Imagine an entire subculture of cocktails named Adam.
"What do you want to do tonight, honey?"
"Oh, maybe we can try that new Adam bar that just opened in SoHo! I hear they have the coolest Adam decor and mugs."
In a sense, that's what tiki is. The word is derived from Māori mythology about the first man—their equivalent to Adam in the Eden story.
Now, you might have heard rumors about the death of the tiki trend, but I believe those rumors are untrue. As Robert Simonson wrote for Punch last month, tiki is more than a passing fad, no matter how many tiki bars might have shuttered in the last couple of years. Simonson's argument, which I agree with, is that tiki has gone sort of mainstream. While, tiki bars continue to thrive in San Francisco, Portland, Chicago, and L.A., in other cities (NYC most notably), tiki is just another category of drink on the menu at many cocktail bars, alongside classic cocktails and modern creations.
Today we won't be chatting about dedicated tiki bars or kitschy faux-Polynesian decor and attire. Instead, I want to provide a brief history of tiki, talk about what sets tiki cocktails apart from other cocktails, and get you started stocking up your home tiki bar.
Tiki History
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Tiki started 80 years ago, with Don the Beachcomber (both the man and the restaurant) in Hollywood. The restaurant was the work of a man named Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, who later in life legally changed his name to Donn Beach. Gantt spent time as a young man in the Caribbean and South Pacific and came home with a head full of tropical notions and suitcases laden with souvenirs from his travels, including a collection of South Pacific artifacts that he loaned out to movie productions for props. Gantt devised the idea of making drinks from rum, flavored syrups, and fruit juices, and then pairing them with foods based loosely on Cantonese, Hawaiian, and Polynesian cuisines.
A few years after Don the Beachcomber opened, Victor Bergeron opened the first of his many Trader Vic's restaurants, in Oakland, California, after visiting Gantt's place. Bergeron and Gantt had very different career paths. Trader Vic had tuberculosis in the knee as a child; as a result, his leg was amputated when he was six. Later in life, he told all sorts of tall tales about losing his leg in heroic endeavors in exotic locales.
Don the Beachcomber, on the other hand, was able of body, and when World War II started, he went off to Europe, where he used his restaurant experience to run rest-and-recreation centers for servicemen. While he was away, his wife expanded his empire to 16 locations of Don the Beachcomber. They later divorced, though, and his ex-wife retained control of the company and, in the United States, control of the Don the Beachcomber name. Beach took the concept to Hawaii in the 1940s, prior to its statehood, where he could legally open his own Don the Beachcomber bar. Beach remained in Hawaii until he died in 1989.
Bergeron spent the war years franchising the Trader Vic's name, starting with a Seattle franchise in 1940. Eventually, the Trader Vic's line grew to 25 tiki bars around the world. At his death in 1984, the Trader Vic's empire was a multimillion-dollar business.
Don the Beachcomber's restaurant was popular with Hollywood celebrities in the late 1930s and 1940s, and his success was eventually copied by many other restaurateurs, not just Victor Bergeron. Tiki was huge in the 1950s, as servicemen returning from the South Pacific brought back tales of their travels. The post-war economy was booming, and some families had the budget for travel to tropical destinations—or at least feel that exotic vacations were within reach. The musical South Pacific was a hit on Broadway and then later at the movies. Hawaii joined the U.S. in 1959, and shortly after, Elvis Presley starred in Blue Hawaii.
Americans developed a romanticized obsession with the tropics, and tiki bars helped them to get their fix at home.
Decline and Revival
Tiki began to fall away in the 1960s and '70s. It's unclear why, exactly, but maybe it was just the passing of a fad, maybe folks go tired of it all. The Swingers era of the 1990s helped to revive the style—the funny mugs, the coconuts, the ersatz palm trees, the bright clothing, and even the Exotica style of music—but it's not clear that the drinks of those days were very good.
The revival in tiki cocktails, as a form to treat with respect (as opposed to Mai Tai mixes and bottled Hurricanes) arose in the Naughts, as the craft-cocktail scene began to emerge. The man who led the way was Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, perhaps the world's biggest tiki fan. He's written several books on tiki, and he's planning to open his own tiki bar later this year. Berry wore out dozens of pairs of shoes, talking to bartenders from Don the Beachcomber and the original Trader Vic's locations, prying from them recipes and formulas long thought forever lost. Berry consults on cocktail menus, leads talks and seminars on tiki history, and has a tiki wardrobe you can't believe.
The kitsch of tiki might come and go, or it might remain popular in some cities and wane in others, but I think the fundamentals of great tiki cocktails are here to stay.
Tiki Fundamentals
You want to make great tiki drinks? First, start with rum. Not every tiki drink is rum-based; you'll find recipes that call for gin, Scotch and other whiskies, pisco and other brandies, and tequila, just to name a few. But tiki is inspired by the tropics, and rum's the winner in the tropics, so start with rum. You can always branch out to other base spirits later.
Donn Beach stocked nearly 140 different rums at Don the Beachcomber. You won't need that many, but if you're serious about this, you should have probably three:
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- One should be either a rich Demerara-style rum from Guyana, or a funky rhum agricole from Martinique.
- Also choose a rich Jamaican rum.
- Finally, I'd suggest a crisp rum in a Cuban/Puerto Rican style. For this, pick up something like Brugal White, from the Dominican Republic, or Old New Orleans Crystal, from Louisiana.
Second, you need fresh juice. Trader Vic insisted on it, and so should you. For a dark time mid-century, tiki bartenders were the only booze-mongers who bothered working with fresh ingredients. They helped keep alive a tradition started by pre-Prohibition bartenders, one that was mostly forgotten until the classic-cocktail revival of the past 12 or so years.
A third fundamental of tiki drinks is layered flavor. Donn and Vic would both start devising new drinks by finding the perfect blend of two or more rums, and then slowly add nuance with fruit juices, liqueurs, bitters, and other ingredients.
Fourth, you want spice or other flavor accents. Syrups and liqueurs flavored with spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, almond, and pomegranate are crucial in many tiki drinks for providing the layered flavor I mentioned just a minute ago.
How to Stock a Home Tiki Bar
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My approach to stocking a home bar is not to go to the liquor store and spend your entire paycheck on one of everything. Instead, start by choosing a drink or two that you want to explore—a Sidecar, perhaps, or a Manhattan. You get everything you need for that drink, and then you build the bar out from there.
I think I know the perfect tiki drink to use for this approach: the Mai Tai. Trader Vic's Mai Tai called for a 17-year-old rum from J. Wray & Nephew, which is no longer available. "The flavor of this great rum," Vic intoned, "wasn't meant to be overpowered with heavy additions of fruit juices and flavorings." A well-made Mai Tai highlights the flavors of the base spirit, complementing them and pushing them to the fore, in the same way the sugar and bitters pushes the whiskey in an Old Fashioned front and center.
To approximate the rich, complex flavors of the long-gone Wray & Nephew, modern tikiphiles use a blend of rums, usually two. The tiki writer Jeff "Beachbum" Berry suggests Rhum Clément VSOP Martinique rum and Appleton Estate Extra 12-year-old dark Jamaican rum. Rum-fiend Matt "Rumdood" Robold even went so far as to taste his way through a month of Mai Tais (poor fellow) before picking his favorite blend, which—SPOILER ALERT—also happens to be Clément and Appleton Extra 12.
Now, as it happens, I mentioned earlier that for a well-stocked tiki bar, you should have a Demarara rum or an agricole, and a Jamaican rum, in addition to a crisp Puerto Rican rum, and if you're still paying attention, you'll see that the Berry/Robold recipe calls for the agricole and the Jamaican, so if you get those you're off to a great start.
What else do you need for the Mai Tai, aside from the rums?
First you'll need a couple of things you probably already have, or that you can grab easily: limes and simple syrup. For the syrup, I'd mix up some rich Demerara sugar with water (1:1 ratio) in a saucepan over low heat. Stir to dissolve and let it cool before using.
Then you'll just need a couple of things you might not normally have around: orgeat syrup and curaçao. The first requires some explanation. Orgeat is an almond-based syrup from France. You can make it yourself or order it online. If you're serious about tiki, you'll appreciate either the time you spend making it or the money you spend buying it, because orgeat is a classic ingredient in a number of tiki cocktails. ("Beachbum" Berry's Tiki+ app, for iOS, contains 28 recipes that call for orgeat, including such classics as the Fog Cutter, the Cocoanut Grove Cooler, the Royal Hawaiian, and the infamous Scorpion Bowl.)
So consider orgeat a staple of the well-stocked tiki bar, in the same way you'd consider canned tomatoes or dried beans the staple of a well-stocked pantry. Get it or make it, because you'll need it.
Next, the curaçao. Get something good here; don't get junk. And for the love of Lono, the tiki god of fertility and peace, don't even think of buying anything that's blue.
I suggest Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, but Cointreau will also do. Rumdood Robold likes Clément Créole Shrubb. (The Clément Créole Shrubb is made with Clément's rhum agricole, so it has a healthy hint of funk that you won't find in most curaçao.) For the sake of stocking a versatile bar, I'd start with the curaçao, because you can use it a variety of drinks—Sidecars, Margaritas, and other sours—in addition to the Mai Tai. But then if you want to grab a bottle of Shrubb and try it in this, to see how you like it compared to the curaçao, that could be a fun experiment.
Next Steps
So what do you do next? I have a few suggestions.
- Check out Jeff Berry's books: Beachbum Berry Remixed is a good place to start. He also has a new title, Beachbum Berry's Potions of the Caribbean.
- If you're on iOS, try the Tiki+ app I mentioned earlier; it's handy to have cocktail recipes right there on your phone.
- Go shopping! The recipes in either the books or the app will point you toward other rums and ingredients you might not already have. Have fun with those.
FAQs
What alcohol is best for Tiki drinks? ›
You want to make great tiki drinks? First, start with rum. Not every tiki drink is rum-based; you'll find recipes that call for gin, Scotch and other whiskies, pisco and other brandies, and tequila, just to name a few. But tiki is inspired by the tropics, and rum's the winner in the tropics, so start with rum.
What are the most common tiki ingredients? ›So there you have it – Angostura bitters, Falernum, a dropper vial of Pernod, grenadine, sugar and honey are the primary must-have ingredients. As for the remaining ingredients, you can acquire them as needed.
What makes a tiki drink a tiki drink? ›A tiki drink is a category of cocktails that are often made with rum and are usually colorful, fruity, and lavishly garnished.
What is the origin of tiki? ›Originating from the Marquesas Islands, Tikis are also present in most islands of the polynesian triangle. The most famous are probably the “Moai”, the monumental statues of Easter Island. Half-man, half-god, the Tiki symbolizes a mythical character who created human beings. Polynesians used to worship and fear it.
Why do tiki drinks use crushed ice? ›Also called “nugget ice,” the chunks are a fair bit bigger than the really finely-crushed ice used to make snow cones and fluffy “shaved-ice” drinks. And, since they're bigger, the pebbles melt relatively slowly, which is perfect for keeping a long, tall and juicy tiki drink from becoming a big slushy mess.
Is Captain Morgan tiki rum? ›Captain Morgan Tiki Mango & Pineapple is inspired by the flavours of the tropics. It is made with iconic Captain Morgan rums and natural pineapple and mango flavours. The flavours of ripe pineapple hits you first, then the smooth & juicy mango arrives for a double fruity finishing flourish.
What every tiki bar needs? ›“You only need three types to have a pretty solid foundation to work with,” he says. “One bottle of Jamaican rum, one of overproof rum, and one of rhum agricole. This should offer a ton of variation and allow you to build cocktails from a simple daiquiri to a 151 Swizzle or Navy Grog.”
Why are tiki drinks so strong? ›A tiki drink typically contains several different types of rum, as well as fruit juices and syrups, giving it a sweet and strong flavor.
What are the elements of tiki? ›Sprigs of mint, skewers of pineapple and cherry are the basics but a Vanda orchid, banana leaf wrapped glass, Potted Parrot and a Menehune Man are so much more tiki. Faux-Polynesian food with a mix of Chinese, French and American dishes cooked in Chinese wood-fired ovens.
Is tiki a Polynesian or Hawaiian? ›Tikis can be traced back to ancient Polynesian culture, which explains their influence on the Hawaiian mainland. According to Maori customs and traditions, Tiki represents the first human being on earth. Parallelly, tiki also refers to stone or wooden carvings in humanoid form.
What does a pineapple tiki mean? ›
It is most commonly defined as "power" but it also means dignity, serenity. It sometimes means bravery and often implies humor and pride. But there is no evil, no cruelty in Mana. * This is a beautiful piece of art! These Tikis were carved with great attention to details.
Is a pina colada tiki? ›But the pina colada is not a tiki drink. It did not originate in the fevered island fantasia of an erstwhile Texan or through the relentless cocktail experimentation of a savvy bar mogul.
What does a Tiki symbolize? ›They are intended to represent deities or ancestors, each of whom has a different history and powers. Among the most often represented deities are: Tiki Kane, the almighty god who created the earth and the universe. Tiki Ku as God of War.
What are the 4 Tiki gods? ›The four major Hawaiian Tiki Gods are Ku the God of War, Lono the God of Fertility and Peace, Kane the God of Light and Life, and Kanaloa the God of the Sea. Ancient followers worshiped these Gods through prayer, chanting, surfing, lava sledding and even human sacrifice.
What are Tiki people called? ›...
| Tiki culture | |
|---|---|
| A typical "Tiki" mug | |
| Location | United States |
Sphere-shaped ice is meant to lessen dilution. A sphere exposes less surface area for the same amount of volume as a cube of ice. Shave off a few corners, and you've got less surface area, which means the ice will melt more slowly and stave off dilution.
Why is nugget ice so good? ›Nugget ice blends faster because it's soft and less dense and in turn, causes less wear and tear on your blender. That's why the nugget ice form is ideal for the smoothest smoothies and nutrient-packed acai bowls. The Food Network has a great list of smoothie recipes and acai bowls to get the creative juices flowing.
What size ice is best for shaking cocktails? ›One-inch cubes are just the right size for shaking. Though we often don't think of it in these terms, ice is one of the main ingredients in every cocktail, and if we care about the quality and format of our spirits and juices and so on, we ought to care about the quality of ice.
What is the best way to drink Captain Morgan Tiki? ›You'll experience tropical tiki flavours led by ripe pineapple and juicy mango and a sweet smooth rum with a clean finish and a fruity aftertaste. Best served in a glass with lemonade & ice.
What mixer goes with tiki rum? ›The serving suggestion for this tasty new tipple is to mix it with lemonade and serve over ice.
What rum does Jack Sparrow drink? ›
Black Pearl Rum
Sparrow's obsession with his beloved ship, the Black Pearl, is one of his defining traits. So, it's no surprise that he'd reach for a rum that reminds him of his vessel. Black Pearl is an American silver rum made from molasses sourced in New Orleans.
One of the most traditional and most reliable tiki roofs is the palm thatch roofs. The tiki hut roof is typically built using a solid wood frame and covered with only the very best in high quality hand selected palm fronds that are freshly cut.
How do you winterize a tiki bar? ›Your tiki bar should be covered in the winter with a tarp and some nylon rope as pictured on the website. If you have purchased a tiki cabana, cover only the thatched roof with a 10 x 10 tarp “ with grommets”. Run a few bungee cord through the lower side of the roof to connect some of the grommets and you are all set.
How long do tiki bars last? ›When using high-quality materials, a skilled thatcher, and giving proper maintenance, the lifetime of a tiki thatched roof is between 7 to 10 years! That is the estimated time to rethatch your poolside tiki huts, tiki bars & tiki umbrellas in your resort.
How much caffeine is in a tiki? ›Tiki Breeze Clear Power Shots contain 200 mg of caffeine per 2 ounce serving. For further questions, please see our our disclaimer in the footer.
What is the difference between tropical and tiki cocktails? ›“Tropical drinks are refreshing, light and crisp on the palate with fresh, fruity notes,” he says. “Tiki, on the other hand, focuses more on robust flavors and rich textures.” In a tropical bar, you won't find over-the-top glassware and garnishes of the Polynesian Tiki style.
Are Tiki drinks Hawaiian? ›Tiki drinks may have been inspired by Hawaii and other “exotic” places, but they actually originated in the imagination of one man in Los Angeles: Donn Beach. It was Beach, an erstwhile bootlegger shut out of his restaurants on the U.S. mainland, who brought tiki to Hawaii.
What are the different styles of tiki? ›These are split into four categories. Exotica, Pre-Tiki, Nautical and Mid-Century Pop. EXOTICA – Explorers, Headhunters, voodoo, African and Asian souvenirs. PRE-TIKI – Hawaiiana, South Sea movies, Hula girls, Luau imagery, Palm trees, rattan, and tapa.
Who was the father of tiki culture? ›Donn Beach (born Ernest Raymond Gantt; February 22, 1907 – June 7, 1989) was an American adventurer, businessman, and World War II veteran who was the "founding father" of tiki culture.
What colors are Tikis? ›Tiki Colors
Retro turquoise, ruby red, mustard yellow and myrtle green are all good candidates for a midcentury tiki theme.
Is there a female tiki? ›
At Mangaia, Tiki is a woman, the sister of Veetini, the first person to die a natural death. The entrance to Avaiki (the underworld) is called 'the chasm of Tiki'.
What does a smiling Tiki mean? ›Traditional polynesian tiki's all have different meanings in their faces. If the eyes are looking up the tiki will offer protection. The eyes looking down brings good luck. The mouth of the tiki can be smiling to show happiness or open to bring peace.
What does Hala Kahiki mean? ›In Hawaiian, a pineapple is called “hala kahiki”.
This is because the Hawaiians thought the pineapple resembled the “Hala” fruit. “Kahiki” means foreign, hence pineapples became “foreign Hala's in Hawaiʻi.
(initial capital letter) (in Polynesian mythology) the first man on earth. (in Polynesian cultures) a carved image, as of a god or ancestor, sometimes worn as a pendant around the neck.
Who invented tiki drinks? ›The history of Tiki drinks can be traced back to the 1930s, when a man named Don Beach opened the first Tiki bar in Hollywood, California. Don was inspired by the Polynesian culture that he had experienced while travelling in the South Pacific.
Why did tiki bars become popular? ›Tiki goes mainstream in post-war America
The end of World War II signaled the start of Tiki becoming a part of American pop culture. Both Don The Beachcomber and Trader Vic's became national restaurant chains while new tiki bars began popping up all over the country.
The success of his business laid the groundwork for the tiki restaurants and bars that followed, including that from Trader Vic. The term Tiki comes from the Maori mythology. The Maori are indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. According to their religion, Tiki is the first men created by Gods.
What does a Tiki tongue out mean? ›faces. The tongue sticking out symbolizes a warrior. Stop by the Cove and enjoy a drink with this Tiki in our. Blacklight Lounge!
Who is the Hawaiian god of luck? ›Lono is one of the 4 major Tiki Gods of Hawaii. Hawaiian mythology say Lono is Tiki of Love, Luck and was celebrated as the People's God for he moved among the masses bring life and peace.
Does Tiki mean god? ›The word Tiki is derived from Maori mythology. The Maori are New Zealand's indigenous Polynesian people. Tiki is the first man created by Gods, according to their faith. Polynesian cultures have carved pictures of Gods in trees since the beginning of time.
Who is the Tiki god of earth? ›
Highest of the 4 major Hawaiian Tiki Gods. Kane Milohai is the father of the tiki gods Ka-moho-ali'i, Pele (whom he exiled to Hawaii), Kapo, Namaka and Hi'iaka by Haumea. He created the sky, earth and upper heaven and gave Kumu-Honua the garden.
Can men wear tiki? ›One is the wearing of Hei-tiki. These are pendants worn round the neck by both men and women. They are usually made of a type of greenstone, which the Maori call pounamu, and take a human form. Hei-tiki are highly valued and personal, they are passed down from generation to generation and often given special names.
What is tiki alcohol? ›Tiki Rum is a natural star: a light rum with a smooth and fruity profile that is wonderful in a range of drinks, from classic tropical ones to modern cocktails. The way Cardinal Spirits ferments and distills this spirit in small batches leads to one intriguing rum, and Wine Enthusiast agreed.
What alcohol is Tiki Fire? ›A high-strength edition of Admiral Vernon's Old J Spiced Rum, which features plenty of vanilla and a nice burst of citrus lime at its core. The Tiki Fire bottling is presented at an intense 75.5% ABV – this variation was created with cocktail enthusiasts in mind!
What alcohol is Captain Morgan tiki? ›Captain Morgan Tiki Mango & Pineapple is made with delicious Captain Morgan rums and natural pineapple and mango flavours. Its lower ABV of 25% makes it perfect for those long summer days. Flavours of ripe pineapple hit you first, then the smooth and juicy mango arrives for a double fruity finishing flourish.
Are tiki drinks strong? ›Pandang Swizzle
The allure of tiki drinks is strong. Just as strong as the drinks themselves. When a tiki cocktail—all frost and garnish—appears from behind the bar counter, its effect slowly washes across the room as people catch sight of a colorful glass, a paper umbrella or a smoking stick of cinnamon.
Tonga Hut. Opened in 1958 by brothers Ace and Ed Libby, Tonga Hut has been serving North Hollywood Mai Tais and Zombies for nearly 60 years. Like many tiki bars, though, it hit a rough patch in the 1980s, during which it became more of a tropics-themed dive than a tiki den.
What is the oldest tiki bar in America? ›Trad'r Sam is the oldest operating tiki bar in the world. Since 1937. Yes, you read that right. 4 years before Pearl Harbor.
How strong is Tiki rum? ›Product Description. A high-strength edition of Admiral Vernon's Old J Spiced Rum, which features plenty of vanilla and a nice burst of citrus lime at its core. The Tiki Fire bottling is presented at an intense 75.5% ABV – this variation was created with cocktail enthusiasts in mind!
Is Pina Colada a tiki drink? ›The pina colada is often considered a tiki classic, even being hailed by some as “the most beloved cocktail to emerge from the tiki era.”
How do you drink Tiki Fire? ›
- 35ml Old J Tiki Fire.
- 3 dashes absinthe.
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters.
- 20ml lime.
- 20ml sugar.
- 50ml apple juice.
Captain morgan is a brand of rum produced in Jamaica by Diageo .
Is Captain Morgan a rum or vodka? ›The result was a refreshing white rum with a subtle and sweet taste. You can get the true taste of the Captain from his selection of rum drinks, including his Captain Morgan Dark Rum, Captain Morgan White Rum, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold and many more.
How often do you use tiki? ›Tiki-Tiki® Plus Drops
How much and how often should you use this product? Orally, once daily.
Tiki are also called Ki'i in Hawaiian. The word 'Tiki' originates from New Zealand's Maori tradition. Tikis can be traced back to ancient Polynesian culture, which explains their influence on the Hawaiian mainland. According to Maori customs and traditions, Tiki represents the first human being on earth.