Welcome to letstiki.com. Your source for Tiki Bars, Tiki Drinks, and Tiki News.
A Captivating Shot of Islamorada Key
This amazing photo just makes me feel like I’m in a tropical paradise. This photo was taken by Jeep Novak! on Flickr
Pyrat Rum Review
Today, for Tiki Tuesday I thought I’d do something a little different and review a Rum. I picked up Pyrat Rum for the first time yesterday. It is from the makers of Patron Tequila. I bought a 750 ml bottle of the Pyrat Rum XO reserve at my local Sentry Grocery Store on sale for $18.99.
According to pyratrum.com, “Pyrat XO Reserve is a complex yet mellow blend of select Caribbean rums, aged up to 15 years in French Limousin and American sweet oak barrels.” I was immediately curious to see if it lived up to that description.
First, I tried Pyrat in a snifter. It has a nice light caramel color. The aroma is of spice and vanilla. There are also hints of orange almost like Grand Marnier. The taste was pretty good. It started with vanilla and spice. I definitely got a hint of cinnamon and orange. Then, it finished with a tiny bit of sharpness, and a pretty mild burn factor. It had a nice oaky aftertaste. It is a fairly sweet rum.
The second suggestion on the label was to try it on the rocks with a lime wedge. Chilling it definitely brought out the oak from the barrels, and hid a lot of the vanilla and spice. It almost tasted like a bourbon.
Overall, I enjoyed the Pyrat XO Reserve Rum. My preference will definitely be the snifter over chilled with a lime wedge. It is a really nice after dinner drink. Pyratrum.com also had more suggested recipes. I look forward to trying them out.
What do you think? Have you tried any of the Pyrat Rums? What way do you like to enjoy Pyrat rum?
What Drinks Can you Make? Ask The Grogalizer
It can be difficult to figure out what tiki drinks you can make with the ingredients that you have on hand. It always takes me a while to flip through the recipe books until I find one that I can make.
Grogalizer.com solves this problem by telling you what drinks you can make. Here is how it works. You create an account on grogalizer.com. When you set up your account you indicate what tiki recipe books you own. Then, select the Juices, Mixers, Liquors, and Liquers that you have in your home tiki bar. Next, click on the “The Drinks” tab to get a list of the drink that you can make.
The results tell you what book the recipe is in and what page it is on. Be sure to select, “only books that I own” from the drop down at the top of the page so that it only returns drinks that you have the recipe for. You can then rate the drinks, and comment on them.
Grogalizer.com is a great site to figure out what drinks you can make. The only drawback is that you have to own the books to get the recipes. However, a ton of time and work went in to producing those books so it is definitely worth spending a couple bucks and buying the books.
New Tiki Bar & Club in Brighton
Lola Lo is the newest Tiki Bar to hit the UK. They opened their doors in Brighton on July 1st. According to a recent Twitter post Lola Lo will be open this Friday at 5:00 PM and will be offering half price cocktails until 10:00 PM.
Their drink menu includes many of the Tiki standards such as the Mai Tai, Singapore Sling, Zombie, and Blue Lagoon. They also offer up some Tiki bowls including their, “Easter Island Surprise”, which sounds delicious. The full menu can be found on their website lolalobrighton.com. Also, on their website are pictures of Lola Lo’s. It looks like a nice mix of modern and classic Tiki. I sure hope to check this place out in person someday. If you get there I’d love to hear about it. Post a comment below or send me a message on Facebook or Twitter. Mahalo!
Chi Chi Drink Recipe
Happy Tiki Tuesday! Today I’m out on my patio. The flamingos and I are enjoying a Chi Chi. The Chi Chi is basically a Pina Colada with vodka instead of rum. It was invented by Don The Beachcomber. Chi Chi is pidgin English for “Breast Milk”.
Chi Chi Recipe
- 5 oz Unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1 oz Lopez Coconut Cream
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 cup of ice
Combine all the ingredients in a blender, and serve.
Variations
One variation is to add a dash or two of bitters for an interesting twist. Another is to add 1 oz Macadamia nut liqueur.
Enjoy your Chi Chi!
Lost Tiki: Chin’s Tiki Detroit
Chin’s Tiki was a Tiki themed supper club, night club, and banquet hall that opened in 1967 in Detroit, Michigan. Marvin Chin designed, built, and ran the restaurant. It was the first Polynesian themed restaurant to open in Detroit. Chin’s was very popular in the 1970s and early 1980s. Many celebrities paid a visit to Chin’s during its hey day.
Chin’s Tiki had two levels. The first floor had the super club with thatch covered booths. The second floor had a hall with a stage. There were no windows in the building making it feel like a real escape to somewhere tropical. Each floor had a large waterfall.
Chin’s Tiki closed its doors in 1980. In 2001 Universal filmed a scene for the movie 8 mile in the second floor banquet area. Universal cleaned up the second floor for the filming. This inspired Chin to try and reopen the restaurant. Sadly, Chin passed away April 26, 2006. Chin’s was demolished in March 2009 and the location is now a parking lot.
For more information and pictures take a look at these articles:
Jimmy Buffett Gulf Coast Concert Brought In Tourists
The Associated Press reports that thousands attended Jimmy Buffet’s free concert in Gulf Shores, AL. Parrot Heads from all over were at the concert singing along to their favorite Jimmy Buffett songs. Buffett reworked some of the words to his song When the Coast is Clear to send his own personal message.
Since the BP oil leak tourism has been severely effected in the gulf coast. Hotels, restaurants, and condos saw an increase in business due to the concert. Through a grant from BP additional concerts may be planned through the fall with other performers.
How to Make a Blue Hawaii
The Blue Hawaii is a great summer drink and is one of the easier Tiki drinks to make.
Ingredients
3/4 oz. light Rum
3/4 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Blue Curacao
3 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
Directions
Combine, all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. I like to shake my drinks until the outside of the shaker starts to get really cold, and almost frosty.
Pour unstrained into a hurricane glass.
Garnish with an orange.
Variations
I have friends who want a Tiki drink but aren’t rum fans. So I substitute the rum for additional vodka. You can also do the opposite and just use rum.
My Two Cents
Rum and pineapple juice always go well together, and the Blue Curacao along with the sweet and sour adds a nice citrus flavor. The Blue Curacao is what gives the Blue Hawaii that great blue color. Who doesn’t like a blue drink?
History
The Blue Hawaii was invented in 1957 by Harry Yee who was a bartender at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort. As the story goes Bols asked Yee to invent a drink that would use the newly released Blue Curacao Liqueur.
What do you think?
What do you think of the Blue Hawaii? What is your favorite Tiki Drink?
Top Ten Tiki Places
Wether you are trying to find Tiki near you or plan to hit up some Tiki spots on your next trip critiki.com is the place to go. At critiki.com you’ll find a comprehensive list of tiki locations. Here are the top 10 Tiki locations as rated by critiki.com users.
1. The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
The Field Museum has an extensive collection of pacific artifacts including a Maori Meeting House.
2. Oceanic Arts, Whittier, CA
Oceanic Arts has been a leading supplier of tropical decor since 1956. From your home Tiki bar to Theme Parks, and Movies Oceanic Arts is a popular supplier. They have been behind the decor of many great Tiki places around the world. Oceanic Arts is open to the public.
3. The Enchanted Tiki Room, Anaheim, CA
The Enchanted Tiki Room opened June, 23rd, 1963, and has been a favorite of many Disneyland visitors ever since.
4. Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco, CA
Since it’s opening in 2009. Smuggler’s Cove has quickly become a “must do” for all Tiki Bar fans. Smuggler’s cover has over 200 rums and more than 75 cocktails.
5. Mai-Kai, Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Mai-Kai is one of the longest running Tiki Bars. It opened December, 28th, 1956. The Mai-Kai invented the Mystery Drink, which was served by a silent dancer, and the Derby Daiquiri.
We are continuing the list of Top Ten Tiki Places as voted by the users of critiki.com. If you missed part one you can find it here. Grab your Mai Tai and enjoy!
6. Hala Kahiki, River Grove, IL
Hala Kahiki opened in 1966 and is a classic Tiki Bar in the suburbs.
7. Thatch, Portland, OR
Thatch Tiki Bar is a new tiki bar that opened in 2007. Some of its decor came from older Tiki bars that have closed.
8. Frankie’s Tiki Room, Las Vegas, NV
Frankie’s opened in 2008, and is open 24 hours a day. They have a great decor and a juke box filled with Surf and Exotica.
9. Trader Vic’s Atlanta
Trader Vic’s Atlanta is one of the only Trader Vic’s that hasn’t been renovated and still has its original charm.
10. Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, Alameda, CA
Forbidden Island is a newer Tiki bar but has the look and feel of a classic Tiki bar. It even has some artifacts from Tiki bars of yesterday.
Jimmy Buffett and Friends Live Sunday, July 11th
Jimmy Buffet and Friends Live from the Gulf Coast will air Sunday, July, 11 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The concert was rescheduled from July 1st after concerns over Hurricane Alex. The concert will be live on CMT, steamed from cmt.com, and broadcast on Margaritaville Radio on Sirius and XM satellite radio. More…
Follow us on Social Media 🙂
