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Swanky
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Tue, Feb 11, 2014 10:40 AM
I look back at my Grog Log ratings and I no longer like some of those drinks I gave an "A". Too sweet! But the more people cast their vote, the closer we get to a consensus. I often sort the Grogalizer by my rating and by the average rating to figure out what I want to make. I use the average rating to see what other people like that I have never made. |
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Destro100
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Wed, Feb 12, 2014 7:16 AM
Check out the ice-cone: Drink 29: Navy Grog Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice Nice Drink. Refreshing, adequately complex, and deliciously tart. The combination of rum works together beautifully to create a strong and flavorful base for the drink, while the grapefruit-lime-honey mix creates a harmonious and enduring flavor throughout the swallow. I don't have too much to add. It's a very nice drink that captures the quintessential grapefruit-honey tiki style of drink perfectly. At the same time, it doesn't necessarily transcend the template either. My personal rating: ***1/2 (3.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 7 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 3 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 3 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more [ Edited by: Destro100 2014-02-12 07:28 ] [ Edited by: destro100 2014-02-12 10:17 ] |
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happy buddha
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Wed, Feb 12, 2014 9:32 AM
What did you use for the dark Jamaican? |
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Destro100
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Wed, Feb 12, 2014 10:18 AM
Wow, you are good! Thanks for noticing the oversight. I used Appleton Extra. It's not very dark, but it often fits the profile. The entry has been updated. |
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happy buddha
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Wed, Feb 12, 2014 12:51 PM
Just thought maybe you overlooked the dark, & that's why you didn't like the drink more. I loves a well-made Navy Grog more than just about any cocktail. Though admittedly I like the Vic's version better. |
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Kill Devil
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Thu, Feb 13, 2014 8:05 AM
I like the Light Puerto Rican/Dark Jamaican/Overproof combo for the Navy Grog (Cruzan/Coruba/151 Lemonhart) in my Navy Grogs, works every time |
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Destro100
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Thu, Feb 13, 2014 10:31 AM
Drink 30: Von Tiki Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice First, a few notes regarding ingredients. I did it. I bought a bottle of Stroh. It smells wondrous. It tastes abysmal. This bottle will last me a long time.
Furthermore, I thought this would be a great opportunity to compare two different honey-based liqueurs: the more-popular Barenjager (from Germany) and the less well-known Krupnik (from Poland). Barenjager is very sweet and syrupy. The honey takes center-stage. As a matter of fact, I almost-only taste the honey. You do get some alcohol, but it's way in the background and the percentage is 35%. I honestly don't see why I should use this when instead I could just use a rich-honey syrup. Let me introduce Krupnik. It is not as syrupy. It is a little smoother and the honey is tempered by a combination of gentle spices. There is an aromatic floral-flavor that enhances the honey-base delightfully. It's smoother and it is also stronger at 40%. Unfortunately, I didn't get to use this for the cocktail, but I am interested in trying it next time. One final note - Krupnik usually runs 5-10 bucks cheaper.
Back to the drink. I'm not a huge fan of the drink. It is rather one-note. The honey dominates the drink while the Stroh and the Mt. Gay gets lost on the palate. It's not a bad drink - just an unexceptional one. I usually love Mr. Berry's originals, but this one I'm not sure I get. My personal rating: ** (2) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 7 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 3 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more [ Edited by: Destro100 2014-02-13 10:53 ] |
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Destro100
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Fri, Feb 14, 2014 7:36 AM
Drink 31: Gold Cup Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice Very agreeable drink. In the front you get a lot of sweetness. I'm not completely sure where the sweetness is coming from; it only takes a 1/4 ounce of simple syrup, and even the bum himself raised the quantity of rum to balance out the drink. Maybe it's from the almond extract? That brings me to my next point - the almond flavor is a bit lost. Instead, you get an intricate balance coming from the combination of Pernod and Maraschino. There is a fantastic bitter almond sensation that is wonderfully unique - and I don't think the almond extract is the cause. While many of the Beachcomber's recipes use Pernod in great ways, I found the combination with the Maraschino in this drink to be very interesting. I gave it a score of 3 - because while it is "good" the sweetness comes on a little too strong for my taste. Perhaps with a bit more tinkering, I could see elevating this drink to a 3.5 My personal rating: *** (3) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 8 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 3 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Wed, Feb 19, 2014 8:00 AM
Not quite peachy enough: Drink 32: Headhunter Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice I had high hopes for this drink. I always get excited when I see unusual ingredients listed, and in this case, the addition of papaya and peach sounded intriguing. Yet, after tasting, I come back to the question: Why so little peach (1/2 ounce)? My only guess it that it helps temper a strong papaya flavor that might otherwise overwhelm the drink. Unfortunately, I don't really taste either. The flavors blend together into an unidentifiable fruit punch that evokes a candy-sweet quality to the drink, but not a tropical, nor peachy fruitiness, which would personally be preferred. I admit. Goya juice products usually disappoint. I may need to try this drink again with fresh papaya juice. I do enjoy the Looza juices and find the peach juice more than adequate. I also question the use of a full ounce of 151. I love 151, but add too much and the distinctiveness of the other rums gets muddled in the mix. There aren't enough interesting, stand-out high notes to come back to this drink at a later point. My personal rating: *** (3) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 9 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 3 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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*Bamboozled*
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Wed, Feb 19, 2014 9:24 AM
Great thread -- keep up the good work Destro100! |
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Hurricane Hayward
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Thu, Feb 20, 2014 10:08 AM
I just checked the Grogalizer, and the Headhunter ratings are all over the map, from a 4 to a 10. It leaves some scratching their heads, like Destro100, and the rating evens out to a 7.3. I think this one does benefit from fresher, better ingredients. |
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Destro100
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Fri, Feb 21, 2014 12:45 PM
Drink 33: Planet of the Apes Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice I love banana. Why doesn't this drink taste like banana? I know; because the creme de banana only makes up 20% of the drink. How does that make sense? Coupled with the fact that you are adding a 1/2 ounce of 151, there is no way for the banana flavor to stand out. I didn't love this drink. It tasted too one-note, the orange and pineapple juices overwhelmed the drink with sweetness, the 151 overpowers the the rum and liqueur, and the name is way too creative. I hope I don't sound overwhelmingly negative; the drink tasted fine but my expectations were too high. My personal rating: ** (2) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 9 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 3 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Sun, Feb 23, 2014 9:44 AM
Drink 34: Hawaiian Room Ingredients I used: Fresh lemon juice This is an interesting cocktail more akin to a classic craft cocktail, rather than a tiki drink. The alcohol stands out in front, while the lemon and pineapple provide a refreshing citrus background. The applejack brings a bit of heat, and helps make the drink less one-dimensional. I definitely recommend using the 100-proof (bottled in bond) applejack; it works great in cocktails. All that being said, the cocktail is not all that memorable. There are plenty of other variations of this type of cocktail that need our attention. My personal rating: ** (2.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 9 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Mon, Feb 24, 2014 7:32 AM
Drink 35: Fogg Cutter Ingredients I used: Fresh orange juice I find it interesting that on paper this drink should make no sense: equal parts dark rum, light rum, brandy, and gin. This sounds ludicrous.I would expect someone with no experience making cocktails to try something like this at a Jamaican resort cocktail competition (here's looking at you Sandals - been there, done that - endless shame). Alas, it works. I don't know how, but it works. I suspect the almond extract is the savior. I think it does what the orgeat tries to do in the other Fog Cutter recipes. In the other recipes, the nuttiness of the orgeat is mostly lost; yet in this version, the strength of the almond extract manages to hit the back of the palate, as well as the swallow, with a great nutty-bitterness. Without it, all you get is a sweet-sour-strong mess of liquor that you find in the original Fog Cutter. However, the same weakness that you find in all the Fog Cutter recipes can be found here as well. Don't use quality liquor. Your ability to differentiate what you're drinking is hopeless. All you will know for sure is that you are drinking something quite strong and inoffensive. I opted to switch from the Warwick Gin I've been using in the other Fog Cutters for Brokers London Dry instead. For those that aren't familiar with Brokers, it is a fantastic budget ($17-$20) London dry style that works nicely in most classic cocktails. Highly recommended - Nice juniper and lemon peel flavors that won't overwhelm any drink; instead it compliments flavors nicely. Final notes - for some reason I kept thinking that adding carbonation to this drink would work well. It would create a unique tiki-soda flavor profile that could enhance the drink. Someday perhaps. I was torn - is this a 3 or a 3.5? I think I will leave it at a 3 because I can't hold my head up high and use four different base spirits in one drink and be entirely proud of the results. A man must have some standards to live by. My personal rating: *** (3) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Tue, Feb 25, 2014 7:11 AM
Drink 36: Hell in the Pacific Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice 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: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Sunny&Rummy
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Tue, Feb 25, 2014 8:50 AM
Bif fan of Hell in the Pacific here too! Keep the great reviews coming! |
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Destro100
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Wed, Feb 26, 2014 7:40 AM
Drink 37: Noa Noa Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice This reminds me of the way an "Old Fashioned" serves as a vehicle for highlighting whiskey; this drink highlights rum. But it does more than that. It is also delightfully refreshing. Obviously, the addition of mint makes this reminiscent of a mojito, but the style of rum and Demerara syrup alter the flavor sufficiently to make this its own drink. I realize this is a riff on a Caribbean drink and I'm not really sure how it has been changed; it's not a very complicated drink. It is enjoyable without being exceptional. It's perfect as a backyard summer drink and exploring different Demerara rums. It won't change your world but can make your day a bit brighter My personal rating: *** (3) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more [ Edited by: destro100 2014-02-26 12:15 ] |
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Destro100
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Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:16 AM
Drink 38: Chief Lapu Lapu Ingredients I used: Fresh orange juice What a fantastic surprise. Surely a case where simplicity trumps complexity. If you get the right oranges, the right lemons, decent (or better) liquor, the correct dilution, and perhaps most importantly - the right passion fruit syrup - you have a rare gem on your hands. It has the quintessential tiki-passionfruit flavor that so many drinks aspire to capture but fall short due to less than perfect ratios or ingredient combinations. While it's true that I didn't use passion fruit syrup derived from "fresh" ingredients, I love working with the fruit concentrate because I can really control the sweetness, tartness, and concentration. In this case, I tend to leave my syrup extra tart. I actually use 2 parts concentrate to 1 part sugar to 1/2 part water. This creates the combination I like and I can also easily adjust from there as needed. This combination allows the tartness and distinct passion fruit flavor to distinguish itself without being confused for sweetness. If more sweetness is needed, it is easy enough to add a bit of simple syrup. The fruit flavors are in perfect harmony, yet I'm sure that others may want to reduce the lemon (I don't), The rums compliment each other delightfully, and the dilution keeps the drink tasting great to the last sip. I can't wait to try this with some higher-end rum to see if the drink gets even better. I'm giving this a rare 4.5 rating based on getting everything right - including the setting you enjoy this in. Otherwise, it's just a measly 4. My personal rating: ****1/2 (4.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 6 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:40 AM
Drink 39: Krakatoa Ingredients I used: Fresh orange juice I live for tiki recipes that include more than seven ingredients. That's what makes tiki mixology so much fun. True, many of them don't live up their promise, but this one does. It's complex, unique, delicious, and intoxicating. I'm a huge fan of the Mai Kai's coffee-based drinks (Mutiny and Black Magic), and I really appreciate what the bum has created here. This is his take on the style and it works wonderfully. It's also pretty unique in its own way. The combination of juices gives this drink a nice foil to work with against the deep earthy bitterness of the coffee and the Angustura. The combination of rum is interesting and staying away from the Jamaican pot-still funk helps differentiate this drink from other tiki drinks that are too reliant on the jamiacan rum flavor profile as a backbone to their drinks. I'm not completely sure how the Falernum is working here as it seems there are too many other things going on, but perhaps if I used a homemade more-intense version it would come through more boldly. This is a great drink for tiki aficionados. I don't think I would serve it to newbies; it might be too complex to appeal to the untrained-tiki-taster. My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 7 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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happy buddha
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Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:04 AM
Nice review. Love the Krakatoa! One of my favorites of the Bum's own |
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Kill Devil
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Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:57 AM
Regarding your homemade passion fruit syrup: how do you mix the Goya, sugar and water? do you heat them, and if so, until boiling? Thanks in advance. Also thanks for reminding me to make myself a Chief Lapu Lapu! |
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Destro100
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Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:14 AM
HI Kill Devil, I start by putting all 14 ounces of passion fruit pulp in a pan/pot turning the heat on low. As it melts, I slowly add up to seven ounces of sugar. I stir till it is well incorporated and add an additional 3 ounces of water. If I'm not feeling too lazy, I might grate a very small amount of lemon or lime peel into the syrup. The syrup doesn't necessarily have to boil, but once the ingredients are sufficiently incorporated, I let the syrup stand to cool. If I used lemon/lime peel, I strain the syrup. I bottle with a 1/2 ounce of Wray and Nephew to extend the life. I used to worry about the rum changing the flavor of the syrup, but I found that after a day the rum lays back quite a bit and the passion fruit flavor remains bold. Anyhow, that's how I do it. I would gladly accept any suggestions for improvement. |
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AdOrAdam
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Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:26 PM
I was inspired so I made a Krakota :) Before I added the coffee I found it a bit sweet, after I added the coffee I found it a bit overpowering at first (my float was a bit more of a 'dump'), the cold coffee edge in a new taste I've not experienced in a cocktail (coffee liqueur yes, cold coffee no!). I added a little honey mix & bam it came round to my tastes. I hope to have a little coffee tiki cocktail voyage of discovery for a few weeks - so far I rate the Mr Bali Hai highly, it's a bit simpler to make too. Also regarding passionfruit syrup: if I am making a drink that is passionfruit syrup heavy (is more than 1 shot, like a Hurricane) I use passionfruit juice & sugar syrup (in a ration of 3:1 or 2:1) to get the same effect. Or I just put half a passionfruit in if it's shaken (I dont mind the seeds). Anyone else do either of these? 2 questions for you Mr Destro100: Are you revisiting some of the drinks as you go? Do you have any addition tips to share? What order are you doing the drinks in? Cheers! Adam |
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hiltiki
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Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:15 PM
Destro, you made Krakatoa sound so delicious I had to make one this evening. I liked it and I liked how complex the flavor was. The coffee flavor was a great addition. I have never had any tiki drinks with coffee in it so this was my first. Also, this was one of largest cocktails I ever had, WOW! I might try some of Mai kai's coffee drinks next. |
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hang10tiki
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Sat, Mar 1, 2014 9:33 PM
Destro100- this is great, keep up the RUM Jon |
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Hurricane Hayward
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Mon, Mar 3, 2014 12:06 AM
So glad to see the high ratings for Chief Lapu Lapu and Krakatoa. These remain two of my favorites from the Grog Log. I rated them similarly way back in the day and feared that I may have been overly exuberant, but this confirms that they do hold up. I actually suggested to the Bum that he find a way to put the Krakatoa on the menu of his new establishment. I think it's an underrated gem from his books. I'd put it right up there with the Mutiny and Black Magic. I have a feeling he'll offer at least one large coffee/snifter drink of some sort. It's just a matter of which one(s). |
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Destro100
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Mon, Mar 3, 2014 7:11 AM
Hey Folks, Thanks again for the encouragement and interest. It's always nice to know that some folks are enjoying the journey with me. AdorAdam - You had two good questions I will definitely revisit some of these when I have company, but at this point, the task is still pretty intimidatingly large so I'm trying to plow forward and enjoy each drink on its own. You also mention that sometimes you appreciate a drink more the second time. This is true, but there are so many factors that contribute to the experience including: accompanying food, quality of the ingredients, time of day, time of week, time of year, previous drinks enjoyed, setting and especially company. This is why I don't claim to make any definitive ratings; not even for myself. These reviews simply capture a moment of time and allow me to safely assume within a range of a point (including halves), how much I generally enjoy each drink. Regarding the order of drinks Hiltiki - Glad you enjoyed the Krakatoa. You must try the Mai Kai drinks. They are just as unique and delicious in their own way Hurricane - You are damn right! There better be a coffee-based drink on his menu. As a matter of fact, I would love to see a Beachbum book of just original drinks. Do you think he has ever considered this? |
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Hurricane Hayward
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Tue, Mar 4, 2014 1:21 AM
A book of original Bum drinks would be sweet, but I'm assuming the bar will be the focus of his attention for a while. But my guess is that his best recipes have yet to be published. Martin Cate has a book coming out in the fall, so at least we have that to look forward to.
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Destro100
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Tue, Mar 4, 2014 7:38 AM
Drink 40: La Florida Cocktail Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice This is a beautiful drink; both in terms of flavor and appearance. It has all the elements of a classic cocktail including balance, and quality of ingredients. At the same time it also has a unique flavor profile that is produced by an interesting combination of ingredients. I have never seen a lime-vermouth-cacao-rum combo before. But it works. It really works. I went with Carpano Antica as my italian vermouth. It has an unforgettably bold and luxurious flavor. The company has recently started selling Carpano in the U.S. in 375 ml bottles and at that size, it has become an indispensable part to my liquor collection. That being said, I find that I have to be careful with Carpano as it can easily dominate a drink, but in this case, combined with so many other competing flavors, the Carpano manages to shine through with its sweet cherry and herbal tartness without diminishing the other flavors in the drink. I find it to be in perfect harmony with the creme de cacao (an ingenious addition to the drink itself) and the touch of grenadine for tartness. The use of a whole ounce of lime makes this drink fall into the sour category of classic cocktails, but I think the drink would still work fine if it was dialed back to 3/4 of an ounce. I personally love sours and would not change it. This is a great drink for entertaining, personal meditation, relaxation, and surprising your guests. It tastes great and looks lovely. I'm not sure why the reviews on the Grogalizer tend to vary widely. This drink was a winner for me all the way. My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 8 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more [ Edited by: Destro100 2014-03-04 07:41 ] |
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Hurricane Hayward
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Tue, Mar 4, 2014 12:24 PM
After reading the chapter on Constante in "Potions," this one is definitely on my list to revisit. I'm guilty of giving it a low Grogalizer rating when I first ran across it in "Grog Log," but it's likely at that point I was using less-than-stellar ingredients. FYI, the recipe in "Potions" calls for white Cuban rum, of course. I may have to trot out my rapidly declining bottle of Havana Club 3. The Bum also recommends Bacardi 1909, Cana Brava, Plantation 3 or Doorly's 3. One interesting sidebar that fascinated me: "Constante always hand-squeezed his limes. He wanted the essential oil from the peel to inform the drink. When using a metal squeezer, the oil largely ends up in the metal." It's amazing he stuck to that rule at such a high-volume bar as La Florida for as along as he did. Legend has it that when he died in 1952, he had squeezed 80 million limes and made 10 million daiquiris. |
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Destro100
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Wed, Mar 5, 2014 11:00 AM
Drink 41: Tortuga Ingredients I used: Fresh orange juice A very unique tiki drink. Tasting this right after the La Florida cocktail makes it completely apparent what Trader Vic has done. As the "Bum" points out, Vic took a craft cocktail classic and completely tiki-fied it. I love the original and I'm not quite sure if this is an improvement. It's fantastic, but so is the original. The challenge here is selecting the right ingredients. I think most italian vermouths might overpower the drink; especially as this drink calls for one whole ounce of vermouth. Despite the well-known strength of Carpano Antica, I found that it balances beautifully with chocolate (from the creme de Cacao) and much of my fear was quickly dispelled. The drink maintains the uniqueness of its ancestor while bringing a broader flavor and fruitier background. This is a great drink, but like the Krakatoa, it might be too complex for the tiki novice. I would save this for those with well-versed tiki palates or cocktail experts. My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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hiltiki
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Wed, Mar 5, 2014 7:19 PM
Destro, I finally got to make your almost perfect Chief Lapu Lapu. I agree with you again, fantastic drink. I used Coruba and Cruzan light, and for fresh orange juice I used tangerine juice ( I have a tangerine tree). Loved it, thanks for all the research. I had made this drink in the past but had used the recipe from Grog Log which called for Sweet and sour mix instead of lemon juice and didn't care for it as much. But this one was so good. |
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Destro100
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Thu, Mar 6, 2014 7:31 AM
Thanks for the update Hiltiki! |
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Destro100
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Thu, Mar 6, 2014 7:36 AM
Drink 42: The Hurricane Ingredients I used: Fresh lemon juice How do you review a classic? It was pretty difficult to be objective. At first I thought that the ingredients were pretty simple and straight-forward; I decided to layer the drink by using a combination of Jamaican rums. I went with 2 oz of Appleton and 1 oz each of Coruba and Smith & Cross. For those that haven't had the pleasure, I highly recommend keeping a bottle of Smith & Cross around. It is an awesome Jamaican rum. Quite powerful and possibly overwhelming on its own (57 proof) but when used in a cocktail or with other rums - it's quite simply magical: It has a beautifully sweet brown sugar and tropical fruit aroma. The taste has that distinctive pot-still funk that lets you know you're drinking a real Jamaican rum - nothing tastes quite like it. Back to the drink. At first I wasn't all that impressed. It's not that it was too simple; it just didn't wow me. First issue, this is a strong libation: 4 oz. of rum! You really need to wait for the ice to dilute a short while to uncover the true taste of the drink. Once diluted, the strength is no longer a problem. Next issue, I love sour drinks, but I didn't think the sourness was balanced enough; the 2 oz of lemon seemed too tart, and the passionfruit only added to the tartness. It needed a touch of sweetness. Of course I've had numerous Hurricanes in the past, but I'm pretty sure they were bastardized versions; yet one thing stood out about them - I did miss that grenadine taste that the imitations often utilized. I added a quarter ounce of grenadine. Now the drink came together. It was refreshing and tropical. The rum sent me swimming, and I clearly understood how this drink makes sense when served as a pre-made pitcher concoction that would be ideal for company. I don't know if I need to repeat the drink for myself, but I will definitely be sharing it with others on our deck next summer. My personal rating: ***1/2 (3.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Fri, Mar 7, 2014 10:11 AM
Not Awesome. Drink 43: Rum Runner Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice How do you review a spring break classic? I know people really like this drink but it is most definitely not for me.
My personal rating: ** (2) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Hurricane Hayward
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Sat, Mar 8, 2014 12:48 AM
Destro100, your assessment of Smith & Cross is spot-on. It should be considered an essential rum in any Tiki mixologist's arsenal. I'll have to try your suggested rums in a Hurricane. I'm a bit biased, but I'll take any dark Jamaican rum combo in that classic. FYI, this year's Tales of the Cocktail official cocktail competition is called "Taming the Hurricane," a challenge to bartenders to "pay homage to this classic cocktail with their own creations." The all-star lineup of judges will be Jeff Berry, Ian Burrell and Wayne Curtis. It will be interesting to see what the competitors come up with. More info here: |
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heylownine
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Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:52 AM
With regards to the Hurricane - my favorite version by a long shot is Little fragrant Tiare's take on it, which she dubbed Funky Hurricane. http://www.amountainofcrushedice.com/?p=11911 Smith & Cross lovers: unite! kevin |
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Destro100
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Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:02 AM
Drink 44: Lani-Honi Ingredients I used: Fresh lemon juice This was an interesting drink. At first, I was quite confused. What type of drink is this? It seems to be based upon a classic craft cocktail template, yet turned on its head. First, the proportions are wrong. In a typical classic cocktail, the base spirit dominates the drink, and the sour and sweet components are found in smaller quantities. It usually looks something like 4-2-1 or 3-1-1. In this drink, the Benedictine (a bit of sweet and sour/bitter) is 50% greater in quanitity than the strong (rum) component. Strange. Next, this has too much crushed ice to be a classic cocktail. It would typically be served shaken and strained into a cocktail coup. But - I think it works. I really enjoyed it. Perhaps because Benedictine is not overly sweet, and no other sweetener is added, the drink maintains balance. It tastes like a lemon cough drop. In a good way. The lemon flavor is forward and pleasantly rounded out by the herbal and almost honey-like qualities of the Benedictine. If you're expecting a tiki drink, or for that matter even a tropical drink, you might be disappointed. This drink has a sophisticated flavor that is refreshing, herbaceous, lemony, and very novel. This is a nice dinner-party/cocktail-party style of drink. I was disappointed to see all the low ratings on the Grogalizer. In comparison to other tiki drinks, this is so different that expectations were probably off. Then again, perhaps folks just have different tastes than mine. Either way, you've been warned - not everyone enjoyed this drink as much as I did. My personal rating: ***1/2 (3.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 12 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more |
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Kill Devil
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Tue, Mar 11, 2014 8:38 AM
I think the Rum Runner can be improved substantially by subbing LH151 for the Bacardi, and using some real banana instead of the creme de banana (you're blending it anyway right?). Blackberry Brandy is an underutilized Tiki ingredient (it's not Tiki, but I suggest the Warsaw Cocktail is a good use of BB as well) |
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Hurricane Hayward
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Tue, Mar 11, 2014 12:38 PM
Ouch, I guess I'm one of those guys who slagged the Lani-Honi way back when. This is what I love about this thread. It's giving me guidance on which drinks I need to go back and revisit. Perhaps it was one of my first exposures to Benedictine that accounts for the low rating, but I've since grown to appreciate the liqueur (in smaller doses) so the Lani-Honi is not nearly as jarring as it probably once was. However, I don't think it's very well balanced and seems to be missing something ... perhaps another, darker rum and something else to add some sweetness and balance. So I'm still conservative in my rating, which has been adjusted on the Grogalier, bringing the drink's overall score up to a 6. That's the first of four that I've revisited that I've changed, but I've got four more on my list, including the Rum Runner, which I suspect I may actually rate lower. I'm not sure what I was thinking seven years ago, but perhaps I was in the midst of spring break revelry. I may compare the original against one with with Lemon Hart and fresh banana, as Kill Devil suggests. And heylownine: I'm sure you realize we're now eagerly awaiting the Smith & Cross podcast. |
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Destro100
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Wed, Mar 12, 2014 7:08 AM
Drink 45: Mariposa Fizz Ingredients I used: Fresh lemon juice The "Fizz" is a style of drink that dates back to early 20th century but really became famous with the New Orleans' Ramos Gin Fizz. The drink usually uses a combination of an egg white and carbonation to create a distinctive foamy top and a unique fizzy texture. Orange flower water is often added as an additional accent. I opted for Hayman's Old Tom Gin. This is a great example of the classic Old Tom Gin style that was popular pre-prohibition. It's a style of gin that showcases less of a juniper flavor up front and is also ever so-slightly sweetened. Hayman's is a very affordable version of an Old Gin, BUT if you can afford it, try Ransom Old Tom Gin. It's about $10 more than Hayman's but might be worth it. They actually age the gin for a short while, developing the smoothness and character of the flavor from the barrel. Make sure you shake this up as much as possible to achieve the right look and taste. My photo is a terrible example of what it should look like. I waited too long to snap a picture. My personal rating: ***1/2 (3.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 1 drink so far 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more [ Edited by: Destro100 2014-03-12 07:12 ] |
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Destro100
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Thu, Mar 13, 2014 7:33 AM
Drink 46: Royal Daiquiri Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice No question about it; this drink is beautiful. The color is ghostly, ethereal, elegant, and mysterious. The taste is not. This is sweet. Very sweet. Too sweet. I did not like this drink very much. This drink looks like a classic Aviation (classic, meaning = touch of creme de violette added) but the Aviation is sophisticated, well-balanced, and tasty. This drink fails to deliver on any promise its appearance makes to imbiber. To be fair, the Marie Brizard is probably the culprit. I usually enjoy their products very much, but in this case the underlying orange flavor of the parfait amor tasted artificial. There was a cloying unnatural sweetness reminiscent of bubblegum that carried all the way through to the final drink. In addition, I prefer my daiquiris with an additional 1/2 ounce of rum and double the lime. Perhaps if I had tried this way, the flavors might be better balanced. Either way, there are so many other brilliant daiquiris I would try first. I think this is another example of how each taster brings their own preferences to a drink. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this drink and I would never begrudge them their pleasure. What am I going to do with a whole bottle of parfait amor? My personal rating: *1/2 (1.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 1 drink so far 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more |
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arriano
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Thu, Mar 13, 2014 2:08 PM
Well, cocktaildb.com has 17 recipes to choose from. |
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Destro100
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Fri, Mar 14, 2014 7:18 AM
Drink 47: Aku Aku Lapu Ingredients I used: Fresh lemon juice My wife and I enjoyed this last night but quickly came to the conclusion that snuggling under covers while watching TV was not the best setting for the Aku Aku Lapu. This drink needs to be enjoyed on a very hot and sweaty day while sitting in the sun. Some drinks manage to transport you to a tropical setting and some drinks help ease the overlooked discomfort of the tropical setting (sweat / sand / sun / heat / lethargy). This drink clearly falls into the latter category. This would make the searing sun tolerable. This does not take me on a journey. About the drink; it's very citrusy. It utilizes four different fruit juices and they all vie for attention. They also make the drink a little too sour. I'm not sure why the creator didn't choose limes over lemons for their lower acidity. The citrus punch tends to overwhelm the falernum and that is a shame. I may have to try this with a more intense falernum or at least increase the ratio. The falernum instead blends with the spiciness of the Lemon Hart and provides the drink a spicy note, that unfortunately, I'm not convinced blends well with the citrus punch aspects of the drink. Finally, the quality and the distinctiveness of the rums used in this drink tend to get a little lost when used in equal proportions; especially when we are talking about using 151 as one of the rums. My personal rating: *** (3) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 1 drink so far 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 12 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Mon, Mar 17, 2014 1:37 PM
Drink 49: Kikuya Lapu Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice This simply shouldn't work. Twelve ingredients could not possibly combine to create this harmoniously marvelous concoction. It's a symphony of flavor that blends into one beautiful chorus. At the same time, this might be the most labor-intensive drink I've ever had to create. It was definitely worth it. The combination of six juices create a unique fruit punch flavor and owes much to the indespensible honey background notes to elevate the drink to another level. I'm not quite sure how the cranberry juice contributes to the overall flavor, but I don't feel very guilty using the Ocean-spray cranberry cocktail juice because at such a small percentage, the effect must be minimal. I always appreciate the Pernod and Angostura additions to a tiki drink.These additions were made famous by Donn the Beachcomber. They add a lovely bitter complexity with an anise background. In this drink the two flavors remain very subtle but do add to the whole. I'm also not sure how the almond extract contributes as I couldn't identify it in the finished product. The drink reminds me of a drink from the Mai Kai. Unfortunately, I can't put my finger on which one specifically. Perhaps someone else can help me identify it on their menu. If I had to criticize the drink, I'd point to the rum. It simply doesn't push through the drink and gets a bit lost. Even with the addition of a 151, I found the drink slightly weak. If you're looking for a strong rum drink, this may not be for you; especially not when you consider the additional dilution generated by a full glass of ice. I'm not sure how much rum to add or even what type as I definitely don't want to ruin the beautiful balance the drink achieves. I think I would probably try adding an additional 1/2 ounce of dark Jamaican and a 1/4 ounce of 151. This drink is the perfect secret weapon to wow the tiki neophyte. At the same time, you better have an extra free 10 minutes for each batch you put together. My personal rating: ****1/2 (4.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 2 drinks so far 4 - EXCELLENT - 9 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 12 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Tue, Mar 18, 2014 7:05 AM
Drink 49: Mai Tai Swizzle (Don the Beachcomber) Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice From what I can tell, Don the Beachcomber didn't often have to follow Trader Vic's lead, but when it comes to the notorious Mai Tai, Don apparently had to come up with some variation of his own. I for one am very glad that he did. But aside from the glass and unstrained delivery - this does not bear much resemblance to a Mai Tai. This also does not truly resemble a traditional swizzle. As far as I can tell, swizzles are usually served in tall glasses and incorporate "swizzling" in the glass to produce a nice rich and frosty glass. That being said, this drink is delicious. It's complicated, balanced, and tasty. I decided to use a combination of the Myers and Smith & Cross to substitute for Myer's Plantation, which I suppose is not being made any longer. The combination of the three rums really worked well together. Myer's brought the dark molasses flavor, Smith & Cross brought the funk, and Flor De Cana brought the sugar, smoothness and body to the drink. The combination of lime, grapefruit, Pernod, and Angostura create a wonderful harmonious bitter background that lets the drink stand apart. In general, Don's use of pernod has always impressed me for its originality in tiki drinks. A word of warning - be careful with the Pernod, it can easily overpower a drink. 6 drops are perfect. Finally, I liked the spice that the falernum brought to the drink and in the future I may increase the quantity. Overall, this is a great drink, but the real question is: Is it better than the original: The Mai Tai? My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 2 drinks so far 4 - EXCELLENT - 10 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 12 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more |
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Destro100
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Tue, Mar 25, 2014 7:23 AM
Drink 50: Mai Tai (Trader Vic) Ingredients I used: Fresh lime juice I made it to #50 and what a great place to be - The classic Mai Tai. This drink is nearly perfect for a few reasons.
My personal rating: ****1/2 (4.5) out of ***** (5) SCORECARD: 4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 3 drinks so far 4 - EXCELLENT - 10 drinks and counting 3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting 3 - GOOD - 12 drinks and counting 2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting 2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting 1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more |
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Oxybeles
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Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:32 AM
Wow! Not even the Trader Vic Mai Tai could earn a 5.0. You, sir, are indeed a hardcore tiki drink judge! :P Well, there may still might be hope for the Donn the Beachcomber 1934 Zombie, if your journey continues to Sippin' Safari... |
