Wild Bison Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Wild Bison sits firmly in the rum-and-cola family: a simple, high-impact mixed drink that leans on the easy familiarity of cola while letting the character of rum do the talking. With both white and dark rum in the same glass, you get a small twist on the usual template—still unfussy and bar-friendly, but with a little more depth than a single-pour serve. It’s less about a storied origin and more about a straightforward, modern crowd-pleaser built for quick ordering and instant recognition.
You’ll find the white rum brings a clean, light backbone that keeps the drink from feeling too heavy, while the dark rum adds richer molasses-like weight and a deeper rum aroma. Cola ties them together with its caramel sweetness, smoothing the edges and stretching the rum flavours into a long, easy sip. The result is balanced between bright and dark, with the cola rounding out the blend rather than masking it.
Serve it over ice in a rocks glass when you want something relaxed, familiar, and reliably satisfying. It suits casual nights, house parties, and any moment when you’re after a no-fuss drink that still tastes like you chose it on purpose—especially if you like your cola drinks with a bit more rum presence.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
White rum brings a clean, lightly sweet base while dark rum adds deeper molasses-like richness, and the cola top-up wraps everything in caramel sweetness and gentle spice. The pairing works because the brighter white rum keeps the dark rum from feeling heavy while cola smooths the edges; it’s ideal for anyone who wants an easy, crowd-pleasing sipper with rum-forward depth.
Method
How to make a Wild Bison
- White rum 30ml, Dark rum 30ml, Cola Top up
-
- Add the dark rum to a lowball glass with ice and layer the white rum over it
-
- Gently build the coke on top
-
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Wild Bison with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
Can I substitute the types of rum used in a Wild Bison?
Yes, you can substitute the types of rum in a Wild Bison. While the original recipe calls for equal parts white and dark rum, you can experiment with different varieties such as spiced rum or aged rum for a unique twist on the flavor. Just be mindful that substitutions may alter the taste and alcohol content of the cocktail.
What is the best way to serve a Wild Bison?
The Wild Bison is best served cold in a lowball glass, topped up with cola. To enhance the experience, you can serve it over ice to keep it chilled longer. For an aesthetic touch, consider adding a lime slice or maraschino cherry for garnish.
What type of occasion is the Wild Bison suitable for?
Given its simple ingredients and quick preparation, the Wild Bison is suitable for casual gatherings, like barbecues or game nights. Its refreshing and familiar taste, thanks to the cola, makes it a crowd-pleaser for events where you want a laid-back, enjoyable drink option.
How does the alcohol content of a Wild Bison compare to other cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 6.86%, the Wild Bison falls into the lower range of alcoholic strength for cocktails. Many classic cocktails have a higher alcohol content, often ranging from 10% to 20%. This makes the Wild Bison a lighter choice, ideal for those who prefer a milder cocktail or wish to enjoy multiple drinks responsibly.
How can I customize the Wild Bison to fit my taste?
To customize the Wild Bison, consider playing with the rum-to-cola ratio to find your perfect balance of sweetness and alcohol strength. Adding a splash of lime juice or swapping the cola for a craft soda can introduce new flavors. Additionally, infusing the rum with spices or fruit prior to making the cocktail can give it a unique, personal touch.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Dive into this chocolate and coffee-infused daiquiri.
Mulata Daiquiri
White rum, Creme de cacao, Coffee liqueur, Lime juice, Sugar / simple syrup
Discover this citrus-forward blend of rum and lime.
El Floridita Daiquiri
White rum, Maraschino cherry liqueur, Lime juice, Sugar / simple syrup, Pink grapefruit juice
Discover this rich fusion of sherry and vermouth
Dolores
White rum, Sherry (sweet), Red vermouth
Dive into this rich fusion of rum and red wine.
Bloody Rum Punch
White rum, Triple sec, Red wine, Lime juice, Sugar / simple syrup, Orange, Lime
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments