The Bushwacker is a cocktail invented in 1975 at the Ship's Store, Sapphire Pub at Sapphire Village in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. It is similar to a creamy, chocolate piña colada. The original recipe called for Vodka, Kahlua, Dark Crème de Cacao, Coco Lopez (cream of coconut), a splash of Triple sec and milk that's spun in a blender with ice and topped with a grating of fresh nutmeg. However, the recipe now has as many variations as there are gin joints or bartenders. The quantity of vodka or rum, which lends the drink most of its alcohol, can be varied making the drink anywhere between 40% and 75% alcohol or it can be completely left out for a low-alcohol beverage. Fruit can also be added to the cocktail as another seasonal variation to an otherwise basic drink.[2]
History
The Bushwacker was invented at the Ship's Store/Sapphire Pub in Sapphire Village, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in the spring of 1975. It was named after a visiting guest's dog, Bushwack, an Afghan Hound.[citation needed]
Since 1986, there has been an annual Bushwacker Festival held at Quietwater Beach in Pensacola Beach, Florida to celebrate the drink and its celebrity status.[3]
Bushwacker Spirits of Sarasota, Florida, began bottling and mass production of Bushwacker in March 2020, and won a double gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in the Ready-to-Drink category..[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Bushwacker". About.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
- ^ "Home of the Original Bushwacker". marjorieskauaiinn.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ^ "Best Bushwackers on the Beach: The Dock on Pensacola Beach says better ingredients make a better drink". AL.com. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ^ Jackson, Lauren (May 22, 2024). "Sarasota's Bushwacker Spirits Just Won a Big Award at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition". Sarasota Magazine. Retrieved December 16, 2024.