Hot diggity dog, the cocktails at Liberty Tree Tavern (as detailed in Pt. 1) knocked Rickey right off his hobby horse. But the shock and awe continued as Rickey sampled the bevies from Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, the last and final stop on his MK booze tour.
Jungle Bird: $14
Full disclosure, the Jungle Bird, in its finest form, is Rickey’s all time favorite cocktail. It’s strong, well balanced and incredibly interesting with a sort of nutty bitterness to it. Because of this, Rickey was all set to HATE the Skipper Canteen version… and then he didn’t.
The recipe includes Goslings Black Rum, Campari and cane syrup with pineapple and lime juices. In Rickey’s version, there’s a very dark, syrupy rum called Black Strap in addition to these ingredients, which gives the cocktail some extra oomph. That said, the Skipper Canteen version worked, regardless of this omission.
Those who are new to Campari might feel surprised by the bitterness it imparts to the Jungle Bird. But do not fear. The dark rum gives the drink some depth while the the sugar and pineapple combo soften the tart lime and bitter Campari. Overall this is an exceptionally well balanced cocktail that serves as a nice entry point into bitter spirits.
Golden Haze Margarita: $16
This is yet another cocktail that one can find at other locations throughout Disney World. In fact, at one point Rickey cried booze-heavy tears of disappointment into his marg when he ordered the Golden Haze at an All-Star pool bar (So SAD). But the Skipper Canteen version reignited Rickey’s will to drink!
This cocktail is not going to surprise you at all, which is often a good thing when drinking at Disney. It’s really just a basic margarita with Teremana Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier Liqueur, Smoked Chili Bitters, lime and agave.
If anything, this margarita listed a bit to the tart side and was not overly sweet. The chili bitters neglected to give it the spicy finish Rickey wanted, but they didn’t detract either. Overall, this is a great option for those who like a real, classic margarita (and who hate the sweet and/or watered down ones prevalent throughout Disney World).
Bonus: Rickey’s Jungle Bird Recipe
After singing the praises of the JB, Rickey thought he’d let you in on the recipe he uses at home. You’re welcome!
- 1 oz Cruzan Black Strap Rum
- 0.5 oz Gold Rum
- 0.75 oz Campari
- 0.5 oz Lime Juice
- 1.5 oz Pineapple Juice
Shake with ice and pour unstrained into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a pineapple leaf. Love your life.
Have you gotten boozy at Magic Kingdom yet? Let us know in the comments!