Sidewinder's Fang

The Sidewinder's Fang is a classic tiki drink that beautifully balances the sweetness of passion fruit syrup with the tartness of lime and orange juices. It uses two types of rum—a dark Jamaican and a demerara—to create a deep, complex spirit base. The addition of club soda provides a light effervescence, making it an exceptionally refreshing and deceptively potent tropical escape in a glass.
Sidewinder's Fang

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Sidewinder's Fang is classified as a Tiki cocktail, known for its complex blend of rums, fruit juices, and exotic syrups. It is also considered a classic within this category, hailing from the mid-century golden era of tiki culture.

Serving

Served ice-cold in a tall Collins glass or a festive tiki mug, this is a long, refreshing drink with a moderate alcohol content.
Serving size
approximately 240-300 ml / 8-10 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 15-20% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Collins
Glass treatment
Chilled glass

Backstory

The Sidewinder's Fang was created at the Lanai restaurant in San Mateo, California, a spot co-owned by a former Don the Beachcomber employee. The recipe was later unearthed and published by Jeff "Beachbum" Berry in his book "Sippin' Safari," which helped revive this classic for a new generation of tiki enthusiasts. The drink is famously associated with its serpent-like garnish, which gives the cocktail its distinctive name.
Origin
Created at the Lanai restaurant in San Mateo, California, USA, circa the 1960s.

Sidewinder's Fang

The drink is consistently known by its original name, Sidewinder's Fang. There are no widely recognized alternative names for this classic tiki cocktail, ensuring it is easily identifiable among enthusiasts.
Original name
Sidewinder's Fang

Characteristics overview

This is a refreshingly summery cocktail with a tropical aroma and a balanced sweet-and-sour flavor profile. It has a smooth, bubbly texture and a lingering, warm finish from the blend of rums.
Flavor
Tropical, Fruity, Tart, Sweet, Rum-forward
Aroma
Citrus, Passion fruit, Molasses, Tropical fruit
Taste balance
Balanced sweet and sour
Aftertaste
Lingering fruit, Clean, Warming rum spice
Fizziness
Lightly effervescent, Bubbly
Color appearance
Golden orange, Hazy
Texture
Smooth, Light, Bubbly
Seasonality
Refreshing, Summery, Tropical

Flavor intensity & Experience

The drink boasts intense fruitiness and a pronounced sour kick, balanced by moderate sweetness and alcohol strength. It has a light fizz and minimal bitterness or spice, creating a vibrant, tropical flavor profile.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

The recipe calls for a duo of dark Jamaican and demerara rums, balanced with fresh lime and orange juices. Passion fruit syrup provides the signature tropical sweetness, all topped with club soda for fizz.
  • Dark Jamaican Rum30 ml / 1 ounce
    A rum with funk and molasses notes like Coruba or Myers's works best.
  • Demerara Rum30 ml / 1 ounce
    A rich, dark sugar rum like Hamilton 86 or El Dorado 5 is ideal.
  • Lime Juice30 ml / 1 ounce
    Freshly squeezed is essential for the best flavor.
  • Orange Juice30 ml / 1 ounce
    Freshly squeezed, pulp-free is recommended.
  • Passion Fruit Syrup45 ml / 1.5 ounces
    A quality, rich passion fruit syrup is key to the drink's profile.
  • Club Soda90 ml / 3 ounces, to top
    Use a chilled club soda for maximum effervescence.

Ice type

  • Crushed ice

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard cocktail shaker to chill and combine the ingredients, along with a strainer to pour the drink over fresh ice.
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Strainer

Instructions

Simply shake the rums, juices, and syrup with ice, strain into an ice-filled glass, and top with club soda. Garnish creatively before serving.
1. Fill a Collins glass or tiki mug with crushed ice to chill.
2. Combine the dark Jamaican rum, demerara rum, lime juice, orange juice, and passion fruit syrup in a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until well-chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into the prepared ice-filled glass.
5. Top with club soda.
6. Give the drink a gentle stir with a bar spoon to integrate the soda.
7. Create the garnish by cutting a long, thin strip of orange peel and shaping it like a snake. Use two cloves for the eyes.
8. Place the orange peel snake garnish in the glass and add a fresh mint sprig.
9. Serve immediately with a straw.

Garnishing

The traditional garnish is an orange peel cut into a snake shape, with cloves for eyes, playing on the drink's name. A fresh mint sprig adds a pleasant aroma.
  • Orange peel snake with clove eyes
  • Mint sprig

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, nuts, and gluten, making it suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets. It is also caffeine-free.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail is moderately high in calories, carbohydrates, and sugar, primarily from the fruit juices and passion fruit syrup.
Calories
Approximately 250-300 kcal / 1046-1255 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 25-30 grams
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 20-25 grams
Sugar level

Occasions

This drink is perfect for warm weather, making it ideal for summer parties, tropical-themed events, or simply relaxing by the pool. Its refreshing and exotic profile also makes it a great choice for a fun and festive happy hour.
  • Summer party
  • Tiki party
  • Poolside lounging
  • Happy hour

Pairing suggestions

The Sidewinder's Fang pairs well with classic tiki bar fare and appetizers, such as a Pu Pu Platter or coconut shrimp. Its tropical and tart profile cuts through the richness of fried foods and complements the flavors of spicy Asian or Polynesian dishes.
  • Pu Pu Platter (appetizers like spring rolls, crab rangoon)
  • Spicy Asian noodles
  • Grilled pineapple skewers
  • Coconut shrimp

The Enchanting Bite of the Sidewinder's Fang

The Sidewinder's Fang is a lesser-known but brilliant tiki classic that offers a perfect symphony of tropical flavors. Combining two distinct styles of rum with the lush sweetness of passion fruit and the sharp tang of citrus, it's a complex yet highly refreshing drink. Topped with a splash of soda for a light fizz and traditionally garnished with a playful orange peel snake, it's a delightful escape to a tropical paradise in a glass.

Similar Cocktails

Hurricane

A similar passion fruit and rum-based tiki drink, but typically uses both light and dark rum and omits the soda water and orange juice.

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