Yellow Bird, Mystery Cocktail of the Caribbean

Yellow Bird Chilled

     Named for a song written by Haitian songwriter, named after the song Yellow Bird, the English version of the Haitian song Choucoune written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Keith, and popularized by Jamaican singer Harry Belafonte, The Yellow Bird has kind of disappeared from modern cocktail menus.   It has many versions that seem to be the version of the locale from which you find it.  There seems to be no one claiming to be the one that invented, but its home is definitely the Caribbean.  

     The version I like the best is one of the simpler ones, and served daiquiri style in a cocktail glass.  There are frozen versions as well as ones served on the rocks, but I think the intent of the cocktail was to be chilled and served in a cocktail glass.

Yellow Bird on the Rocks

   The Yellow Bird

• 1 1/2 oz. Diolomatico Blanco Rum
• 1/2 oz.    Galiano Liqueur
• 3/4 oz.    Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
• Juice of 1/2 Fresh Lime

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake until really chilled.  Strain into a cocktail glass or a rocks glass filled with fresh ice  Garnish with a cherry and a lime wheel.

     There are some versions that use Banana Liqueur and orange juice and pineapple juice or even crème of coconut, but this seems to be the one that most of the reputable sources use.  I tried one made with Plantation Pineapple Rum, it is also absolutely incredible.   Try some experimenting to get it to your taste, it is a really great summer cocktail.   ;o)