Post #709051 by Hurricane Hayward on Sat, Feb 22, 2014 12:14 AM

On 2014-02-21 12:04, TikiTacky wrote:
When you say you need the story to fully appreciate the drink, is the implication that the drinks aren't all that great by themselves?

That's a very good question. I'm still absorbing the book, as well as the drinks, so I'll pass the buck and say you'll have to read my upcoming review for a complete analysis.

But just off the cuff, I'll admit that I'm still steadfast in my love for Sippin' Safari. I don't think you can touch that book for its combination of story and drinks. But Potions definitely has a much broader and entertaining story. Is every drink a winner? Probably not, but I don't think that's the point of the book. If you're looking for pure bang-for-your-buck classic Tiki cocktail recipes, you definitely want Remixed. But if you're looking for the story behind the drinks, you can get a pure Tiki fix with Sippin' Safari, or a comprehensive historical analysis with Potions. The Bum covers all the bases.

As I write, I'm sippin' on Ray Buhen's Virgin Island Kula, which I will definitely add to the list of top drinks (it rates a 7). And I just realized that I left two other favorites off the list above:
Planter's Punch (improved), p. 74 (rating: 8 )
Myrtle Bank Punch (Donn's version), p. 181 (rating: 7)