A quick heads-up before diving into the story: I've set aside for you a complete shopping list of every ingredient you'll need so you can recreate this classic at home. Here's the tale.
The Zombie was born in Hollywood, 1934, in the hands of Donn Beach, the father of tiki culture, at his restaurant Don the Beachcomber. The story goes that a hungover businessman stumbled in begging for a pick-me-up before a flight. Donn Beach threw together an arsenal of rums and juices; days later the man returned and said: "I felt like a zombie for the whole trip." The name stuck.
Don guarded the recipe obsessively, coding his bottles with labels like "Spices #4" so even his own staff couldn't copy him. The Zombie became so dangerous that the menu limited guests to two per customer, and its legend propelled tiki culture into the 20th century alongside Trader Vic.
To recreate this one with the right style, tools matter as much as the recipe. I use and recommend a complete barman kit like this set on Amazon, which covers every essential tool at a very reasonable price. For a more serious setup, a professional cocktail bar station keeps bottles, glasses and tools organized and close at hand, instantly upgrading the whole experience.