow Bird recipe – the one that’s registered with the International Bartenders Association.
But there are a number of variations on this recipe out there.
One variation calls for the mix of light and dark rum, instead of white rum; another adds pineapple or orange juice, which I can totally understand if you prefer more of a fruity, long drink.
Another more outlandish variation suggests the use of banana liqueur, which I haven’t tried just yet, but judging by the other flavours in this drink I bet works well.
What do you need to make a Yellow Bird?
In terms of equipment you need to make the Yellow Bird, there’s not much to it.
Equipment
Jigger
Get your alcohol measurements right with a good jigger.
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Cocktail Shaker
Get your mix tasting as good as it possibly can, with a good cocktail shaker.
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Glassware
For the Yellow Bird, we traditionally use a cocktail glass.
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Yellow Bird Recipe
Yellow Bird
Tweet this Recipe
Share on FacebookIngredients
- White Rum 30ml / 1oz.
- Galliano 15ml / 0.5oz.
- Triple Sec 15ml / 0.5oz.
- Lime Juice 15ml / 0.5oz.
- A slice of lime and a maraschino cherry to garnish
Recipe
With a Cocktail Shaker:
- Add Ice, White Rum, Galliano, Triple Sec, and Lime Juice to your cocktail shaker.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a Cocktail Glass.
Without:
- Add Ice, White Rum, Galliano, Triple Sec, and Lime Juice to a Cocktail Glass.
History of the Yellow Bird
Some sources suggest the name of the cocktail comes from the Haitian tune of the same name, which was first rewritten in English in 1957.
Others argue the name came from the yellow colour the mix became thanks to Galliano.
The exact origin of the Yellow Bird cocktail is a subject of debate, and there isn’t a single widely accepted creator or story associated with it.
However, it is believed to have originated in the Caribbean, where many tropical cocktails and tiki-style drinks have their roots.
One theory suggests that the Yellow Bird was created in the 1950s or 1960s, likely in the British Virgin Islands or the Caribbean region.
It is often associated with the Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke, which is known for serving this cocktail.
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