The Greatest Bushwackers in Florida, In keeping with a Native

The blanketing warmth in Florida requires a frosty beverage that slides down straightforward. Enter the Bushwacker. Introduced over from St. Thomas by Linda Taylor Murphy to Pensacola in late 1975 to her bar, the Shaker, the cocktail has impressed battles among the many seaside bars throughout the Gulf Coast surrounding who made it first and who makes it greatest. 

Bartender Angie Congliaro and restaurant supervisor Tom Brokamp on the Ship’s Retailer and Sapphire Pub on St. Thomas created the drink in 1975. Named after a visitor’s canine, Bushwack, the cocktail shortly unfold throughout St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands. James Murphy, proprietor of Barefoot BBQ in Seaside, grew up immersed within the Bushwacker pattern and realized to make it himself as a younger bartender on St. Thomas.

“There’s not a bar [there] that doesn’t have a model of it. The unique 1975 drink was made with milk as a result of Bailey’s had not hit the island but. Two years later, in ‘77, Bailey’s arrived and the recipe advanced — the primary recipe I used to be taught included Bailey’s,” says Murphy — or Murph as he likes to be known as.

With flavors someplace between a Piña Colada and a White Russian, with a chocolate milkshake texture, listed here are Murph’s and my favorites throughout the Sunshine State. 

Barefoot BBQ (Seaside)

Let’s simply put it on the market, Murph makes the tastiest model of this frothy drink I’ve ever tasted. He has been serving them from his airstream trailer in Seaside since 2009. The velvety mix of vodka, rum, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and coconut tastes like one of the best milkshake, however beware it’s potent. He garnishes it with whipped cream and grated nutmeg, like he was taught. Even Brokamp who not too long ago visited Barefoot BBQ in Seaside agreed in a tweet he posted to the Twitterverse. “The Bushwacker was our drink on St. Thomas. I do know the 2 individuals who made it and now certainly one of them has tried mine. I am not saying I’ve one of the best, however he certain thinks I would.” 

Sandshaker (Pensacola)

The story goes that Linda Taylor Murphy frequented the Ship’s Retailer and Sapphire Pub in St. Thomas and fell in love with the Bushwacker. She introduced it again to her bar — then known as the Shaker — in Pensacola in 1975. They declare it as the primary Bushwacker within the States, and Murph agrees with them. Thirty years later, the Sandshaker crew nonetheless mixes every batch by hand, including rum final. They provide variations on that milkshake delight — Banana and Strawberry Bushwackers incorporate contemporary fruit and when you actually love the drink, go to the Sandshaker in August for his or her annual Bushwacker Competition.

Flora-Bama (Pensacola)

One other declare on primacy comes from the hallowed halls of this Perdido Key beachfront honky-tonk. Digging a bit deeper, the story goes that Flora-Bama co-owner Pat McClellan bellied as much as the Shaker bar in Pensacola many an evening to imbibe their scrumptious Bushwackers. He preferred it a lot, he developed a recipe for the Flora-Bama. As Murph says, “They’re the Vatican of bars, they usually do use milk like the unique recipe, however I believe the place they and others fail, is that they weren’t taught to make it by somebody who grew up on St. Thomas. It’s our nationwide drink and we perceive the feel and taste profile higher than anyone. It’s good, however it’s not mine.” 

Boat Drinks Bar (St. Augustine)

This tropical outpost in St. Augustine has had a Bushwacker on the menu since day one and it doesn’t disappoint. They use wealthy coconut milk as an alternative of the ice cream base many bars make use of and pay homage to its Caribbean roots by incorporating a number of island rums. Every time I’m in America’s Oldest Metropolis and the summer season solar beats down, I swing into this brightly coloured haven the place Boat Drinks is a way of thinking, and Rob and Whitney whip up refreshing drinks — like their model of the Bushwacker — with stability and aptitude. 

Juana’s Pagodas (Navarre)

Situated on the foot of Navarre Seashore Bridge, Juana’s Pagodas oozes traditional seaside bar vibes and their model, the Juanawacker, has a deep fan base. They make theirs with rum, Kahlua, and chocolate liqueur, and for an additional kick, you possibly can add a floater of banana, raspberry, 151 rum, or Screwball peanut butter whiskey. Midway between channel marker 93 and Navarre Seashore Bridge, boating as much as this sprawling mass of palapas could also be one of the best ways to get your Juanawacker. They’ve been making these since 1989 and nonetheless hold the recipe a household secret.

The Rum Bar (Key West)

Situated on the bottom ground of the Speakeasy Inn on Duval Road in Key West, this cozy bar options over 350 rums from everywhere in the world. Their love of rum goes again to the rum-running days of unique house owner Raul Vasquez who put balustrades straight from Cuba across the second-floor balcony to sign to folks on the road that alcohol and playing occurred inside throughout Prohibition. It’s additionally one of many solely properties with a basement — Vasquez stashed his illicit rum there. The Rum Bar doesn’t have a Bushwacker listed on the menu, however I ordered one on my final journey right down to the Conch Republic and it was one of many tastiest, and most potent, I’ve ever tasted.