Jamaican Screw: Coconut Rum and Orange Juice Highball

The Jamaican Screw is a straightforward coconut rum and orange juice highball built in equal parts over ice. Orange juice provides juicy citrus and acidity, while coconut rum adds sweetness and a distinctly tropical character. With only two ingredients and no shaker required, it is an easy choice for casual parties, warm-weather gatherings, or quick home mixing.

Background

The Jamaican Screw does not have a well-documented inventor or established origin in the classic cocktail canon. Published versions generally present it as a simple tropical variation on the spirit-and-orange-juice format, replacing a neutral base spirit with coconut rum. Its appeal comes from that uncomplicated combination rather than a documented historical tradition.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

Coconut Rum: Supplies the alcoholic base along with sweet coconut and tropical flavor.

Orange Juice: Brings citrus acidity, fruit sweetness, and enough body to balance the rum.

No coconut rum? A light rum with a small amount of coconut liqueur can produce a similar flavor profile, though it will not be an exact substitute.

Fresh orange juice gives the drink brighter acidity, while quality bottled orange juice makes the recipe especially convenient.

Equipment

• Highball glass
• Jigger
• Bar spoon
• Ice

Why the Equal Parts Build Works

The revised 1:1 ratio keeps the coconut rum from disappearing behind the orange juice. Coconut remains clearly recognizable, while the juice supplies enough acidity and volume to soften the alcohol. The result is richer and more tropical than a standard spirit-and-orange highball without requiring syrups, bitters, or additional mixers.

Substitutions & Variations

Replace part of the orange juice with pineapple juice for a softer, more tropical fruit profile.

Add a small splash of soda water for a lighter, more sparkling variation.

Use freshly squeezed orange juice for a brighter and slightly more tart drink.

For a stronger rum character, replace a small portion of the coconut rum with an unflavored light or aged rum while keeping the total spirit quantity unchanged.

An orange wheel, orange wedge, or mint sprig all work as simple optional garnishes.

Helpful Tips

Use plenty of ice. This drink benefits from being served very cold.

Chill the orange juice before mixing so the ice does not have to provide all of the cooling.

Stir gently rather than aggressively. The goal is simply to combine and chill the two ingredients.

For several servings, combine equal parts coconut rum and orange juice shortly before serving and keep the mixture refrigerated. Pour individual servings over fresh ice.

Because there are only two ingredients, the quality and flavor of the orange juice make a noticeable difference.