Painkiller Drink Recipe

➤ Introduction for Painkiller Drink Recipe

If you like a tropical drink – let me tell you about my all-time favorite – a Painkiller! This isn’t just another mocktail, it’s like someone bottled a Caribbean vacation – all that creamy tropical flavor takes you out of whatever is stressing you out.

The original Painkiller drink came into my life while I was taking an online cooking class focused on Caribbean food. I knew as soon as the instructor made the Painkiller that I wanted to develop a version in my style that captured the tropical paradise vibes. That first sip was heaven – the combination of creamy coconut and bright pineapple and orange balanced by spices that warm you up from the inside.

The Painkiller drink was invented in the 70s at a bar called the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands – they invented it as a beach drink. Mine is an ode to the chill tropical vibes but I made it friendly for everyone’s enjoyment. I’m telling you, every single time I make one, I close my eyes and it transports me to the beach with the soft sand on my feet, blue crystal-clear water, and palm trees swaying gently all around me.

➤ Why I Love This Painkiller Drink Recipe

• This Painkiller Drink is basically tropical excess in a glass! The Painkiller strikes this amazing balance of creamy and refreshing to an extent that makes you just want to chill and sip it. It is basically the drink version of a warm hug from the Caribbean sun.

• The coconut cream is not just an additional ingredient – it is the foundation of the whole drink, providing such this rich, dessert-like viscosity that makes every sip feel like you are being decadent. But what blows my mind every time is how well the pineapple and orange juices brighten it up so well, and then you have that little sprinkle of nutmeg on top providing a cozy spice that gives it the celebratory feel.

• It is also absolutely gorgeous how it looks – that creamy pale yellow color, with the nutmeg dusting and tropical garnishes? It looks like a drink that you’d pay 15 bucks for at some fancy resort bar. Coconut and pineapple flavor always whisk me away to escape to a warm and relaxing moment, even if I’m at home in the middle of winter.

➤ Painkiller Drink Recipe Ingredients

For the cocktail base:

•3 oz pineapple juice (also fresh, yes it’s worth it!)
•1 oz fresh orange juice (to brighten everything up!)
•2 oz coconut cream (not coconut milk! cream!)
•1/2 oz simple syrup (to your sweetness level)
•1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract (secret ingredient!)
•A whole bunch of ice cubes
•Fresh ground nutmeg for dust

For the proper garnish:

•Fresh pineapple wedge
•Maraschino cherry or fresh cherry
•Orange slice
•Toasted coconut flakes
•Paper cocktail umbrella

Optional upgrades when I’m in a fancy mood:

•A splash of coconut water with lighter texture.
•Mixing pineapple with fresh mango juice.
•A rim of toasted coconut and sugar.
•An edible orchid for total tropical elegance.
•A splash of coconut extract for additional coconut flavor.

➤ How to Make Painkiller Drink Recipe

1 • Step 1: Chill your glass perfectly

•Find yourself a highball glass or hurricane glass and fill with ice cubes. I usually throw the glass in the freezer for about 10 minutes first because you can keep the creamy texture longer with a cold glass. I promise, you will thank yourself later.

2 • Step 2: Build the creamy base

•Pour your pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream, simple syrup and vanilla extract into a cocktail shaker. Make sure to mix that coconut cream up really well before you add it – it will have separated in the can and you do not want any surprise coconut chunks in your paradise drink!

3 • Step 3: The perfect shake

•Add ice to your shaker and shake the heck out of it for 20-25 seconds. Yeah, you’ll get a little tired of shaking it at this point, but, you are trying to get the coconut cream to meld with the fruit juices. Your shaker should be super cold on the outside when you finish, if your hands aren’t a little cold, you’re not shaking hard enough.

4 • Step 4: The pour part

•Strain it into your chilled glass with fresh ice. Pour slow and smooth to keep that luscious creamy consistency – no one wants to rush a paradise. You should get this beautiful pale yellow color with a slightly thick texture that looks like true liquid sunshine.

5 • Step 5: The signature finish

•Dust on top a healthy amount of fresh ground nutmeg – dont you dare think about skipping this, its absolutely crucial for the true Painkiller feel. Add your garnishes and serve immediately with a wide straw because just being honest, that’s the only civilized way to drink this tropical delight.

➤ Painkiller Drink Recipe Tips and Variations

• This is a Painkiller drink I’ve been crafting for years and you need to know a few things. I insist on full-fat coconut cream and YOU HAVE TO SHAKE IT like your life depended on it, before you open the can, it makes all the difference.
• You can put everything in a blender with ice for a smoother drink, or if you prefer a lighter drink, you could mix the coconut cream with a bit of coconut water before you shake it.

➤ Serving Suggestions for Painkiller Drink Recipe

• These beverages are simply magical with sunset dinner parties – there is simply something about that golden hour that works perfectly with all of those creamy tropical flavors! I’m actually always making these for beach-themed parties, or honestly anytime I’m craving that vacation vibe in my house.
• Painkiller drink is also great with brunch considering their creamy texture is just enough to make it feel fancy for a slow lazy weekend meal. Like who doesn’t want to feel slightly indulgent on a Sunday morning?

• Foodwise, these go so well with Caribbean things it’s a joke. Try the painkiller drink with coconut rice, grilled fish with tropical salsa, or some spicy jerkchicken. Actually, that coconut cream cools down spicy food so well!
• I also love them with tropical desserts such as key lime pie or coconut cake. And for lighter fare, coconut shrimp and fish tacos are amazing with these drinks.
• I love a tropical drink station as a party trick – and guests love to choose their garnishes and the interactive aspect of the drink station. I will sometimes just the drinks in actual hollowed-out coconuts for the ultimate tropical wow factor that everyone loves for Instagram stories too!

If you are enjoying these tropical mocktails, dude, wait until you check out more tropical drinks inspired by the Caribbean! The Hurricane and Painkiller are literally a vacation wrap. One’s super bright and fruity while the other is super rich and creamy. They show that you don’t need anything fancy – just good honest ingredients and the best mixers to create magical drinking experiences that feel like you are relaxing at some beautiful tropical beach!

➤ Storage and Leftovers

• You can definitely prep the juice base and refrigerate it up to 24 hours before the party. Just mix coconut cream before serving and give it a good shake.
• Be sure not to add ice to the batch for mixing – it will dilute everything and cause your mix to separate into a sloppy mess.
• Once opened, coconut cream has a reasonable shelf life in the fridge, about a week or so. With fresh fruit juices, they are best consumed within 24 hours. I always make more simple syrup when making it. Why not?

➤ Painkiller Drink Recipe FAQs

Q: Can coconut milk be substituted for coconut cream?

⤷ A: I wouldn’t encourage that, honestly. It is so much thinner and less rich and all that thickness and richness is important for making the Painkiller the luxurious drink it is. It’ll just be too thin and watery with coconut milk – that’s not the vibe you’re going for.

Q: What if you can’t find coconut cream?

⤷ A: You can totally make your own! All you need to do is put a can of full fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight and scrape off the thick cream that separates off the top. This works perfectly and it’s sometimes even better than the stuff you can buy at the store!

Q: Can we make this lighter?

⤷ A: For sure! Simply mix the coconut cream with some coconut water for a lighter texture or add less coconut cream and more fruit juice. You can even put ice cubes in the blender for this frozen, smoothie-like thing that is awesome on hot days.

Q: Is the nutmeg necessary?

⤷ A: Yes!! Nutmeg is traditional and adds a warming spice note that takes the sweet tropical flavor to the next level. It is honestly part of what differentiates a Painkiller drink from any other tropical drink.

Q: Can you prepare this painkiller drink in advance for a party?

⤷ A: You can prepare the Painkiller drink juice mixture ahead of time, but put the coconut cream in just before serving and shake or blend it really well. That coconut cream will separate out if you let it sit too long and nobody wants chunky paradise drink.