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A Painkiller Drink is a refreshing tropical cocktail made with orange and pineapple juices, rum, and coconut. If you’re a Disneyland lover, this is also a copycat recipe from the Lamplight Lounge. Bring the parks (or the tropics) home to you!

yellow cocktail in a clear glass with a cherry, lime and pineapple slice in the drink.


What is a Painkiller Drink?

The traditional Painkiller Drink is the signature drink of Pusser’s Rum and is often associated with the British Virgin Islands where it was created in the 1970s. Made with creamy coconut, orange juice, and pineapple, this Caribbean cocktail will make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation.

There is one difference between the traditional recipe and this one: nutmeg. The original recipe has a dash of grated nutmeg on the top, whereas this Scream Canister version has a spritz or dash of bitters. Otherwise, it’s basically the same thing.

Why is it called a Pain Killer? Because trust me, with just a sip or two you’ll be feeling no pain!

ingredients in pain killer cocktail.

Ingredients Needed

  • Tropical Juices: Equal parts pineapple juice and orange juice. I recommend using pulp free orange juice.
  • Spiced Rum – This drink was invented by the makers of Navy Rum, so if you have that you can use it. Otherwise any spiced rum or dark rum will work.
  • Cream of Coconut – this is coconut cream in the mixer aisle, not canned coconut
  • Garnish: Bitters – just a dash – this is where the Disneyland copycat comes in – and a wedge of pineapple.

Substitutions

Spiced rum (aka the brown one) is the rum we used in the recipe, but if you only have light rum, you can use that.

You add the dash of bitters at the end before serving, but we preferred the drink without the bitters. You can also go traditional and add a pinch of fresh nutmeg in place of the bitters.

yellow cocktail in a clear glass with a cherry, lime and pineapple slice in the drink.

How to make a Painkiller Cocktail Recipe

  • Add orange and pineapple juice, cream of coconut and rum to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake and strain over ice cubes in tall glass or hurricane glass.
  • Garnish with a slice of pineapple, slice of lime and a cherry. The sweetness of the coconut and juices paired with the spiced rum is the secret of this drink!
yellow cocktail in a clear glass with a cherry, lime and pineapple slice in the drink.

Expert Tips for Cocktails

  • Make sure and add the ingredients to your cocktail mixer in order of importance/cost, which means, do the rum last. (This ensures that, if you make a mistake, you’re not wasting alcohol.)
  • You need to shake your cocktail longer than you think you do. Shake for a full 20 seconds or so!
  • It’s best to make these cocktails to order, so to speak. The cream of coconut won’t stay mixed with the juices in a pitcher.
  • If you do want to make a pitcher, then omit the cream of coconut and use coconut rum instead of the spiced rum. Then the ingredients would be: 1 1/2 cups each orange and pineapple juices, 2 cups coconut rum, 2 dashes bitters (optional)
  • Garnish with a pineapple wedge, lime slice, and a cherry.
  • This would also taste delicious blended with ice like a pina colada.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a pina colada and a painkiller?

While they have similar ingredients, a painkiller has orange juice and a pina colada is blended.

Where did the painkiller cocktail originate?

The drink was created in 1970 by Daphne Henderson at the famous Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands.

Can I make a nonalcoholic version of a painkiller drink?

You totally can – just skip adding the rum and you’ll still have a delicious somewhat creamy, sweet tropical drink.

yellow cocktail in a clear glass with a cherry, lime and pineapple slice in the drink.

Painkiller Cocktail Recipe

5 from 3 votes
A Pain Killer Cocktail is an easy drink recipe with pineapple, orange juice, coconut, and rum. It's like a Pina Colada on the rocks with orange juice! It's also a Disneyland Lamplight Lounge copycat recipe: the Scream Canister Cocktail!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield 1 drink
Serving Size 1 drink

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 ounces orange juice
  • 1.5 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce cream of coconut
  • 2 ounces spiced rum
  • Dash bitters, Optional
  • Lime slice, pineapple wedge, cherry for garnish
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Instructions

  • Add orange and pineapple juice, cream of coconut and rum to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour over ice in tall glass. Garnish with a slice of pineapple, slice of lime and a cherry.
  • Substitution: if you don't have the cream of coconut, substitute coconut rum for the spiced rum.
  • Want to make a pitcher? Omit cream of coocnut and use coocnut rum in place of spiced rum. Mix 1 1/2 cups each orange and pineapple juices with 2 cups rum and 2 dashes bitters in a pitcher over ice.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Make sure and add the ingredients to your cocktail mixer in order of importance/cost, which means, do the rum last. (This ensures that, if you make a mistake, you’re not wasting alcohol.)
  • You need to shake your cocktail longer than you think you do. Shake for a full 20 seconds or so!
  • It’s best to make these cocktails to order, so to speak. The cream of coconut won’t stay mixed with the juices in a pitcher.
  • If you do want to make a pitcher, then omit the cream of coconut and use coconut rum instead of the spiced rum. Then the ingredients would be: 1 1/2 cups each orange and pineapple juices, 2 cups coconut rum, 2 dashes bitters (optional)
  • Garnish with a pineapple wedge, lime slice, and a cherry.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 26mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Drinks
Cuisine American

Favorite Tropical Drinks

A Pain Killer Cocktail is an easy drink recipe with pineapple, orange juice, coconut, and rum. It’s like a Pina Colada on the rocks with orange juice! It’s also a Disneyland Lamplight Lounge copycat recipe: the Scream Canister Cocktail!



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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