You’re going to need a bigger boat… or glass, for the bloody-looking Shark Bite cocktail.
Throughout our childhood, my siblings and I would spend summers at our aunt and uncle’s summer house on the lake in upstate New York. One rainy day, while we were stuck inside, our cousins decided that we should watch the classic film Jaws. You know the one… A giant great white shark terrorizes a coastal community, ultimately biting Robert Shaw in half before Roy Scheider blows the giant fish up. Spoilers, by the way. That’s a real truncated synopsis, but most of us have probably seen the iconic movie multiple times at this point. On that wet afternoon years back, however, that was my first time watching it.
I can go on and on about how much I love that movie and how many times I’ve seen it, or how many t-shirts I own, or LEGO sets and toys… It made an impression on me, especially as a young kid. After that first viewing, I couldn’t go swimming in the lake without freaking myself out, thinking some monstrosity from the deep would rise up to chomp me. While using the bathroom, too.
Tonight’s cocktail is the Shark Bite, a favorite riff on the Tiki classic known as the Shark Tooth, which was invented by the legendary Donn Beach of Don the Beachcomber fame. While whoever created the Shark Bite appears to be a mystery, the drink itself has become quite popular at many a beachside bar and resort, especially in the United States.
With its aquamarine presentation, rich, sweet and sour notes, and a dash of grenadine for that “blood in the water” look, the Shark Bite is a fun tipple to sip on with a couple of chums.
What is the best rum to use in a Shark Bite Cocktail?
Let’s have some fun with rum, shall we? Our recipe for the Shark Bite cocktail calls for two different styles of the tropical spirit, a spiced and a white, or silver, rum. The white rum will be clear in color and unaged, featuring notes of molasses, sugarcane and banana, while the darker and aged spiced variety will carry a richer, sometimes funkier flavor. For the latter, some Jamaican rum is an excellent choice, like Myers’s or Appleton Estate. And for the silver rum, Bacardi and Don Q are usually my go-to bottles, and mix nicely in any cocktail they’re used in.
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce spiced rum
- 3/4 ounce light rum
- 1/2 ounce blue curaçao
- 1 1/2 ounces sour mix
- 3 drops grenadine
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the spiced rum, light rum, blue curaçao, and sour mix. Shake well.
- Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Slowly add the drops of grenadine into the drink. The dense syrup will sink, creating red "blood" trails as it travels to the bottom.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Fill a rocks glass with ice, then pour your shaken drink in. Then dash some grenadine in for the “blood”. You can also pop a little cocktail umbrella on top as well, if you like.
Can you add soda to this mixture?
You can soften up the “bite” this drink has by adding a splash of club or lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite or 7UP.
Other cocktails similar to the Shark Bite
If you’re a fan of Tiki culture and the drinks that inhabit that fun and fascinating world, Twist & Toast has a fine selection of recipes that you can try at home, from the iconic to hidden gems. Try some of these out this weekend if you’re feeling like having a boozy adventure or two. Then, come back and explore the site for even more delicious ideas.
- Mai Tai – Quite possibly the most famous and popular Tiki cocktail in existence.
- Jet Pilot – Take flight with this robust and tropical sipper.
- Saturn – Gin takes centerstage in this cosmic concoction.
- Three Dots & A Dash – This Tiki classic is like a party in a glass, and everyone is invited.
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