280eca8add8a73f410f13df6c9219f054d7c2317.jpg



DrinkWire is Liquor.com’s showcase for the best articles, recipes and reviews from the web’s top writers and bloggers. In this post, Sarah Murphy offers a tiki cocktail.

Most people assume that Tiki originated somewhere in the South Pacific, but you might be surprised to learn that the iconic Tiki culture was actually born right here in the United States.

LA-Tiki-1

In the 1920’s this guy, Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, traveled from his home in New Orleans to the Caribbean with his grandfather’s “import-export” business (importing Jamaican rum during prohibition). During his travels he absorbed every drop of the cultures he encountered— the people, the art, the cuisine, and most importantly, the drinks!

don

In his early twenties Ernest found himself on dry land in Los Angeles with a cargo load of trinkets from his travels. After a couple years of odd jobs he was able to open his own establishment in an old tailor shop in Hollywood. The plan was simple. He created his own cocktails from his arsenal of Caribbean rums, tropical fruits, and the spicy flavors of New Orleans. Then he built a bar with 24 seats, tossed up his exotic island trinkets among thatch and bamboo, and hung a driftwood sign labeled “Don’s Beachcomber” above the front gate. Don’s Beachcomber Café was born, and it changed the cocktail scene for the next 40 years. Ernest eventually changed his name to Donn Beach— either to accept the fate of everyone assuming his name was Don, or perhaps to avoid his bootlegging past.

9088769837_1724936ac9_k_edit

The Tiki trend spread like wildfire. The return of WWII soldiers sparked a fascination with Polynesian culture, and the Tiki bar, though not at all authentically Polynesian, provided an exotic escape for post depression Americans who couldn’t afford to travel.

Fun fact: Donn’s Tiki drinks were so highly sought after that he developed a secret coding system so that none of his bartenders knew exactly what ingredients they were pouring and therefore couldn’t give away his recipes!

Clayton Hauck for Lost Lake / Thank You.
Clayton Hauck for Lost Lake / Thank You.


Before we start mixing let’s review the anatomy of a proper Tiki cocktail. We need tropical flavors and spice in the form of something sour, something sweet, something strong, and something weak, and we must serve it in a fun glass with a larger-than-life garnish. Are you ready for the challenge?

Here’s what you need to make Tidal IX:

fullsizeoutput_1216

Strong:

1 oz aged blended white rum

1 oz black rum

1 oz bourbon

1 oz orange liqueur

Sour:

1 oz passion fruit juice

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Sweet & Weak:

3/4 oz pineapple juice

1/2 oz orgeat

And a little something extra:

2 drops cinnamon bitters

I know what you’re thinking. NINE ingredients!? That’s absurd! Perhaps, but we’re talking Tiki, people! This style is known for using lots and lots of exotic flavors to create the perfect balance.

Let’s get down to business. Start by filling an interesting drinking vessel with ice.

fullsizeoutput_122e

Now for the strong stuff. First, pour 1 oz of an aged blended white rum.

fullsizeoutput_1246`

Add 1 oz black rum, not to be confused with “dark” rum.

fullsizeoutput_1244

Now pour 1 oz bourbon for funzies. Bourbon is not typically used in a tiki cocktail, but let’s face it. Bourbon makes everything better!

fullsizeoutput_1242

Round out the booze with 1 oz orange liqueur.

fullsizeoutput_1241

This seems like a lot of booze, and it is! Tiki drinks are notoriously high proof, but don’t freak out. We’re going to balance it out to make an easy drinking cocktail. Here we go …

fullsizeoutput_123f

Pour 1 oz passion fruit juice.

fullsizeoutput_123b

Add 3/4 oz pineapple juice.

fullsizeoutput_123c

Squeeze some fresh lime juice.

fullsizeoutput_1232

Add 1/2 oz fresh lime juice to your cocktail.

fullsizeoutput_123e

Pour 1/2 oz orgeat. Orgeat, pronounced “or-zha” like Zsa Zsa Gabor, is a non-alcoholic almond syrup with orange and rose water and is used in many tropical drinks.

fullsizeoutput_123a

Finally, add 2 drops of cinnamon bitters. Don’t add too much!

fullsizeoutput_1235

Now stir.

fullsizeoutput_1233

No Tiki cocktail is complete without an over-the-top garnish.

fullsizeoutput_1268

Let’s decorate this beauty with pineapple leaves, a pineapple flower with a fresh cherry, some vibrant purple orchids, and a bamboo straw for authenticity. My girl, Martha, will show you how to make pineapple flowers if you click right here.

fullsizeoutput_1262

Isn’t she lovely?

fullsizeoutput_1264

I give you Tidal IX, a delightfully tropical libation with just enough sweetness and a strong boozy kick.

Cheers!