The Tiki Drink Discussion Topic

**FrogPrincesse** · May 4, 2015

From this weekend's Rum Barrel Challenge, the Bum Barrel (adapted from Jeff Berry) with Smith & Cross Jamaican rum, Plantation Barbados 5 years, lime, white grapefruit, orange, passion fruit syrup, honey syrup, Angostura bitters. I reduced the amount of orange juice and passion fruit syrup a bit and skipped the soda water that the original recipe called for.

Edited May 4, 2015 by FrogPrincesse (log)

Moto · May 4, 2015

Beautiful photos as always. Love the poolside moai.

Rafa · May 4, 2015

Last night a slightly altered Jet Pilot:

1 1/4 oz Appleton VX

1/2 oz Smith & Cross

1/4 oz Blackstrap

1 oz grapefruit

3/4 oz lime juice

1/2 oz honey

1/2 oz cinnamon

1 dash absinthe

1 dash ango

Crushed ice

Fernet-Bronco · May 27, 2015

Or, you could try the eponymous cocktail for his new spot, Lost Lake:

2 oz Appleton V/X
3/4 oz Passion Fruit Syrup (B.G. Reynolds’)
3/4 oz lime juice
1/2 oz pineapple juice
1/4 oz Maraschino
1/4 oz Campari

Shake with ice, strain over crushed ice.

Made a batch of these last night. So delicious. I think Campari is my favorite tiki secret weapon. (Looking at you, Jungle Bird--which also pairs it with pineapple juice.) I love the grassy, chocolatey funk that the Maraschino brings here too. Trying to use up a bottle of B.G. Reynolds' passion fruit syrup before it goes off so there may be many more Lost Lakes in my immediate future.

**FrogPrincesse** · June 15, 2015

Last night's Don the Beachcomber 1934 Zombie from the Zombie Challenge 2015 with Plantation Barbados 5, Appleton 12, Lost Spirits Cuban-inspired 151, lime juice, homemade Don's Mix and falernum, Angostura bitters, St. George absinthe, and grenadine. High octane for sure.

Did a little impromptu 151 tasting in the process. The Lemon Hart has richer/deeper caramel notes and is smoother than the Lost Spirits, which is high on banana notes (think bananas foster).

**FrogPrincesse** · June 15, 2015

Also from this weekend - Trader Vic Mai Tais with Denizen Merchant's Reserve rum, lime juice, Clement Creole shrubb, homemade orgeat, simple syrup. This rum is really great when I don't want to make my own mix for Mai Tais. I finished my bottle of Creole shrubb and decided to replace it once I realized I could get it for $25.

EvergreenDan · June 15, 2015

The Easter Island head looks jealous.

tanstaafl2 · June 15, 2015

Last night's Don the Beachcomber 1934 Zombie from the Zombie Challenge 2015 with Plantation Barbados 5, Appleton 12, Lost Spirits Cuban-inspired 151, lime juice, homemade Don's Mix and falernum, Angostura bitters, St. George absinthe, and grenadine. High octane for sure.

Did a little impromptu 151 tasting in the process. The Lemon Hart has richer/deeper caramel notes and is smoother than the Lost Spirits, which is high on banana notes (think bananas foster).

Now that Lemon Hart appears to out of production yet again have you seen/tried the new Hamilton 151 Demerara rum yet? I am curious to try it next to old and new Lemon Hart and perhaps the Plantation and Lost Spirits over proofs.

**FrogPrincesse** · June 15, 2015

Now that Lemon Hart appears to out of production yet again have you seen/tried the new Hamilton 151 Demerara rum yet? I am curious to try it next to old and new Lemon Hart and perhaps the Plantation and Lost Spirits over proofs.

I've had it, but not side by side. These guys did a comparison and here were their impressions:

The Hamilton rums have the same smokiness and complexity, but also seem to be a little less polished, which can be a good thing in sweet Tiki drinks. The 151 rum especially packs a slightly harder punch, while Lemon Hart 151 is just a bit mellower. In the end, it’s a toss-up, but those who prefer their rum to be slightly more aggressive will enjoy mixing with the Hamilton rums.

tanstaafl2 · June 16, 2015

I've had it, but not side by side. These guys did a comparison and here were their impressions:

Great link! Thanks.

pistolabella · June 22, 2015

My boyfriend and I very recently jumped into tiki drinkdom after getting interested in making good cocktails and curating a nice home bar over the winter. A recent favorite is the riviera di potente, we followed the recipe from Cocktail Virgin. Plantation Barbados 5 year, el dorado 151 ( we don't have Lemonhart), Amaro Ramazzotti, St. elder, cinnamon syrup, lime juice, Absinthe and Angostura. Deeee-lightful.

BillBuitenhuys · July 20, 2015

Benny and the Jets

adapted from Ryan Lotz via cocktail virgin

1oz Pierre Ferrand 1840 cognac (Decourtet)
1oz Smith & Cross rum
1/2oz Benedictine
1/2oz demerara syrup
1/2oz oz lime
3 dashes Ango (Mi Casa bitters)
1 dash absinthe

Garnish with lime, cherry, mint.

brinza · July 27, 2015

Now that Lemon Hart appears to out of production yet again have you seen/tried the new Hamilton 151 Demerara rum yet? I am curious to try it next to old and new Lemon Hart and perhaps the Plantation and Lost Spirits over proofs.

I recently acquired a couple bottles of the Hamilton 151 (available at The Party Source :wink: )*. I definitely recommend it. Unfortunately, I didn't have any Lemon Hart left to compare to, but I found the Hamilton to very agreeable. My immediate impression upon tasting it straight was that it is as good a substitute as you can hope for, if not superior to Lemon Hart. I also got his Pot Still Jamaican Black Rum. I have to say it's a little weird when tasted straight, but once you put it in your tiki drink it's magic.

*I went looking on the Party Source website for Lemon Hart and when it didn't turn up I saw this "Hamilton 151". For about three seconds, I'm thinking "what the hell is Hamilton ru---ohhhhhhhhh!!!"

ananth · July 31, 2015

hello,

I was looking for a Puertorican rum to make zombies or other tiki drinks. I wanted something else than the bacardi 8 años so I asked around to bartenders and they advised me either Cruzan or DonQ.

I finally manage to get this one
http://www.1-877-spirits.com/store/images/large/Cruzan-Single-Barrel-Estate-lg.jpg

but I was wondering if this bottle
http://thirstyinla.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cruzan-single-barrel.jpg
is the same product.

**FrogPrincesse** · August 4, 2015

Manuia (Fred Yarm) with aged rum (Plantation Barbados 5), cachaça (Leblon), lime juice, passion fruit syrup (BG Reynolds), orgeat (homemade), Angostura bitters, absinthe (St. George).

The rum combo worked very well. The cachaça perfumed the air together with the absinthe, while the Barbados grounded the cocktail. Fruit and spices, orgeat in the background. I wish this syrup were a tad bit more sour like real passion fruit.

tanstaafl2 · August 4, 2015

hello,
I was looking for a Puertorican rum to make zombies or other tiki drinks. I wanted something else than the bacardi 8 años so I asked around to bartenders and they advised me either Cruzan or DonQ.
I finally manage to get this one
http://www.1-877-spirits.com/store/images/large/Cruzan-Single-Barrel-Estate-lg.jpg
but I was wondering if this bottle
http://thirstyinla.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cruzan-single-barrel.jpg
is the same product.

Yes, it was a label change a few years ago. If memory serves the Single Estate bottle and label has since changed again. It now comes in a squatty shaped bottle rather than the tall wine bottle shape. While it is a Puerto Rican/Cuban style rum Cruzan is made in the VI's. DonQ is a major Puerto Rican rum producer. Of the Puerto Rican rums I like Ron del Barrilito but it may be harder to come by. At least I don't see it around as much.

There is also a small company called Bacardi that used to make rum in Cuba and now makes rum in Puerto Rico (among other places).

It is so so at best... :cool:

tanstaafl2 · August 4, 2015

hello,
I was looking for a Puertorican rum to make zombies or other tiki drinks. I wanted something else than the bacardi 8 años so I asked around to bartenders and they advised me either Cruzan or DonQ.
I finally manage to get this one
http://www.1-877-spirits.com/store/images/large/Cruzan-Single-Barrel-Estate-lg.jpg
but I was wondering if this bottle
http://thirstyinla.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cruzan-single-barrel.jpg
is the same product.

Yes, it was a label change a few years ago. If memory serves the Single Estate bottle and label has since changed again. It now comes in a squatty shaped bottle rather than the tall wine bottle shape. While it is a Puerto Rican/Cuban style rum Cruzan is made in the VI's. DonQ is a major Puerto Rican rum producer. Of the Puerto Rican rums I like Ron del Barrilito but it may be harder to come by. At least I don't see it around as much.

There is also a small company called Bacardi that used to make rum in Cuba and now makes rum in Puerto Rico (among other places).

It is so so at best...

In fact if you find that older cream colored label bottling that might be worth buying. It is at least 5 years old if not more.

I feel like Cruzan has dropped in overall quality a bit over time. But that is purely subjective on my part.

**FrogPrincesse** · August 28, 2015

Pamplemousse Punch (Wayne Curtis in Beachbum Berry Remixed) with white grapefruit juice (pink), spiced rum (Captain Morgan 1671), Clement creole shrubb, Angostura bitters, herbsaint or Pernod (St. George absinthe). Glasses by Tiki Tony.

That cocktail would be better if Captain Morgan 1671 was not so damn sweet/chocolatey. I will be happy when that bottle is gone. Kraken would be nicer, or maybe it's finally time to make my own spiced rum.

Edited August 28, 2015 by FrogPrincesse (log)

Hassouni · September 9, 2015

That cocktail would be better if Captain Morgan 1671 was not so damn sweet/chocolatey. I will be happy when that bottle is gone. Kraken would be nicer, or maybe it's finally time to make my own spiced rum.

I find Kraken rather awful - make your own spiced! It can't be hard.

Rafa · September 9, 2015

Of the commercial spiced rums, Chairman's Reserve and Don Q are my favorites. You can make a very good one by employing your favorite recipe for homemade falernum, diluting to taste, and stopping short of adding sugar.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Rafa (log)

**FrogPrincesse** · September 9, 2015

Josh at Inu a Kena likes Chairman's Reserve spiced rum too. He rated his own spiced rum (made using a Martin Cate recipe) against the commercially available ones, but he still preferred Chairman's Reserve by a wide margin.

I think it's funny that Chairman's Reserve makes a spiced rum. I never saw it in St Lucia. Because there, everyone makes their own. At the farmers' market there were bottles after bottles of homemade spiced rums, stuffed with a bunch of local spices. If I remember correctly this was mostly cinnamon (or cassia bark), mace, vanilla, cloves, star anise, bay leaf, allspice, etc. Maybe top it off with some falernum.

Edited September 9, 2015 by FrogPrincesse (log)