A visit to Alabama’s Beaches isn’t complete without sipping on the area’s signature drink: the bushwacker. Known for its rich and creamy flavor, this boozy treat blends rum, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, and coconut cream to create a dessert-like cocktail. Originally crafted in 1975 at a pub in the Virgin Islands, the bushwacker made its way stateside thanks to The Sandshaker Beach Bar in Pensacola. Flora-Bama added its own twist to the bushwacker, helping it become a true coastal favorite. It’s the perfect balance of tropical flavors and creamy decadence, offering a sip of paradise in every glass and making it a must-try indulgence in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

50th Bushwacker Anniversary

The bushwacker turns 50 in 2025, and Alabama’s Beaches is the ultimate destination to celebrate! Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are marking this milestone with a year-long showcase of creative bushwacker variations. Local restaurants and bars are crafting everything from the classic creamy cocktail to bold new twists like Peanut Butter in May or Holiday Sweets in December, giving you a fresh reason to visit every month.

bushwacker months

Breakfast: Southern Shores Coffee

Start your bushwacker journey at Southern Shores Coffee in Gulf Shores and try their bushwacker-flavored coffee. It’s the perfect way to get your caffeine boost for the day.

Lunch: Moe's Original Bar B Que

Visit Moe’s Original Bar B Que for lunch and wash down your finger-licking barbeque meal with a bushwacker. This laidback joint offers food specials every day and outdoor live music on the weekends.

Dinner: Cobalt

Located at The Caribe Resort, Cobalt offers a beautiful waterfront view to accompany its innovative menu. The bushwackers here are served with chocolate syrup and are topped with a cherry.

Late-Night: Pink Pony Pub

If you’re craving a late-night bushwacker, head over to Pink Pony Pub, located right on the beach in Gulf Shores. This spot makes its bushwacker with Malibu rum, dark crème de cocoa, Irish crème and vanilla crème.

CoastAL Orange Beach Bushwacker Tiramisu

Breakfast: CoastAL

Who says you can't have dessert first? CoastAL Orange Beach serves a mouthwatering bushwacker tiramisu that you can enjoy at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Yoho Rum & Tacos Orange Beach Bushwacker

Lunch: Yoho Rum & Taco's Boat Bar

Shop 'til you drop at The Wharf then grab a bite to eat at Yoho Rum & Taco's Boat Bar. While here, add this restaurant's chocolatey bushwacker to your order.

Dinner: Tacky Jacks

Known for its fun, family-friendly atmosphere and fresh Gulf seafood, Tacky Jacks also offers a delicious bushwacker. You can grab one at any of the restaurant’s three area locations.

Late-Night: OSO at Bear Point Harbor

End your evening back at OSO in Bear Point with a slice of bushwacker cheesecake. The dessert includes an espresso and coconut cheesecake topped with a vanilla rum sauce. You can also order a regular bushwacker to accompany this sweet treat.

Breakfast: The Southern Grind

Begin the final day of your bushwacker journey at The Southern Grind and pick up a bag of beachwhacker coffee. It’s a great way to take the irresistible taste of this coastal drink home with you.

bushwacker at Bahama Bob's beachside restaurant in Gulf Shores

Lunch: Bahama Bob's

Ice cream lovers have to try the bushwackers at Bahama Bob's in Gulf Shores. Sip on this beachfront restaurant’s spin on the frozen drink made with a blend of rum and ice cream, drizzled with syrup, and topped with whip cream and a cherry!

Dinner: LuLu's

Head to LuLu’s for dinner and get ready for another creamy delight. Vanilla ice cream, coffee liqueur, Cruzan coconut rum and chocolate syrup are blended to create LuLu’s bushwhacker topped with a rum floater and cherry.

Late-Night: Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar

Your bushwacker journey ends at the iconic Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar. This famous spot is known for its take on the boozy milkshake, served with whipped cream and topped with a cherry. Listen to local musicians as you sip your final drink of the trail.

1. Named after a visiting couple’s dog Bushwack, an Afghan Hound.

2. Crafted as a tropical twist to a White Russian.

3. Created in Ship’s Store in Sapphire Village on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1975.

4. Three-time World Champion, Bushwacker was named the number one bull in history by Professional Bull Riders.

5. President Barak Obama tried a bushwacker when visiting Orange Beach in 2010 after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

6. Original recipe included Vodka, Kahlua, Dark Crème de Cacao, Coco Lopez (cream of coconut), a splash of Triple sec and milk

7. Floaters: an extra shot added to the top of the drink, commonly peanut butter whiskey

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