Adrift Tiki Bar Welcomes Painkiller Week July 14-18
Photo courtesy of Harrison Warters Photography
DENVER (June 30, 2026)— Adrift Tiki Bar, Denver's slice of the islands on Broadway, is dialing up the tropical energy July 14-18 with the return of Painkiller Week, which includes five days devoted to the rum classic that's been whisking drinkers off to paradise for more than five decades.
A little history on the drink: the Painkiller was born in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar, a British Virgin Islands haunt so remote that patrons had to swim ashore to reach it. Owner Daphne Henderson whipped up a blend of dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream, and a dusting of nutmeg as a reward for the effort and a cure for the soreness that came with it. Pusser's Rum founder Charles Tobias later tracked down the recipe from the famously secretive Henderson and carried the cocktail far beyond the islands, into sailing communities, restaurants, and craft cocktail bars worldwide. Read more about the backstory here.
"There's a reason this cocktail has survived five decades of trends — it's just that good," says Adrift Bar Manager Vince Polizzi. "Painkiller Week is our way of giving it the spotlight it deserves, one fresh coconut at a time."
On July 14-18 guests at Adrift can choose from three Painkiller options:
The Standard ($18): Featuring Pusser Blue Label Rum and Hamilton 151, fresh pineapple and orange juice, house-made cream of coconut, and fresh nutmeg
The Elevated ($30): Featuring Pusser's Gunpowder Proof Rum, fresh pineapple and orange juice, house-made cream of coconut, and fresh nutmeg. Served in a hand-cranked fresh coconut
NA Painkiller ($13): Ritual N/A Rum, pineapple, coconut, orange, nutmeg. Still kills the pain just without the liquor.
Reservations for Painkiller Week are highly encouraged. For more information about Adrift’s Painkiller Week, contact Chea Franz at Chea@IndieCreativeCo.com.
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About Adrift Tiki Bar & Restaurant
Located in Denver’s South Broadway neighborhood known for its eclectic mix of live music venues, art-house movie theaters, bars and acclaimed restaurants, Adrift draws on the rich history of authentic Tiki lounges and modernizes the traditions borrowing from an array of island flavors and cultures. Serving elevated cocktails and spice route-inspired bites, Adrift features an extensive collection of 100+ rums from all over the world. The space has indoor and outdoor seating and 70-year-old hand-carved totems that stand adjacent to Puffer fish pendant lights in a vibrant space where guests can delight in Adrift’s take on everything from the traditional Mai Tai or Zombie to frozen Chi-Chi concoctions and punch bowls, which are presented with flair including fresh flowers and hand-pressed juice. Diners will discover well-executed global cuisine including their delectable Spam Musubi, Island Bowls, and other Polynesian fare. As part of Adrift’s social responsibility program, The Mana Immersion Fund provides financial assistance to humanitarians with a focus on medical, dental, construction and hunger relief, and a percentage of every sale at the restaurant benefits the cause. For more information, visit www.adriftbar.com, follow @AdriftBar on Facebook and @AdriftDenver on Instagram, or call (303) 778-TIKI.