Sure, the margarita has a better song. But when it comes to frozen coastal cocktails, the bushwacker’s dominance in Lower Alabama has been unquestioned for 50 years.

Wait, that’s a little premature. It’s been 49 years. According to coastal lore it was 1975 when a Pensacola venue, the Sandshaker Lounge, imported the tasty idea of a grown-up milkshake featuring chocolate, coconut and plenty of rum. From there the concept, which apparently originated in the U.S. Virgin Islands, quickly jumped across the state line into Alabama.

That provides a plausible excuse to observe 2025 as the 50th anniversary year of the bushwacker. For those who might want to start pregaming now, here’s a taste test of five bushwackers generally ranked among the best served from Gulf Shores to Perdido Key.

5. Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar

17401 Perdido Key Dr.

Why does the Flora-Bama come it an No. 5? Because I messed up, that’s why. I planned to order the standard model, no frills, and that’s what I should have done as a basis for comparison. But the sign by the bar listed several options including the “Firewacker” topped with Fireball Whiskey and the “Banana Split” featuring banana rum. There was also the Reese’s version, bolstered with “peanut butter whiskey” and topped with Peanut Butter Cup crumbles. For some reason that spoke to me, and I ordered it. That might have been a mistake.

The price was steep ($15.50 for a small one) but the potency was unrelenting. Look at the photos and you’ll see a tideline, with a considerable layer of pure liquor underneath all the ice cream, right down where the intake side of the straw rests. Even when I stirred it, the alcohol flavor was dominant. It has always amused me that the Flora-Bama parking lot is lined with signs saying your car will be towed if you leave it there more than 24 hours. Now I know why. They need the signs because of the bushwackers.

4. Tacky Jack’s

27206 Safe Harbor Drive, Orange Beach

The original Tacky Jack’s in Orange Beach has a unique vibe: It’s a huge place obviously designed to accommodate droves of vacationers and their kids, but it’s also kind of hidden away. You’re not going to find it by accident, and you’re not going to drive past it on your way to somewhere else, unless that somewhere else is a marina. The bushwacker itself is solid, but what really makes it worth seeking out is the context: As you sip it you can enjoy a smashing view of Perdido Pass, with battlewagon charter boats passing back and forth under the bridge connecting Alabama to Florida, and everything from party boats to kayaks swarming the waters around Gilchrist and Robinson islands. Meanwhile you can listen in on locals kicking back with the bartenders while tourists work to persuade their young’uns that they should try the popcorn shrimp rather than ordering chicken fingers. You came here to escape the working world, and this makes it feel like it’s a million miles away. Stir well before consuming. Tacky Jack’s also has locations in Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan.

3. Pirates Cove

6664 Co Rd 95, Elberta

Some of the Alabama coast’s most beloved coastal venues started as funky, ramshackle out-of-the-way spots that grew to accommodate mass traffic. They became brands. Pirates Cove started out the same way, and that’s the way it has stayed. It clearly caters to people, and dogs, who’d rather be hanging out on the beach than sitting indoors with a view of the beach. So, as with Tacky Jack’s, it’s as much about the location and the view as it is about the actual beverage. But the beverage is fine: A tasty ice cream mix that doesn’t feature any puddles of straight liquor on top or down in the bottom of the cup. Though they’ll probably give you that too, if you ask nicely.

2. Lulu’s

200 E 25th Ave, Gulf Shores

In some ways the bushwacker served at Lulu’s is the perfect representative of what a top-tier bushwacker can be. Unlike the others featured here, it scores well on presentation: It’s served in a clear cup that reveals swirls of chocolate rather than a uniform slush. When you’ve got a really good cup of gumbo, every bite tastes different, and the Lulu’s bushwacker is kind of like that: Different sips emphasize the ice cream, the coffee liqueur, the chocolate or the Cruzan coconut rum. The view of the intracoastal canal isn’t quite as stunning as a good beach vista, but at least you’re on the water, and that definitely counts for something. Also, Lulu’s offers a ton of entertainment options for the children to go do while you’re enjoying your adult beverage.

Note to self: The Lulu’s drink menu includes something called a “Jet Ski Killer,” with “spiced rum, Cruzan coconut rum, blue curacao, banana puree and pina colada mix.” That might merit investigation.

1. The Pink Pony Pub

137 E. Gulf Place, Gulf Shores

If we were seriously taking presentation into account, the Pink Pony would never make the cut. What you get is a plain white Styrofoam cup with a uniform coffee-colored ice cream mix. But the flavor! Somehow, out of all the things that can go in a bushwacker, the folks at the Pony have managed to nail the perfect balance. And it’s not just me saying that: A few years ago, Phillip Kendrick did an exhaustive and possibly debilitating bushwacker survey for Mobile Bay Monthly, and he ranked the Pony highest out of more than 20 venues. The menu says it contains coconut rum, Irish cream and vanilla, but it can’t possibly be that simple. There’s got to be more to it, and the Pink Pony gives you an excellent view of the beach while you ponder it.

Bonus:

Bushwacker Frappe at Southern Shores Coffee

229 E 20th Ave #13, Gulf Shores

If you’ve read this far, you need to know that the pervasive popularity of the bushwacker has led to the creation of a lot of bushwacker-flavored treats. A few of those, including this one, are so good that they’re listed on the “Bushwacker Trail” put together by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. Southern Shores will give you the flavor in regular coffee and cold brew as well, but this concoction seemed closest in sprit to the original drink. It does a decent job of conveying the spirit of the drink. Up front, it’s a little thinner: It’s ice-based rather that ice cream-based. Because there’s no rum in it, the main flavor notes are chocolate and coconut. However, unlike many ice-based beverages, the flavor stays strong as the ice melts. Rather than a weak, watery finish, it satisfies until it’s gone. That’s a neat trick.

That Bushwacker Trail will steer you to many more noteworthy bushwackers than we’ve touched on here. Rest assured that as the golden anniversary of the bushwacker approaches, we’ll be working our way through a few more of them. If you have a favorite that you feel is worth inclusion, recommend it in an email to [email protected].