3 Seriously Strong Cocktails (High ABV)

Three bold, high-proof cocktails that stay balanced and smooth: the Staggering Gentleman (a barrel-proof bourbon Old Fashioned variant), Death in the Afternoon (Hemingway's absinthe-and-champagne classic, lightly sweetened), and the classic tiki Zombie. Each packs a serious punch, so pace yourself.

smart_display Published 2026-02-20 download Extracted 2026-05-29

5m Prep

5m Total

1 Servings

cocktail drinks high-abv bourbon absinthe rum tiki no-cook american

Ingredients

Death in the Afternoon

1 oz Absinthe (e.g. La Clandestine Supérieure)
3 oz Champagne or dry sparkling wine (e.g. Taittinger Brut) (to top)
0.25 oz Fresh lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
0.25 oz Semi-rich simple syrup (1.5:1 sugar:water)

Staggering Gentleman

2 oz Barrel-strength bourbon (e.g. Stagg Jr.)
0.5 oz Bénédictine DOM
0.5 oz Walnut liqueur (nocino, e.g. Nux Alpina)

Zombie

1.5 oz Jamaican rum, smoother style (e.g. Appleton Estate 12 Year)
1.5 oz Puerto Rican gold rum (e.g. Don Q Gold)
1 oz 151 Demerara rum (e.g. Hamilton 151)
0.5 oz Falernum
0.25 oz Grenadine
1 oz Grapefruit juice
0.75 oz Fresh lime juice (freshly squeezed)
0.5 oz Cinnamon syrup (see note: dissolve 1.5 cups sugar in 1 cup water over low heat, add 4 cracked cinnamon sticks, simmer, steep 6-12 hours, strain)
1 bar spoon Absinthe (e.g. La Clandestine Supérieure)
2 dashes Angostura bitters
for garnish Mint sprig optional

Steps

Death in the Afternoon

1

In a mixing glass, combine 1 oz absinthe, 1/4 oz semi-rich simple syrup, and 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice.

Tip: The small amount of sugar and lemon transforms the otherwise harsh original recipe into something balanced.
2

Add ice and stir until diluted; you'll see the louche effect as the absinthe turns milky.
3

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with 3 oz champagne or any dry sparkling wine.

Staggering Gentleman

1

In a mixing glass, combine 2 oz barrel-proof bourbon, 1/2 oz Bénédictine, and 1/2 oz walnut liqueur (nocino).

Tip: Any barrel-proof bourbon works; use a lower-proof bourbon if you want a gentler drink.
2

Add ice and stir well to chill and dilute. This drink wants some dilution.
3

Place one large block of ice in a rocks glass and strain the cocktail over it. No garnish necessary.

Zombie

1

In a shaking tin, combine 1.5 oz Jamaican rum, 1.5 oz Puerto Rican gold rum, 1 oz 151 Demerara rum, 1/2 oz falernum, 1/4 oz grenadine, 1 oz grapefruit juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup, 1 bar spoon absinthe, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters.

Tip: Use a Demerara 151 (e.g. Hamilton or Lemon Hart) for molasses-rich flavor, not a flavorless white 151 that only adds firepower.
2

Add crushed ice and either flash-blend for 3-5 seconds (milkshake blender) or give it a quick shake.
3

Open-pour into a large tiki glass big enough to hold all the volume. Garnish with a big sprig of mint and add a straw.

Nutrition (per serving)

320

Calories

12g

Carbs

Cultural Context

These three cocktails span the history of strong drinking. The Staggering Gentleman is Anders Erickson's bourbon-based riff on the Sentimental Gentleman, a modern classic created by bartender Misty Kalkofen, swapping scotch for barrel-proof bourbon. Death in the Afternoon was created by Ernest Hemingway and named after his 1932 book on bullfighting; the original was simply absinthe topped with champagne, undiluted and bracingly strong, reflecting Hemingway's diabetic aversion to sugar. The Zombie is a tiki landmark invented by Donn Beach (Don the Beachcomber) in the 1930s, famous for its multi-rum potency and its original two-drink-per-customer limit. This version is Anders Erickson's long-secret personal formulation.