Scorpion Drink

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Get deliciously stung with tropical flavors when you sip on the classic Scorpion cocktail.

This past Tuesday, our James Bond film and social society had another successful screening, celebrating the “not-so-celebrated” Pierce Brosnan outing, Die Another Day. Of course, I immediately thought of that night when looking into today’s cocktail, the Scorpion. 007 and adult beverages go hand-in-hand, and so do scorpions. Sort of. It’s suggested in the movie we screened that while Bond was a prisoner for over a year, scorpions were a part of his unfortunate torture.

It is in Skyfall, however, that the poisonous and scary-looking little arachnid has an iconic moment. Presumed to be killed in action, Bond is seen playing a deadly drinking game, drowning a shot while a venomous scorpion sits on his hand, dangerously close to the agent’s eyeball. The liquor must be consumed without getting stung, something the gentleman spy does quite deftly. The scene became so memorable that an official drinking game was released, complete with two elegant glasses and a (fake) scorpion.

The Scorpion we’re looking at tonight is a classic from the tiki world, and has been around since the 1930s, when it was first served in Honolulu at a bar known as The Hut. During the 1940s, tiki legend Victor Bergeron, better known as Trader Vic, adapted that original recipe—which was made with a “Hawaiian moonshine” known asʻōkolehao—into what we know and love today, replacing the Polynesian spirit with a combo of rum and brandy, accentuated with orgeat, a well-known ingredient to tiki enthusiasts.

First served in giant communal bowls for large groups, Trader Vic eventually adapted the Scorpion to be made into more manageable single-serving beverages. A popular urban legend claims that a college student named Joseph Marshall set a world record drinking a Scorpion bowl by himself in under eleven seconds, over twenty years ago.

I’m sure the morning after was memorable. If he survived.

What is the best alcohol to use in a Scorpion Cocktail?

When crafting this refreshing and fruity sipper, two spirits will be required. And lucky for us, they’ll be available wherever you get your hooch. First, a white rum is required, which will give us tropically-tinged infusions of sugar cane or molasses along with hints of vanilla. The unaged and grassy-tasting libation will meld nicely with the brandy that we’ll also need, which will bring a richer, darker and fruitier flavor. Coupled with the orange and lemon juices, as well as the almond orgeat syrup, you’re in for one unforgettable tiki experience.

What glassware and garnish are used?

If you don’t have a Popeye or Bluto tiki mug to drink your Polynesian-inspired cocktails out of, like I do, a rocks glass will suffice. Fill with crushed ice, then garnish with a maraschino cherry on top, and an orange wedge as well.

Can you make this an alcohol-free beverage?

There is enough flavor swirling around in this mixture from the orange and lemon juice, as well as the orgeat syrup, that you can adjust these elements up a little to substitute the rum and brandy.

Other tiki cocktails worth trying

Tiki culture is huge here in Southern California, and there are also places the world over that have popular bars and taverns serving up some incredibly powerful potions, topped with a little umbrella. If you’d like to make a few tiki drinks at home this weekend, check these out, then explore the site for even more potent ideas.

• Saturn Cocktail – This classic, fruity tiki elixir is truly out of this world.
• Three Dots & A Dash – This “party in a glass” is a tiki scene favorite.
• Fog Cutter – Another legendary mixture from Trader Vic.
• Mai Tai – Here’s one of the most famous tiki tipples ever created.