Frozen Zombie
A frozen take on the tiki Zombie with light and dark rum, lime, pineapple, grenadine and cinnamon syrup. Strong — batch sizes for Margaritaville machines.
Jump to recipe ↓The Zombie is a famously strong tiki drink. This frozen version keeps the layered rum flavor but is simplified for home bars.
Expect about 2 oz of rum per drink — serve one per guest.
Frozen Zombie recipe
Ingredients (3 drinks)
- 3 oz light rum
- 3 oz dark rum
- 3 oz pineapple juice
- 2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz grenadine (paid link)
- 1 oz cinnamon syrup or simple syrup
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Mint sprig, cherry, pineapple wedge. Glass: Tiki mug or hurricane glass.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add all ingredients to the jar.
- Run the cycle.
- Garnish with mint and a cherry; optionally float a little overproof rum (carefully).
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| light rum | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| dark rum | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| pineapple juice | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| fresh lime juice | 1½ oz | 2 oz | 1⅓ oz | 1⅔ oz | 3⅓ oz |
| grenadine | ¾ oz | 1 oz | ⅔ oz | ¾ oz | 1⅔ oz |
| cinnamon syrup or simple syrup | ¾ oz | 1 oz | ⅔ oz | ¾ oz | 1⅔ oz |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- This batch uses about 13 fl oz of liquid for 3 drinks. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Two rums give depth; cinnamon and grenadine nod to the original’s spices.
About coladas, tiki & rum drinks
Tropical rum drinks lean on pineapple, coconut, passion fruit and citrus. Cream of coconut is the secret to a smooth colada; it adds fat that keeps shaved ice silky. Most of these recipes include two or more juices, which makes them lower in alcohol per ounce than they taste — but the rum still adds up across a batch.
Tips for the best texture
- Make cinnamon syrup by simmering a cinnamon stick in simple syrup.
- Limit one per guest.
- Never light overproof floats near the machine.
- A dash of Angostura adds depth.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with mint sprig, cherry, pineapple wedge and serve in a tiki mug or hurricane glass. Tropical drinks shine with big garnishes — pineapple wedges, orange wheels, cherries on a pick and a paper umbrella. Hurricane glasses or tiki mugs hold the larger pours. For a crowd, a Tahiti lets you run a colada, a rum punch-style drink and a virgin version side by side.
Variations
- Passion fruit: Add 1 oz passion fruit.
- Grapefruit: Swap some pineapple for grapefruit.
- Lighter: Use 1 oz rum per drink.
Mocktail swap
Skip rum; use 3 oz orange juice and 2 oz ginger beer.
Shop the ingredients
- Rose's Grenadine Syrup (paid link)
- Libbey Cool Cocktails Island Hurricane Glasses, 15 oz, set of 6 (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is it strong?
Yes — about 2 oz rum per drink.
Cinnamon syrup?
Simple syrup plus a cinnamon stick, steeped.
Original recipe?
Don the Beachcomber’s original is more complex; this is simplified.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
