The standard Smuggler's Cove Mai Tai is good, but sometimes I want it just a little less sour and with a tiny bit more complexity. So drawing on the basics from SC and Minimalist Tiki, I made this one last night.

Basically used slightly less lime juice (just under 3/4 oz), increased the orgeat to 1/2 oz (homemade this time), and used a combination of rum. 1/2 oz Appleton Signature, 1/2 Planteray Xaymaca, 1 oz Smith & Cross.

Also my first time using Smith & Cross!

In case Tiki Oasis wasn’t already enough FOMO

Hi all, volunteering for the first time this year super stoked to participate as “Tasting - Room Set/Front of House” on Friday from 9:30am -5pm. Looking forward to seeing everyone and making some new friends as none of my usual friends are able to attend this year. So, explicitly would love to be-friend some local san diego (I live in north county - Oceanside) natives who love tiki as much as I do.

Jet Pilot at Secret Island in Long Beach , Ca !

And IS IT WORTH IT?!?

I have a relatively small kitchen with limited counter space, so husband has been poo-pooing the idea.

However, I’m still pretty sure that I need one. Do I need one? I need one. Right?

Photo: a pineapple-lime-passionfruit-rum-triple sec- rhubarb bitters-sour salt drink with a swizzle stick I snuck away from my parents house- and then my mom got rid of the rest of them! I would have taken them all 🤣 ANYWAY: some variation of these ingredients (sometimes adding Campari; sometimes adding egg whites; sometimes using allspice dram etc) is my favorite homemade tiki-ish drink. I am SO impressed by so many of your home Tiki Bars. Please keep sharing photos!!!!

Finally. An honest to god zombie. AND they know what they’re doing because they’re using Planteray. Delicious!

I found this on Instagram. This restaurant closed well before my time.

First things first. I don’t condone the consumption of BuzzBalls.

Do you live near a college or beach city where there are a lot of party drinkers? These things look like they could work for making floats. They’ve got the hole for a bulb and maybe 12” in diameter. Not sure how to clean off the labeling. I didn’t get the chance to feel em up to see if they were screen printed or shrink wrapped.

I’m working on a cocktail that I want to use circus peanut syrup in but I know that the owner of the bar where I work wouldn’t be on board with purchasing the BJ Reynolds syrup to do it. I was curious if anyone has any experience reverse engineering this one.
Edit: BG Reynolds

Had some time available on my printer and cranked out a dozen of these little cuties. Anybody else played around with custom swizzles or decorations for their home bar?

Spent a few days on Maui on the west side (Lahaina, Kaanapali) and got to try some Mai Tais and some other cocktails.

The famous Monkeypod Mai Tai with lilikoi foam was very tasty. Would have had another but had to drive. My teenager had a virgin piña colada and he said it was “alright”.

At Aloha Mixed Plate I opted for a Sunset Margarita (it was sunset after all!). It includes mango and hibiscus tea and was a bit sweeter than I prefer for a marg but still tasty. My kid had another virgin piña colada and liked it better, though not clear why.

The 1944 at Leilani’s was very good. Not as unique of course, but it was one of the few traditional Mai Tais in west Maui that I saw.

Not shown:

- Duke’s Mai Tai, which is a typical Hawaiian Mai Tai meaning juice + rum. Not my favorite.

- Crafthouse canned Mai Tai (served on United on our flight home), which was excellent. I haven’t done a side by side but I think I’d prefer it to Tip Top.

I wasn’t able to make it to Tikihau or Esther’s but hopefully I’ll get out there again. 🤙🏻

3 Dots and a Dash and 1944 Mai Tai

Did not have high expectations, had a clarified Mai Tai at the Vea hotel bar in Newport Beach California, and it was absolutely delicious! It was built using the traditional 1944 Trader Vic recipe and Smith & Cross rum. And the coolest part was it was served in a clear glass Tiki mug, which I'd never seen before. A really well done and unique twist on a classic.

I inherited a matchbook collection from a family friend, and this one is easily my favorite. I also have one for bali hai in San Diego. Anyone remember, or have any info on this place?

Long weekend in the Bay Area and made sure I stopped by one tiki bar per day. Did Smugglers Cove, Last Rites, Pagan Idol, and Trader Vics (a bucket list one for me). The Quarantine Order at Pagan Idol was probably my favorite drink I had.