The Brass Monkey Drink is a throwback cocktail that blends orange juice, vodka, and dark rum into a bold, citrusy drink with a smooth finish. With its deep golden hue and smooth finish, this easy three-ingredient cocktail is perfect for casual parties, summer evenings, or when you're in the mood for something simple yet nostalgic. It first hit shelves as part of the Heublein company's line of pre-mixed cocktails and later became iconic thanks to a certain Beastie Boys song.
It’s simple to stir together, served over ice in a highball glass, and delivers a retro vibe perfect for parties, warm evenings, or casual hangouts. Whether you’re recreating Heublein’s version or riffing on it with your own spin, this drink is pure throwback energy in a glass.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Brass Monkey
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make a Brass Monkey Drink
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Serve a Brass Monkey
- What to Serve with our Brass Monkey Drink
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About a Brass Monkey
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Brass Monkey Drink Recipe
This was inspired by my love for a simple cocktail. It is fun making fancy creations, but sometimes you just want something easy. Here are a few other simple, enjoyable cocktails/shots: Pineapple Rum Cocktail, Snake Bite Shot, Fireball Shot, Love Potion Cocktail, Breakfast Shot, Strawberry Hennessy Lemonade, Apple Cider Sangria, Apple Cider Moscow Mule, Apple Cider Mimosa or an Apple Cider Old Fashioned.
Why You Will Love This Brass Monkey
- Nostalgic Flavor: A cult-favorite among Beastie Boys fans and classic cocktail lovers.
- Easy Prep: Just pour, stir, and sip—no fancy tools required
- Familiar Ingredients: Made with staples you can find at any liquor store.
- Flexible Portions: Easy to batch for several drinks at your next get-together.
- Retro Energy: A famous premixed cocktail that’s fun to recreate from scratch.
Ingredients
You do not need a fancy liquor cabinet to have everything needed to put this quick cocktail together.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Vodka: A neutral, crisp, smooth base for the cocktail.
- Orange Juice: An inexpensive mix for this classic cocktail.
- Dark Rum: Adds depth to the drink.
For this cocktail recipe, you'll want to have on hand a shot glass and a spouted measuring cup.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but want to make it your own? Here are some helpful ideas for you to change this brass monkey drink.
- Rum Type: Use light rum for a milder taste or spiced rum for added warmth.
- Juice Options: Swap in grapefruit juice or add a splash of pineapple for a tropical twist.
- Citrus Boost: A bit of triple sec brightens the orange flavor even more.
- Funky Version: Add a banana liqueur for a fun funky monkey twist.
- Mocktail Version: Mix fresh orange juice with soda water and a citrus garnish.
How to Make a Brass Monkey Drink
Check out how quick and easy it was to make this brass monkey in just a few simple steps.
Fill a 10-ounce glass about half full of ice cubes.
Pour in orange juice, dark rum and vodka.
Stir then garnish with a sliced orange.
Hint: A quick freeze of your glass enhances the experience, especially on hot days.
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How to Serve a Brass Monkey
How you prepare and serve your cocktail can change the way it tastes, here are ways to make sure you get the best flavor.
- Shaken/Stirred: A brass monkey drink is stirred to keep its crisp flavors.
- Glass: A highball glass is a great option for this beverage because it offers more ice which keeps the drink colder longer; I opt for a lowball glass because I prefer the vibe and being able to take in the cocktail’s aroma with each sip.
- Garnishes: A simple orange slice or wedge to stick with the drinks low key vibe.
What to Serve with our Brass Monkey Drink
- Guacamole and Chips: Bright acidity meets creamy richness
- Sliders: A filling bite to match the drink’s bold citrus, try our meatball sliders, Hawaiian roll pulled pork sliders or BBQ sliders.
- BBQ Pulled Pork: A smoky-sweet pairing made for summer nights, try our slow cooker root beer pulled pork.
- Big Mac Recipes: Bold flavors to pair with a bold drink, you need to serve it alongside one of our iconic recipes: Big Mac egg rolls, Big Mac sloppy Joes, Big Mac quesadillas, Big Mac tacos or a Big Mac tater tot casserole.
Top Tips
Here are some extra tips when making this brass monkey cocktail.
- Use Fresh Ice: Cold, clean cubes keep the drink refreshing.
- Adjust to Taste: More orange juice makes it lighter; more rum gives it a stronger kick
- Garnish Well: Try an orange wedge or a twist of peel for visual appeal
- Keep it Stirred: A gentle mix is all you need to blend the flavors and keeping them crisp– no shaking necessary
Frequently Asked Questions About a Brass Monkey
Do you have questions about a brass monkey drink?
Yes! Multiply the recipe by however many servings you need and stir it up in a large pitcher.
Freshly squeezed orange juice is ideal, but a good quality store-bought version works well, too.
Some old-school fans use malt liquor to mimic the original Olde English-style blend, but vodka and rum are the more common homemade version.
While it's not identical, this version pays tribute to the original flavor.
More Recipes You Will Love
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Brass Monkey Drink Recipe
Equipment
- Shot Glass
- Spouted Measuring Cup
Ingredients
- 5- ounce orange juice
- 2- ounce dark rum
- 1- ounce vodka
- ice for serving
Instructions
- Fill a 10-ounce glass about half full of ice cubes.
- Pour in orange juice, dark rum and vodka.
- Stir then garnish with a sliced orange.
Notes
- A quick freeze of your glass enhances the experience, especially on hot days.
- Cold, fresh cubes keep the drink refreshing.
- Adjust the strength by adding more orange juice to make it lighter; or more rum gives it a stronger kick.
- Try an orange slice, wedge or a twist of peel for visual appeal.
- A gentle mix is all you need to blend the flavors and keeping them crisp– no shaking necessary
Nutrition
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Stephanie says
When I visited your site and came across this, I had no idea that the Beastie Boys weren't just tossing out random words...it was a real drink! I just had to give it a try, and it turned out to be absolutely delicious!
Eva Filer says
Hahaha, I LOVE IT!! It is such a fun and refreshing drink too. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Eva Filer says
This is such a fresh and satisfying drink!