A golden glass of orange juice with a hidden depth of molasses and caramel from the dark rum. Vodka keeps it clean, fresh juice keeps it bright, and there is nothing to shake. It is a relaxed brunch or poolside drink that tastes better than its reputation.
3.2Editors’ rating
Taste3.3
Balance3.2
Easy to make4.6
Popularity15
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¼ ozsimple syrup only if the juice is tart (optional)
Garnish: Orange slice · Ice: Ice cubes
Method
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
Pour in the vodka and dark rum.
Top with fresh orange juice and stir.
Taste and add a little syrup only if the juice is very tart.
Garnish with an orange slice.
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Watch it made
Brass Monkey
Taste
Fruity and gently sweet, with fresh orange, a hint of vanilla and molasses from the rum and a clean finish. Light to medium strength.
History and origin
The Brass Monkey became known in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s, when a premixed, bottled version of vodka, rum and orange flavours was sold in liquor stores. The name gained pop-culture fame through the Beastie Boys song "Brass Monkey" on their 1986 album Licensed to Ill.
The song and the name also inspired a very different habit: drinking a large bottle of malt liquor and topping it up with orange juice, sometimes called a brass monkey too. The cocktail shown here is the older, bar-style version: vodka and dark rum lengthened with orange juice.
Bartender tips
Freshly squeezed orange juice makes the biggest difference; carton juice tastes flat.
A dark Jamaican or demerara rum gives more character than a spiced rum.
For a drier drink, add a dash of Angostura bitters.
