Post #513262 by Dr. Coruba on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 7:39 PM

I find myself with those who would love to have one in their region. The art of the tiki drink in public bars and restaurants is all but lost completely. If the Mai Tai and other classic tiki drinks were eligible, they'd be on the endangered species list by now. While I doubt one new concept restaurant can singularly breathe life into it, it is a step in the right direction. If this new concept takes root and succeeds only in being a place where any of us who enjoy the classics can honestly recommend as place to get a true, quality tiki drink, that would be no small feat and worthy of support.

Those who say that this new IB&G cannot keep the struggling flagships afloat are right. However, the remaining TVs that we revere. cannot be healthier than the company that owns the brand. Were their corporate parent to fold the tent, one or two might survive to serve another day for a while longer, but they too would be gone long before I get to take my young son for his first legal, authentic 1944 Mai Tai many years from now. Sure there is a point where they might bastardize and corrupt the concept to the point of poisoning the well, but I think this steers clear enough from that reef. In the meantime, I am happy to see them continue to try to make headway in the market.

"History is a tale written by the winners." Five years from now, it will be interesting to see if we are talking about this as Trader Vic's "New Coke disaster", or perhaps the one which gave ol' Vic one more trip to the island.

[ Edited by: jwtiki 2010-02-24 19:40 ]