Post #549445 by JOHN-O on Sat, Aug 21, 2010 5:36 PM

8 Zombies over 8 consecutive days in 8 different bars !!

Which was the best ?? Here's my non-scientific and totally opinionated review.

I wasn't sure if I should post under Drinks or Travel, so I split the difference and posted here in the General Forum.

Ok, let's get started. (FYI, when I note mixology quality and value it's based on the Zombie and not for the overall drink menu.)

1. Sun, 8/8 - Frankie's Tiki Room, Las Vegas

Real Zombies are supposed to be served in chimney glasses, not old-fashioned glasses like this one was. I'll forgive that since it's my favorite glassware. This was NOT a classic Don's-style Zombie as it only had two shots of rum. I'm pretty sure there was no 151. Also how they can rate this 5 (out of a 5-skull rating) is beyond me. It was a good deal at $8 and had a nice fruity taste which I enjoyed. This is one of my favorite cocktails at Frankie's but Zombie purists will cry NYET.

Mixology Quality - B-
Value - B+
Tiki Ambiance - A
Historical Significance - B+ (Not for the Tiki, but rather I believe this may be one of the oldest "dive" bars in LV.)

2. Mon, 8/9 - Don the Beachcomber's, Sunset Beach

A Don's Zombie in a DTBC? What can be better than that? This was definitely the old-school recipe with 3 shots of rum (one being 151 which I'm pretty sure was Lemon Hart). It was stiff yet balanced and flavorful.

Mixology Quality - A-
Value - A+ (only $6 during Happy Hour !!)
Tiki Ambiance - A
Historical Significance - B+ (If it was still called Sam's Seafood, it would have received a full A. This rewriting of Tiki history upsets me but I understand the need for the rebranding.)

3. Tue, 8/10 - Smuggler's Cove, San Francisco

Yes, it was the old-school recipe. Would we expect anything less from Martiki? 3 shots of rum, one being 151 Lemon Hart. The LH is a diminishing commodity but I think Martin may have stockpiled a warehouse full of it. This was a sublime cocktail beating out the Don's drink by half a length. It tasted just a little more balanced, a little more refined, yet unmistakably stiff. Could this possibly be the best classic Zombie that you can get in a bar? We'll see.

Also after the Zombie, I asked if there was anything truly unique I could try. My bartender recommended a shot of Black Tot rum. He said it was the last bottle of this British Naval (Demerara?) rum in the U.S. That one drink cost me $120 !! It's a good thing the dice were hot in Vegas. I asked how many people in San Francisco can afford to order a $120 shot of booze. He said "Oh, you're the 5th person tonight." :o

Mixology Quality - A+
Value - B (at $13)
Tiki Ambiance - N/A (Sorry it's a 18th-century Caribbean nautical bar not a mid-century Polynesian Tiki (Revival) bar. I stand by this.)
Historical Significance - N/A

4. Wed, 8/11 - Tonga Room, San Francisco

OK, I had low expectations for this one. It was served with 2 shots with one of them being Bacardi 151. I wouldn't say this was a good Zombie but it was drinkable. Also with my empty stomach I did pick up a nice buzz. I was shocked on how popular the place is. There was a waiting line to sit at the bar !! Go now before it's too late.

Mixology Quality - C-
Value - D (they charged $13 for this !!)
Tiki Ambiance - B (Due to some devolution from the glory days. Also to be honest I think the place was cooler when it looked like a boat (in the 1930's)).
Historical Significance - B+

5. Thu, 8/12 - Forbidden Island, Alameda

I expected this to be similar to Smuggler's Cove based on the Martiki legacy. I was shocked to taste a cocktail that was very different. Yes this had 3 shots of rum, including the 151 (pretty sure it was LH) but it had a more sour taste which masked the stiffness. If anyone is familiar with the Sunset Beach DTBC Dr. Funk, it reminded me of that only much stronger. I wouldn't say this was a classic Don's-style Zombie but it was a VERY good cocktail. Suzanne has made the FI mixology her own. I didn't pick up much of a buzz but I attribute that to the 1/2 pound Val's burger sitting in my stomach. Also if I knew they were going to use a mug, I would have asked for a glass. I need to see my beverage !! (and feel the condensation in my hand.)

Mixology Quality - B+ (if this wasn't supposed to be Zombie, I would rate it A)
Value - B (at $13)
Tiki Ambiance - A
Historical Significance - N/A (it's Revival)

6. Fri, 8/13 - Trader Vic's, Downtown LA

If you told me this was party punch, I would say it's great. For a Zombie, it was pretty pathetic. Only two shots of rum, no 151. To be honest, I could barely detect any booze. There might be decent Tropicals at this TV, but the Zombie isn't one of them. It's a shame because the presentation was really excellent. The bar food is really good though. The Ahi sandwich is one of the tastiest I've had. It had avocado in it which was a good complement.

Mixology Quality - D
Value - C- (at $10)
Tiki Ambiance - B-
Historical Significance - N/A
Ahi Sandwich - A

7. Sat, 8/14 - Tiki Ti, Los Angeles

We love the Ti since it's one of the few places to keep the Tiki torch burning (figuratively not literally) even through the bad old devolution days of the 1970's through the mid-1990's. Also it has family lineage straight back to the Pre-Tiki days of the 1930's. If any Tiki bar deserved to be declared a national monument, this is the place. The only problem is that the Tiki-Ti has become so mythic, you expect life changing cocktails. The fact is that with "New Cocktailian" establishments like Smuggler's Cove and people doing their own mixing using freshly squeezed juices and high-end rums, first-time visitors might be a little disappointed. That said, the Ti serves some pretty darn good (and strong) cocktails and their Zombie is no exception. It had 3 shots, one being Bacardi 151. Actually the best part of the Zombie was the Jim's Special I had afterward while rapping with Rasta Jim. It's a Mai Tai with tequila added to it.

Mixology Quality - B
Value - B+ (at $10)
Tiki Ambiance - A
Historical Significance - A+

8. Sun, 8/15 - Tonga Hut, North Hollywood

OK, this one was hard for me. If you've read some of my other posts, you know I worship at the mixology altar of Hiphipahula. Some have even told me it's been really annoying. Sorry (Boris :D) but I call it like I see it. I wanted this to be the best Zombie on the planet but to be honest the one at Smuggler's Cove was better. I think the key reason is that the Tonga Hut is stretching out their Lemon Hart 151 reserves and Kelly is trying different substitutes. I think she said she used Cruzan 151 (or was it Goslings?). At any rate it lacked the signature Demerara smoke of the Lemon Hart.

Here's the kicker though. Kelly may have improved on the Zombie as a stiff yet flavorful Tropical. Her Shaka Hula Bossa Nova is as stiff (I think 3.5 shots) and yet has a more distinctive flavor. I tested this out on my two non-Tikiphiles friends. Hands down they agreed that the Shaka Hula Bossa Nova was a better drink.

The only issue I still have is that (owner) Jeremy isn't stocking the right glassware. Drinks like the Zombie need to be served in Chimney glasses not Pilsner or Hurricane glasses. Also how about some double Old-fashioned glasses ?? :)

Mixology Quality (of the Zombie) - B+
Value - B+ (at $12)
Tiki Ambiance - A
Historical Significance - A

So the winner is Smuggler's Cove with DTBC and Tonga Hut about neck and neck for 2nd place. These are all classic Don's-style Zombies with 3 shots of rum, one being 151. Any Zombie purist would be happy with these cocktails. The only way to get it better is to make it yourself.

Honorable mention goes to the FI Zombie and the Kelly's Shaka Hula Bossa Nova as stiff yet flavorable cocktails.

I did want to try out the Zombie at the Mai Kai, but couldn't book the red-eye in time. :D

The End.

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2013-11-18 09:45 ]