Post #570771 by JOHN-O on Fri, Dec 31, 2010 4:48 PM

On 2010-12-31 09:10, telescopes wrote:

...My reverence for Tiki Ti is no longer one of dogma and absolute devotion...

…To those who have visited the Cove, what do you think?

A question ! :)

Hmm…. I can understand your comments regarding Tiki Ti in this current "New Cocktailan" boom we're experiencing. With our alcoholic palates having been raised with places like Smuggler's Cove, Tropical drinks NOT leveraging fresh juices and top-shelf rum do seem like 2nd-best.

I would argue however that the significance of Tiki Ti extends far beyond just those two things. It's much more than just a bar serving cocktails. Remember Tiki Ti has family lineage going back to Pre-Tiki ground zero. On the West Coast, it single handedly carried the Tiki torch during the bad old devolution days of 1970's-1990's. No net new Tiki Revival place will EVER be able to make that claim which essentially makes Tiki Ti teflon-proof IMHO.

Also no other Tiki bar will knock me off my ass better than the Ti. After one Uga Booga and Jim's Special, I usually have to take a nap in my car before being able to drive again. I can't think of any other Tiki bar that can inebriate me to that same extent with just 2 drinks.

And where would Tiki be today if it hadn't provided the spiritual inspiration for so those who spearheaded the Tiki Revival movement in Los Angeles ??

Yes, Tiki Ti still deserves your (and our) dogma and absolute devotion !! We should all be bowing down and praying in its direction on a daily basis. :D

There is no doubt Smuggler's Cove has the greatest recent visibility and reputation when it comes to Tropical mixology excellence (and deservedly so). If we had to chose a #1 place, it's certainly an excellent candidate but remember there are many other great places. Case in point…

1. Forbidden Island - I felt the Jet Pilot I had there (always a good litmus test) was even better than Smuggler's Cove.

2. Tonga Hut - On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Kelly "Hiphipahula" O'Reilly mixes up some of the best Tropical cocktails around. Yes, she maintains 100% faithfulness to the Grog Log (I'd hate to be the customer to ask her to put pineapple juice in their Mai Tai), but like a Tiki "Dr. Frankenstein" she's always devising up new Tropical concoctions in her Tiki mad scientist laboratory. I'd stack some of her original drinks like the Shaka Hula Bossa Nova, Zorrorro, and Velvet Taboo against any of the classics any day.

3. Don the Beachcomber - I believe Marie King has moved on, but when she was the bar manager there she instilled a faithfulness and consistency to the Don Beach recipes which I prefer to Trader Vic's. The drinks at Don's are still pretty good and I encourage them to stay faithful to the blueprint that Marie put in place.

4. Mai Kai - I heard the drinks there are pretty good. :)

[ Edited by: JOHN-O 2010-12-31 16:50 ]