The Painkiller is a classic tropical cocktail—pineapple, orange, coconut, and rum—created in the British Virgin Islands and famously trademarked by Pusser’s Rum. Since this version contains no Pusser’s (and no alcohol), we call ours the Painchiller: a laid-back riff made with Kavahol that delivers all the creamy, tropical comfort of the original with the calming buzz of kava instead of rum.
Tiki drinks tend to work well as mocktails because rich ingredients like coconut cream and pineapple juice stand in for the missing texture of alcohol—but without the rum, they have a tendency to be too juicy and sweet. Here, Kavahol adds ginger heat, balancing bitterness, and the signature kava buzz, making this as adult and satisfying as the alcoholic version. The addition of lime juice and our Aromatic bitters (not included in a traditional Painkiller recipe) help further to balance the sweet juices.
Adding non-alcoholic rum here is optional; this kava mocktail stands on its own, but adding a splash will push it even further into tiki territory.
For a non-alcoholic version without the kava buzz, we recommend using 2.5oz Ritual Zero Proof Rum and omitting the Kavahol.
Want something easy?
Not every night requires a complicated cocktail. Our favorite easy drink is bitters & soda—refreshing, balanced, and good for your gut. Just add a few dashes of our non-alcoholic bitters to sparkling water, with lemon or lime if you're feeling fancy.