Brass Monkey (cocktail)

Brass Monkey
Type:	Cocktail
Served:	"On the rocks"; poured over ice
Standard drinkware:	Highball glass
Commonly used ingredients:	One part dark rum One part vodka One part orange juice
Preparation:	Stir together and serve over ice.

As with many lesser-known cocktails that are named after colloquial expressions, there are some wildly differing recipes that share the same name.

A Brass Monkey usually refers to a cocktail consisting of equal parts dark rum, vodka, and orange juice. Essentially it's a screwdriver made with the addition of rum. This is considered to be the "official" recipe.

The name "Brass Monkey," as quoted by NWA member Eazy-E, may refer to a drink consisting of a 40 oz. bottle of Olde English 800 aka "8-Ball" malt liquor (or other malt liquor) that has been consumed to the top of the label, leaving room for orange juice to be added. However, Eazy says "I don't drink Brass Monkey" in the song "8-Ball."

There was a pre-mixed cocktail called "Brass Monkey" produced by the Heublein Company in the 1980's and 1990's. It was fairly inexpensive and provided a portable alternative to regular mixed drinks. Heublein was based in Stamford, Connecticut, and had production facilities in the Hartford area. Brass Monkey was available in bottles from half pint up to 750 mL. At the time that "Brass Monkey" was released, liquor stores carried mostly beer, wine, and hard alcohol; there were very few pre-mixed alternatives.

The Beastie Boys re-popularized the expression when they wrote the song titled "Brass Monkey", thought to be referencing the popular mixture containing a half drunk 40 and orange juice.^{[citation needed]}