Post #818779 by kkocka on Tue, Aug 18, 2026 3:17 PM

Credit to @kevincrossman for this Pilo Pilo recipe. He got it during a panel at Tiki Oasis some years back and shared by Eve Bergeron.

Pilo Pilo (San Jose Airport)
1 oz Lemon Juice
.75 oz Lime Juice
.75 oz Trader Vic’s Passion Fruit Syrup
.75 oz Trader Vic’s Navy Grog Mix/Concentrate
.75 oz Trader Vic’s Dark Rum
.75 oz Trader Vic’s 151 Proof Rum
.5 oz Trader Vic’s Spiced Rum \

...however, a coworker just received the following recipe from a Trader Vic's email ([email protected])

Pilo Pilo (San Jose Airport via TV email)
.25 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Grapefruit Juice
.5 oz Honey Syrup
.5 oz Trader Vic’s Navy Grog Mix/Concentrate
.5 oz Trader Vic’s Light Rum
.5 oz Trader Vic’s Dark Rum
.5 oz Trader's Vic 151's Proof Rum
3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

I've only tried the first version myself and it seemed pretty on point with what I remembered. There's clearly a difference between the two drinks, largely is the first has a lot more lemon juice and no grapefruit nor honey, but does have spiced rum instead of white rum.

This means is I will have to try both and see what gives, but first thought is to choose the former.

[ Edited by kkocka on 2026-08-18 15:23:19 ]

[ Edited by kkocka on 2026-08-18 15:24:28 ]