Post #717449 by Destro100 on Mon, May 19, 2014 5:15 AM

Drink 56: Pago Pago

Ingredients I used:

Fresh lime juice
Fresh orange juice
Grapefruit Juice (100% pure white - bottled)
Honey Mix (1.25 - 1 honey to water ratio)
Appleton 12 Year - Dark Jamaican Rum
Angostura Bitters

Another solid drink that seems to be aimed at my particular palette. As previously mentioned, I tend to enjoy sour and bitter flavors within my drinks. It comes from my appreciation of classic and contemporary craft cocktails beyond the tiki movement. This drink manages to push the limits of the sour element without going overboard; at least not for me.

The lime tends to mask the alcohol and makes the drink an easy sipper. The honey provides a nice layer of sweetness that isn't overly saccharine. In a strange way, the drink reminds me of an orange-flavored Mai Tai. I think this is due to the careful balance of ingredients and the distinctive rum I used for the drink. I tend to save my Appleton 12 for drinks where I know it will be the sole rum, or at least it will be taking center-stage. As usual, the addition of bitters helps add a subtle new dimension to the drink's sour-first profile.

The Pago Pago is meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. I'm picturing myself enjoying this drink on the patio with some asian BBQ.

My personal rating: ***1/2 (3.5) out of ***** (5)

SCORECARD:

4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 3 drinks so far
Chief Lapu Lapu / Kikuya Lapu / Mai Tai (Trader Vic)

4 - EXCELLENT - 11 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 / Krakatoa / La Florida / Tortuga / Mai Tai Swizzle / 151 Swizzle

3.5 - VERY GOOD - 15 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 / Hurricane / Lani-Honi / Mariposa Fizz / Never Say Die / Pago Pago

3 - GOOD - 14 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 / Noa Noa / Aku Aku Lapu / Mai Tai (Royal Hawaiian) / Missionary's Downfall

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

2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes / Rum Runner

1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more
Boo Loo / Royal Daiquiri