Great discoveries can change history. Take, for example, the Bushwacker. This booze-laced adult milkshake has blended itself up and down the coast to become Pensacola’s signature drink.
This year is the 50th birthday of the bushwacker! To celebrate, read all about how this delightful drink made its way to Pensacola - and where you can enjoy it for yourself.
50 years ago, Linda Taylor Murphy was exploring the Virgin Islands and discovered a chocolaty icy rum concoction the locals loved to drink. She brought the recipe back to her bar on Pensacola Beach, the Sandshaker Lounge, and tailored and tweaked it into her own version, trying it out on thirsty customers.
The year was 1975. The drink? The Bushwacker. The bar? The Shaker.
In the decades since the Bushwacker immigrated to Pensacola Beach, the booze-laced adult milkshake has blended itself up and down the coast to become Pensacola’s signature drink.
Our infamous adult beverage even has a festival held in its honor every August on Pensacola Beach, hosted by the Shaker. Tourists and locals can look forward to live music and entertainment, rum tastings, bikini contests, and, of course, a plethora of ice-cold Bushwackers.
Today, the Bushwacker is spun up in bars and restaurants from Pensacola to Perdido Key — and beyond. And each has its own special, secret recipes. Let’s take a look at some notable takes on our favorite local Bushwackers.
“You want a floater?” It’s a phrase that strikes fear at pool parties, but if you’re talking Bushwackers, it usually means they can “float” or “top” your beverage with 151 proof rum.
It’s like jet fuel, but it adds an instant kick. Within seconds you can hear the fizz as the 151 attempts to ignite the ice cream and begins meltdown — it’s like a time-lapse of our polar ice caps.
You can definitely taste the alcohol, but the bushwacker is strong enough on its own. I usually pass, although I have asked for an extra splash of Myers’ rum — for flavor.
Famous for serving up large portions, Flounder’s Chowder House doesn’t skimp on bushwackers either. While not in the same size as the Flounder’s explosive Diesel Fuel (32 ounces) mason jar, the tasty Bushwacker is big in its own right. You can choose between a 16-ounce and a 23-ouncer. It’s a great way to laze away the evening listening to music or become comfortably numb as your kids bounce around the playground.
Discover how to play with our mobile exclusive trails: the Pensacola Bushwacker Trail. Add this free experience to your phone and start exploring our destination bars. Sign up, check in at each stop, and discover more of what our community has to offer.
You never know where you’ll find your best Bushwacker. So what the heck. Try them all!
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