Mixology: Tiki Cocktails are back!!!

The sun wouldn't come out on Father's Day Sunday, but there was some sympathetic tropical sunshine inside the Teardrop Lounge in the Pearl District!

It was Tiki Night, and peripatetic bartender, consultant mixologist, and tiki-master, Trader Tiki himself, Blair Reynolds, was guest starring behind the bar, turning out one passionately made tropical drink after another for his tiki-mavens.

There are few people who show as much passion for what they do as Blair Reynolds, and he has focused that passion on tiki-styled drinks. At the Teardrop, he was featuring nine special cocktails---so, of course, in the interest of science, the gathered tiki-heads sampled as many as they could (while carefully sharing and always practicing moderation, of course).

Corn 'N Oil was a straightforward classic, a combination of Gosling's Black Rum and Falernum. This is a bold and aromatic concoction, belying the belief that tropical drinks are frou-frou and nothing else. Put it this way: you're not going to find a pink paper parasol in this manly drink.

Dark 'N Stormy Ginger Beer and a hint of lime soften up the Gosling's rum delivery a bit, but they add a spritz of tangy ginger spice for a satisfying, hearty but simple drink, the kind you'd find on Barbados or Antigua. Sitting in the shade. With your feet dabbling in the brilliant Caribbean Sea.

Donga Punch You won't get this one confused with sweet and watery pre-mixed rum punches---it's a hearty concoction, and legendary Don the Beachcomber's classic drink, with Don's Mix, Martinique agricole rhum and lime. Plus you get it in a Tiki glass, complete with a full shrubbery (actually a bush of basil big enough to hide behind). Outstanding! Also not for the faint of heart.

El Presidente Evidently a pre-coup drink from Cuba, with Ron Pampero rum, Curacao, and Trader Tiki's Hibiscus Grenadine, served up.

Cachaca & Ting Brazilian Cane Rum topped with a Jamaican grapefruit soda (called "Ting"). Ahhh, refreshing, light, and crisp.

Jasper's Jamaican Haven't the slightest who Jasper is, but I like him already, mon. This cocktail is a mix of Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum, Allspice Dram, and lime. It's a spicy take on the Cuban daiquiri, with a Jamaican taste all its own. And they're not shy with the allspice either!

Mai Tai Kind of hard to have a tiki night without a mai tai, right? But this isn't some sad knock-off of the classic---this IS the classic, Trader Vic's original with a blend of Jamaican and Martinique rums, Trader Tiki's Orgeat, lime and curacao. (You might want to limit yourself to one...but you're warned: that will be difficult to do. This is as good as what they make at the Mai Tai Bar at the Pink Princess on Waikiki.)

Nui Nui Another Don the Beachcomber classic from the days of tiki legend; lime, orange, dark rum, and the mysterious mix of Don's Spices #2 (heh heh). Get your daily allowance of Vitamin C and a silly smile on your face on top of it. Who needs sunshine anyway, huh?

Pieces of Eight A luscious tall drink of light rum, lime, lemon, and Trader Tiki's Passion Fruit Syrup, for those who like it tart instead of sweet, with an exotic twist.

For the full article, with pictures and video, go to: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-42863-Portland-Spirits-Examiner~y2010m6d21-Tiki-night-at-the-Teardrop-Lounge-with-Trader-Tiki-Blair-Reynolds

It's heartening that there are still people out there who know how to mix a proper Mai Tai. The difference between a good one and the fruity stuff you get at most places is amazing.

[James Roscoe]

Like a day in the tropics!

Thanks for sharing Hoke!

I was just reading about the revival of Tiki! And it couldn't have come at a better time, as I just landed a gig writing about rum for a local liquor store

I foresee much mixing of rum cocktails in my near future...

How does the Dark and Stormy, which is from Bermuda in the North Atlantic, qualify as a Tiki cocktail?

-Paul W.

How does the Dark and Stormy, which is from Bermuda in the North Atlantic, qualify as a Tiki cocktail?

-Paul W.

It's an island?

It's closer to the tropics than, say, Iceland or the Orkneys?

Geographic imprecision?

From England, it looked like a tropical island. But then, from England, everything looks like a tropical island.

What the hell...it's got rum and ginger in it.

Tiki makers and drinkers aren't too concerned with anal retentive categories?

Ooo, ooo, here's one : all of the above!

[James Roscoe]

LOL! You forgot "Who the hell cares?"

Just realized that there's a bottle of Eli's Ginger Beer in the fridge, a bottle of Myers's rum in the cabinet, and a lime on the counter.

Tiki? Maybe. Good on a warm night? Absolutely!!

Just realized that there's a bottle of Eli's Ginger Beer in the fridge, a bottle of Myers's rum in the cabinet, and a lime on the counter.

Tiki? Maybe. Good on a warm night? Absolutely!!

Aw, heck, Mike: just put a paper parasol or a sprig of mint in it and you can disguise it as tiki.

It's just that, as someone who loves the Dark & Stormy cocktail, I bristle at it being classified as tiki kitsch.

-Paul W.

You got me from Jasper's Jamaican on. I have some Appleton Estate Rum from Jamaica at home--need to try one of the drinks with lime. And then maybe one with Peach Schnapps. Thanks, Hoke.

It's just that, as someone who loves the Dark & Stormy cocktail, I bristle at it being classified as tiki kitsch.

-Paul W.

Have to disagree with you there, Paul. While there is an undeniable element of kitsch to the whole tiki thing, there are also some undeniably great cocktails associated with it. The Mai Tai is the best example of a truly excellent drink that can't be separated from tiki. There are others out there as well. To me, the fact that much of tiki mixology devolved into cloying, simplistic mixtures of fruit juice and rum does not dishonor the really good tiki drinks. (Paper parasols and flaming volcano bowls notwithstanding.)

It's just that, as someone who loves the Dark & Stormy cocktail, I bristle at it being classified as tiki kitsch.

-Paul W.

Have to disagree with you there, Paul. While there is an undeniable element of kitsch to the whole tiki thing, there are also some undeniably great cocktails associated with it. The Mai Tai is the best example of a truly excellent drink that can't be separated from tiki. There are others out there as well. To me, the fact that much of tiki mixology devolved into cloying, simplistic mixtures of fruit juice and rum does not dishonor the really good tiki drinks. (Paper parasols and flaming volcano bowls notwithstanding.)

I agree, Mike. I spoke to this very point in my followup article on the Portland Spirits Examiner column. I didn't think the entire column was either necessarily interesting or appropriate for here, but you can certainly go take a look at it.

A big part----a VERY big part---of the tiki revival is shying away from the cloying crap from disgusting low-quality pre-mixes and getting back to premium ingredients and as much freshness as possible. There'll always be an element of kitsch.....but I gotta tell you, these tiki-revival drinks aren't anything like those bad old tiki knockoffs that used to be the norm.