Tiki Central / General Tiki / The Tiki Times: News and events calendar
Post #759512 by Hurricane Hayward on Mon, Feb 22, 2016 9:36 AM
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Mon, Feb 22, 2016 9:36 AM
Just posted: An exhaustive preview of The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown, coming this Friday to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival ...
Top Tiki mixologists take their talents to South Beach Wine & Food Festival for Cocktail Showdown If Tiki mixology truly is an art, then this week’s tropical drink showdown in Miami Beach is the modern cocktail world’s equivalent of an epic battle between the descendants of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. After all, Tiki cocktails are in the midst of a second Renaissance. “The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown” at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival unleashes nine of the country’s most popular and exotic drinking establishments in a festive fete hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, on Friday, Feb. 26. Competing for bragging rights and cash prizes are bartenders from The Broken Shaker (Miami Beach), Fort Defiance (Brooklyn), Foundation Tiki Bar (Milwaukee), The Golden Tiki (Las Vegas), Kreepy Tiki Lounge (Fort Lauderdale), The Mai-Kai (Fort Lauderdale), Porco Lounge & Tiki Room (Cleveland), The Rum Line (Miami Beach), and Slowly Shirley at The Happiest Hour (New York City).
Spurred by the 21st century revival of tropical drinks and Tiki culture, The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown made its debut at last year’s SoBeWFF. More than 700 people packed the Shore Club for the event, hosted by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and featuring an expert panel of judges that included Tiki cocktail authors and bar owners Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and Martin Cate. Brian Miller (of “Tiki Mondays With Miller” in New York City) won the Judge’s Choice award, while Miami Beach’s The Broken Shaker earned the People’s Choice award. Other competitors, including 2016 returnees The Mai-Kai and The Rum Line, cranked out hundreds of cocktails for the thirsty guests, who also enjoyed small bites from an array of acclaimed chefs. The successful event was reprised Oct. 17 during the New York City Wine & Food Festival, with a few Big Apple twists. Held on a rooftop with temperatures near freezing, it was far from a tropical oasis. Lagasse returned as host, Miller joined Berry as a judge, and NYC bartenders dominated the competition. St. John Frizell (Fort Defiance) edged out Garret Richard (The Happiest Hour) with a festive frozen drink. Both Frizell and Richard will be competing this week in South Beach. The successful event was reprised Oct. 17 during the New York City Wine & Food Festival, with a few Big Apple twists. Held on a rooftop with temperatures near freezing, it was far from a tropical oasis. Lagasse returned as host, Miller joined Berry as a judge, and NYC bartenders dominated the competition. St. John Frizell (Fort Defiance) edged out Garret Richard (The Happiest Hour) with a festive frozen drink. Both Frizell and Richard will be competing this week in South Beach.
The real stars of the show are the cocktails and the food. And, of course, the rum. There’s a new exclusive rum sponosor this year, the venerable Rhum Barbancourt from Haiti. The nine competitors, set up in tricked-out bar spaces around the Surfcomber pool, will be featuring at least one of four Barbancourt products (White Rhum, Pango Rhum, 3 Star, and 5 Star) in their drinks. In addition, Rhum Barbancourt will pop up in the hotel’s existing pool bar to offer samples of its distinctive, sugarcane-based rhums. Rhum Barbancourt is taking its sponsorship seriously, teaming up with last year’s champ Brian Miller for the occasion. “Brian’s skill and creativity truly stands out. He embodies Tiki,” said Rhum Barbancourt spokeswoman Jenna Dillon. “Once we found out that he was not part of the judges panel, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity for him to showcase 5 Star in one of his original cocktails. You will not be disappointed.” Over the past year, Barbancourt has been a proud sponsor of Tiki Mondays with Miller, the mixologist’s quarterly Tiki party at Pouring Ribbons in New York City. Like last year, there will be both Judges Choice and People’s Choice winners. Joining Fieri at the judge’s table are event organizer Francesco Lafranconi (executive director of mixology and spirits educator for Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada), Julie Reiner (owner of New York City’s influential Clover Club); and Laine Doss (food and spirits writer for Miami New Times).
Meet the mixologists, preview the competition:
Plus, we serve up a couple tasty cocktail recipes to get you in the mood for The Art of Tiki 2016: Brian Miller's Pain Reliever (see above) and Cesar’s Rum Punch, a classic featuring Rhum Barbancourt. Okole maluna! |
