A Spiritous Journey through Remixed - From the Astro Aku Aku to the Zadaran Storm - Tiki Drinks and Food

D Destro100 Tiki Socialite Joined: Jun 28, 2012 Posts: 137	D Destro100 Posted posted on Tue, Feb 25, 2014 7:11 AM How is this so good? Did you read the ingredients?: Drink 36: Hell in the Pacific Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 1883 Routin Pomegranate Grenadine Lemon Hart 151 There is no better feeling than being completely surprised by a drink you expected to be boring, one-dimensional, and unpalatable. I love all the ingredients listed, but I had not idea how these would come together. I didn't see that one special ingredient that would elevate and differentiate the flavor. I was completely wrong. I often complain about how Maraschino has a tendency to overpower a drink if not used properly. Normally, I would be very apprehensive of using 1/2 an ounce of Maraschino; yet here the nuttiness shines beautifully as it is tempered by the roaringly strong, spicy, and beautiful Lemon Hart. Two very powerful flavors do battle and create a sublime new monster that highlights the best elements of both ingredients. The key is the dilution. If the dilution is not administered properly, this drink could be a complete FAIL. When I first read it, I didn't understand why a pilsner glass was suggested. I dutifully followed the recipe and made sure I used PLENTY of crushed ice. I found that the water was needed to dilute the bold flavors competing for attention. Without all that crushed ice, enough to fill a pilsner glass, the drink might be unbearably strong. After tasting and arriving at my own conclusions, I logged onto the grogalizer to find out what others were saying. Just as I expected, opinions varied greatly and I suspect that many of the lower scores came from users that did not properly build their drinks. Final note: I think I may raise the level of grenadine slightly in the future. It's quite subtle in this drink, but the tartness adds another wonderful quality to this drink. My personal rating: ** (4) out of *** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 6 drinks and counting Colonel Beach's Plantation Punch /Aurora Bora Borealis / Outrigger / Bourbon Special / Beachcomber's Gold (Hollywood and Palm Springs) / Hell in the Pacific 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting Beachcomber's Punch / Coronado Luau Special / Hawaii Kai Treasure / Coconaut / Castaway (slightly modified) / Don's Special Daiquiri / Banana Daiquiri / Captain's Grog / Viking Fog Cutter / Navy Grog 3 - GOOD - 10 drinks and counting Eastern Sour / Astro Aku Aku / Kapu Kai / Western Sour / Beachcomber's Gold (Waikiki) / Red Tide / Samoan Fog Cutter / Gold Cup / Headhunter / Fogg Cutter 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting Jasper's Jamaican / Derby Daiquiri / Carioca Hawaiian Cocktail / Hawaiian Room 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more Boo Loo

How is this so good? Did you read the ingredients?:

Drink 36: Hell in the Pacific

Ingredients I used:

Fresh lime juice
Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
1883 Routin Pomegranate Grenadine
Lemon Hart 151

There is no better feeling than being completely surprised by a drink you expected to be boring, one-dimensional, and unpalatable. I love all the ingredients listed, but I had not idea how these would come together. I didn't see that one special ingredient that would elevate and differentiate the flavor. I was completely wrong.

I often complain about how Maraschino has a tendency to overpower a drink if not used properly. Normally, I would be very apprehensive of using 1/2 an ounce of Maraschino; yet here the nuttiness shines beautifully as it is tempered by the roaringly strong, spicy, and beautiful Lemon Hart. Two very powerful flavors do battle and create a sublime new monster that highlights the best elements of both ingredients.

The key is the dilution. If the dilution is not administered properly, this drink could be a complete FAIL. When I first read it, I didn't understand why a pilsner glass was suggested. I dutifully followed the recipe and made sure I used PLENTY of crushed ice. I found that the water was needed to dilute the bold flavors competing for attention. Without all that crushed ice, enough to fill a pilsner glass, the drink might be unbearably strong.

After tasting and arriving at my own conclusions, I logged onto the grogalizer to find out what others were saying. Just as I expected, opinions varied greatly and I suspect that many of the lower scores came from users that did not properly build their drinks.

Final note: I think I may raise the level of grenadine slightly in the future. It's quite subtle in this drink, but the tartness adds another wonderful quality to this drink.

My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5)

SCORECARD:
4 - EXCELLENT - 6 drinks and counting
Colonel Beach's Plantation Punch /Aurora Bora Borealis / Outrigger / Bourbon Special / Beachcomber's Gold (Hollywood and Palm Springs) / Hell in the Pacific

3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Punch / Coronado Luau Special / Hawaii Kai Treasure / Coconaut / Castaway (slightly modified) / Don's Special Daiquiri / Banana Daiquiri / Captain's Grog / Viking Fog Cutter / Navy Grog

3 - GOOD - 10 drinks and counting
Eastern Sour / Astro Aku Aku / Kapu Kai / Western Sour / Beachcomber's Gold (Waikiki) / Red Tide / Samoan Fog Cutter / Gold Cup / Headhunter / Fogg Cutter

2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting
Jasper's Jamaican / Derby Daiquiri / Carioca Hawaiian Cocktail / Hawaiian Room

2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes

1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more
Boo Loo

Post #709345 by Destro100 on Tue, Feb 25, 2014 7:11 AM