Painkiller

The Painkiller is the British Virgin Islands' signature cocktail and the Caribbean's tropical answer to the Piña Colada. Created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar on the island of Jost Van Biest (a bar famously reachable only by swimming ashore, hence "soggy dollars"), the Painkiller was invented by bartender Daphne Henderson. The drink combines dark rum (traditionally Pusser's Navy Rum, which trademarked the Painkiller name), pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut, served over ice with a generous grating of fresh nutmeg on top. The nutmeg garnish is essential—it adds aromatic spice that elevates the drink from simple tropical punch to complex tiki experience. The Painkiller's name reflects its potency and supposed medicinal properties—the strong navy rum combined with tropical fruit creates a drink that indeed helps you forget your troubles. Traditional proportions follow the "2-4-1" ratio: 2 oz rum, 4 oz pineapple juice, 1 oz each orange juice and cream of coconut, though variations exist with different strengths (from Painkiller 1 with less rum to Painkiller 4 with maximum rum). The cocktail represents British Virgin Islands beach culture, sailing community tradition, and tiki cocktail evolution. While similar to the Piña Colada, the Painkiller's addition of orange juice and emphasis on dark navy rum creates distinctly different flavor profile. The drink became so popular that Pusser's Rum successfully trademarked the name in the 1980s, requiring bars to use Pusser's rum to legally call it a "Painkiller." The cocktail embodies Caribbean escapism, sailing culture, and the enduring appeal of rum-based tropical drinks that transport you to island paradise with every sip.