White rum, Galliano, triple sec, and lime — the Caribbean classic named after a Jamaican folk song, and massively underrated.
The Yellow Bird is named after 'Yellow Bird', a traditional Caribbean folk song with Haitian roots, popularised internationally by Harry Belafonte and the Kingston Trio in the late 1950s. The drink's golden-yellow colour comes from Galliano, an Italian herbal liqueur with prominent vanilla-anise notes.
The Yellow Bird is criminally underordered. The Galliano's vanilla and anise meet rum's tropical sweetness and lime's tartness in a combination that's both unusual and completely harmonious. It's not a simple drink — the Galliano adds genuine complexity — but it's approachable enough to convert most drinkers immediately. It's often dismissed alongside Harvey Wallbangers as a '1970s relic', which is unfair to both.
Add ½ oz pineapple juice to the shaker. The pineapple amplifies the tropical character and softens the Galliano's anise.
Use dark Jamaican rum instead of white rum. The molasses and funk of Jamaican rum adds depth that the Galliano plays off beautifully.
Build over ice in a highball, top with a splash of orange juice, and float a small amount of Galliano on top. A longer, more refreshing summer version.