The Chief Lapu Lapu is a classic 1950s Tiki Cocktail.  Chief Lapu Lapu was a Filipino chief from the 1500s that was one of the first to resist Spanish colonization.  There are many variations of this delicious drink. Here is one common one that I’ve found on the Internet that I really enjoy.

To start off combine the following into a cocktail shaker with some ice:

1.5 oz Dark Jamaican Rum

1.5 oz Light Puerto Rican Rum

2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

3 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

1 oz Simple Syrup

3/4 oz Passion Fruit Syrup

Shake well. I always like to shake mine until the outside of the shaker becomes cool to the touch and condensation starts to form.  By shaking the drink the ice melts a little and the recipe relies on that melting to dilute the strong flavors just a bit.

Pour the drink unstrained into a brandy snifter.   This drink is traditionally served in a brandy snifter, but if you don’t have one that’s all right. Any glass will do. Then, garnish with a lemon and/or orange peel. I just peel my lemon and orange with a regular vegetable peeler before I juice the fruit.  The peels add a great aroma and the oils in the peel add to the flavor. 

No Worry Substitutions

Don’t worry if you don’t have these exact ingredients.  You don’t need to have a Jamaican Dark Rum. Any dark rum will do. The same goes for the light rum.  I order my Passion Fruit syrup online, but if you don’t have any grenadine will do.  Now, will the drink taste exactly the same with these substitutions? Probably not, but I’m sure it will still taste good.  The whole point of Tiki is to have a great drink, and have some fun. Break away from the daily grind and feel like you are a million miles away somewhere warm and tropical. So, enjoy!