Meet the Jungle Cat cocktail, a bold, bright red tiki drink that's about to become your new favorite sipper! It's a playful riff on the classic Jungle Bird, made with barrel-aged Old Tom gin, Campari, pineapple gum syrup, and fresh lime juice. The result is fruity, a little bittersweet, and dangerously easy to drink. Consider yourself warned. 🍍
This one comes from my friend Jordy of @housepourcocktails on Instagram, the same cocktail genius who introduced me to the Paper Plane cocktail! The best part? You only need four ingredients and a cocktail shaker, and it's ready in about 5 minutes. Make one for a cozy date night, shake up a round for friends, or serve it at your next party whenever you need a little vacation in a glass.
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Why You'll Love It
Besides being ridiculously pretty? Let me count the ways!
Just four ingredients: Shake, pour, sip. You'll be done in about 5 minutes.
A fun twist on a classic: Cocktail nerds will spot the Jungle Bird inspiration, and everyone else will just ask for seconds.
Perfectly balanced: Warm, barrel-aged gin, bittersweet Campari, fruity pineapple, and zippy lime all play nicely together. Not too sweet, not too bitter.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need:
- Old Tom gin - The cozy backbone of the drink. This barrel-aged gin is softer and a little sweeter than your usual gin, with warm, whiskey-like notes from the oak that play so nicely with the pineapple and Campari. I use Ransom Old Tom gin, but any barrel-aged Old Tom will work.
- Campari - Gives the Jungle Cat cocktail its gorgeous red color and a little bittersweet bite.
- Pineapple gum syrup - A pineapple syrup made with gum arabic, which gives the cocktail a silky, velvety texture. This is the one I use, and you can also find it at specialty liquor stores.
- Fresh lime juice - Freshly squeezed, please! It brightens everything up and balances the sweetness.
Tips & Tricks
- Measure it out: With only four ingredients, a little too much Campari or lime really shows. A jigger keeps everything balanced.
- Shake it like you mean it: A good, hard shake with plenty of ice chills the drink, adds just the right amount of dilution, and gives it a light, frothy texture.
- Use fresh ice in the glass: The ice in your shaker gets broken down and melty, so strain the cocktail over fresh ice to keep it from getting watery.
- Chill your glass: Pop your tiki glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before pouring for an extra frosty drink.
- Taste and tweak: Too bitter for you? Add a small splash more pineapple gum syrup. Too sweet? A little more lime.
Variations & Substitutions
Not a Campari person? Swap in Aperol for a lighter, sweeter, less bitter drink. Fair warning: it'll be more orange than red.
Want to go classic? Swap the gin for dark rum, and you've basically got a Jungle Bird. Use a blackstrap rum for an even deeper, molasses-y flavor.
No pineapple gum syrup? I gotchu. Mix 2 parts simple syrup (or agave) with 1 part pineapple juice. Check the recipe card notes for exact amounts.
Making drinks for a crowd? Mix a big batch of everything in a pitcher and keep it chilled in the fridge. When it's go time, shake each serving with ice and pour into your glasses.
Related Recipes
FAQs
They're close cousins! The Jungle Bird is a classic tiki cocktail from the 1970s made with dark rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. The Jungle Cat swaps in barrel-aged Old Tom gin and pineapple gum syrup for a softer, silkier sip.
It's a pineapple-flavored syrup made with gum arabic, which gives cocktails a smooth, velvety texture. Look for it at specialty liquor stores or online (I use this one). In a pinch, use 2 parts simple syrup and 1 part pineapple juice instead.
Yes! Mix the gin, Campari, pineapple gum syrup, and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to a day. Shake each serving with ice right before you pour.
Jungle Cat Cocktail
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
A bold, bright red tiki drink made with Old Tom gin, Campari, pineapple gum syrup, and fresh lime. This fruity, slightly bittersweet riff on the classic Jungle Bird shakes up in just 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Old Tom gin (I use Ransom)
- 1 ounce Campari
- ¾ ounce pineapple gum syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
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Instructions
- Add Old Tom gin, Campari, pineapple gum syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until well chilled, about 15 seconds.
- Fill a tiki glass with fresh ice and strain the cocktail over it.
- Garnish as desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly squeezed lime juice: Bottled lime juice can taste flat and a little bitter next to the Campari. Fresh lime keeps the drink bright and balanced.
No pineapple gum syrup? Swap in 2 parts simple syrup (or agave) and 1 part pineapple juice. For this recipe, that's ½ ounce simple syrup or agave plus ¼ ounce pineapple juice. You'll lose a little of the silky texture, but it's still delicious!
Recipe credit: Adapted from my friend Jordy of @housepourcocktails on Instagram. Go give her a follow for more fun cocktails!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage, Cocktails
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: Tiki
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