Jungle Bird
Serves 1 · 5 minutes · Rocks glass
Last updated 24 October 2026
A Jungle Bird balances blackstrap rum and bitter Campari with pineapple, fresh lime and sugar syrup. It is less straightforwardly sweet than a coconut cocktail; measure the bitter liqueur rather than treating it as an uncounted splash.
Ingredients
- — 45ml blackstrap rum (40% ABV assumed)
- — 22.5ml Campari (25% ABV assumed; check your bottle)
- — 45ml fresh pineapple juice
- — 15ml fresh lime juice
- — 15ml sugar syrup (1:1)
- — Ice cubes
- — A washed pineapple wedge, to garnish
Method
- Chill a rocks glass and measure the rum, Campari, pineapple, lime and syrup into a shaker.
- Fill with ice, seal securely and shake for 10–15 seconds until cold.
- Strain into the glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple and serve immediately. Retain the measured liqueur and rum volumes when making another serving.
Why it works
Pineapple sweetness and lime acidity balance a deliberately bitter liqueur. The rum is only part of the alcohol content, which is why the units below include Campari. We make Dilay; the spiced option is a first-party variation, not the definition of the classic.
The classic vs the spiced version
The liquid measures follow the IBA Jungle Bird specification. Replacing 45ml blackstrap rum with 45ml Dilay creates a distinct cardamom-led spiced adaptation; it does not reproduce the blackstrap base. Keep the Campari measured in either version.
Tips for getting it right
- — Campari adds both bitterness and alcohol. Check its labelled ABV, which can differ between markets.
- — Blackstrap describes the rum style in this specification; a dark-looking bottle is not automatically the same product.
- — If the drink tastes too bitter, change the next serving in small syrup steps instead of adding extra rum.
- — Pineapple juice can foam when shaken. Leave room in the shaker and strain promptly.
Related serves
For a stirred bitter serve, make a Rum Negroni
For rum, almond and lime, try a Mai Tai
Frequently asked questions
Is a Jungle Bird a sweet pineapple cocktail?
It includes sweet pineapple, but Campari makes bitterness central to the balance. It is not interchangeable with a piña colada.
Can I use any dark rum?
The cited specification names blackstrap rum. Other rums can be used as labelled variations, with a different base character.
Does the unit statement count Campari?
Yes. At 40% rum and 25% Campari, the measured ingredients contain approximately 2.36 UK units. Check both labels when substituting.
Try Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum in this recipe.
BUY DILAY 1949 PANJABI SPICED RUMRecipe references
Our method and spiced adaptations are described separately from the referenced classic specifications.
Approx. 2.36 UK units per serving from the measured alcoholic ingredients. 45ml blackstrap rum at 40% ABV; 22.5ml Campari at 25% ABV. Check your bottle labels if substituting.
Please drink responsibly. 18+. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.