Have respect for your Mai Tai and learn about the history of tiki cocktails, the daring Polynesian intervention in all the bars of the world.

Who is tiki?

Tiki are mysterious creatures from Polynesian myths: either the first people, or mysterious gods - grimacing triangular faces on short legs. According to legend, tiki created man - and now man carves tiki out of wood or stone to protect him from all troubles, give him strength to fight and give him a rich harvest. What else do you need to be happy? Maybe a good cocktail - but that wasn't the case either.

Splash tiki!

The humble tiki deities would not have left their islands if not for the Americans. In the 1930s, from their travels to Polynesia, they brought home characteristic figures of gloomy tiki - and those, as befits gloomy gods, began to conquer America glass by glass.

In 1934, the first tiki bar, Don the Beachcomber, opened on McCadden Street in Hollywood.

In 1934, the first tiki bar, Don the Beachcomber, opened on McCadden Street in Hollywood, inspired by the unique island culture: adorned with flaming torches, rattan furniture, vibrant colors and fabrics. "Hawaii in America" \u200b\u200bwas invented by Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gant - just Don Beach for you. He was a dashing guy: during the Prohibition era, he earned money by selling alcohol, traveled a lot - including the fabulously beautiful islands of Polynesia. “If you can't go to heaven, I'll bring it to you,” Don Beach used to say. And he brought tiki cocktail - a special drink made at Don the Beachcomber from exotic fruit juices and rum. Tiki cocktails were served in glasses stylized as formidable tiki idols - and quickly gained recognition from the Hollywood beau monde.

Mai Tai cocktail recipe
Bacardi Black - 25 ml
Bacardi Gold - 25 ml
Orange liqueur - 20 ml
Sugar syrup - 10 ml
Almond syrup - 10 ml
Pineapple - 30 g
Lime - 55 g
Mint - 1 g
Red cocktail cherry - 5 g
Crushed ice - 150 g
Ice cubes - 150 g

Then Gant went to war - and when it was over, he opened on Hawaiian Waikiki Beach, a second archetypal tiki bar in a canopy of palm trees, with masks of Polynesian deities on the walls and a garden hose on the roof to mimic the gentle summer rain. There was also a Myna bird trained to shout "Pour me a beer, fool!"

The tiki bar idea turned out to be too good not to be stolen.

The idea of \u200b\u200ba tiki bar turned out to be too good not to be stolen: after Don Beech, Victor Jules Bergeron, aka Trader Vic, opens the network of tiki bars. By the mid-1950s, tiki culture is sweeping across America with a fresh ocean wave - and there are no more tiki bars. These two - Don and Vic - are considered the fathers of tiki cocktails: including the quintessential Polynesian happiness Mai Tai and the strongest Zombie. They were destined to become the antonym of the classic Manhattan and Bloody Mary, who sipped true sybarites in suits and ties, while insane tiki cocktails should be drunk in a Hawaiian shirt - or even without it. They say that the Zombie at Don the Beachcomber was so strong that Don Beach refused to serve more than two cocktails to one person - otherwise he would go home from the bar with the head of a wooden tiki idol.

Tiki and we

And although Mai Tai was the only tiki cocktail to appear in the IBA collection (which means permission to mix it during international cocktail competitions), the contribution of Polynesians to world culture should not be called modest. The tiki gods showed a new happiness to the world of the West, obsessed with careers, success and securities, not in the chair of one of Wall Street's offices, but on the white sand of an island washed by the ocean: without worries in his head and with an ice glass of Mai Tai in hand.

Hello everyone. Often in the bar they began to ask me the question, Why is the cocktail called Zombie, Mai-Tai?

So I decided to devote another post to the culture of Tiki, And who was the first to start all this.

The Hawaiian Islands are full of myths and legends - stories of feelings, betrayal, forgiveness, birth and death. In the collection of Westerfeld, one of the most famous collectors of Hawaiian folklore, there are myths and legends that arose at the beginning of the 20th century, some of them are similar to the myths of the islands of Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and other islands of the Pacific Ocean.

When Americans discovered the pleasures of travel, tourism and war, they brought joyful exotic souvenirs from distant lands that helped them to abandon the banality of existence. Among these souvenirs - all kinds of shells, fishing nets, amulets and various figurines - were the famous "tiki".
What do these mythical statues symbolize, and where do they fit into Hawaiian culture? If you have ever come across ancient figures made of wood, then you most likely noticed from their majestic poses and stern faces that tiki are statues of very important, respected people, as well as certain gods, guardians and spirits.

Few know that wooden tiki statues have their own history, but even a brief description of the purpose of tiki can explain the role that symbolism played in traditional Hawaiian society.

The first Hawaiians arrived from Polynesia about a thousand years ago, bringing their culture and customs to Hawaii. Many gods of Hawaii and Polynesia were represented by their tiki statues. The word tiki refers to all kinds of idols, from ceremonial statues from the Maori tribe in New Zealand to carved moa figures on Easter Island and modern statues from Hawaii.

In Polynesian mythology, the tiki statue often symbolizes the first person on earth. These figures continue to be used in religious rituals in some Polynesian cultures. In New Zealand, miniature tiki figures are carried with them as amulets to protect against infertility.

In ancient Hawaiian culture, gods, earth (aina), and humans (kanaka) coexisted in the same world. If people correctly (pono) took care of the earth, then this pleased the gods. If the gods were happy, then they allowed the earth to provide its fertility for the existence of people. Each god can take different forms (kinolau) of animals and people.

The tiki statues were the image of a certain god and kept the mana (power) of this god in themselves. Carefully carved figurines could save people from misfortune, give them strength in times of war, and ensure a good harvest.

The first tiki bars inspired by the image of a tiki figurine were discovered by Don Beachcomber in 1934, followed by his alter ego, Trader Vic.
In tiki bars, the figurines played the role of glasses in which Mai Tai and Zombies were served, prepared by bartenders in colorful shirts.

"Zombie" - Tropical Long Island
30 ml white rum
30 ml golden rum
30 ml dark rum
20 ml cherry brandy
20 ml apricot brandy
100 ml pineapple juice
60 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
20 ml fresh lime juice
40 ml fresh papaya juice
1 tsp orger
15 ml very strong rum
Whisk all ingredients except the strong rum in a shaker. Serve in a high tiki glass. Layer a very strong rum. Garnish your cocktail with tropical fruits

was so strong that Don Beachcomber refused to serve more than two cocktails per person. Because otherwise, when you leave the bar, you will probably have Tiki's head on your shoulders.

Regarding Mai-Tai, It was also invented by the famous bartender Trader Vic, back in 1944. He mixed 17 year old Jamaican rum, lime juice, some Dutch curaçao, French orger and caramel syrup. The cocktail went to some of Vic's friends who had just arrived from Tahiti. Friends, having taken a sip of nectar, madly started yelling at the whole district “Mai Tai”, which means “This is the best drink!” ... Well, or something like that. I was not there, but it seems to me that it was somewhere like that ...

And one more cocktail that has nothing to do with Tiki, but in my opinion, it looks great in their glass.

The jungle in a glass B.Y.

The cocktail is somewhat similar to Mojito. But at the same time, if you are tired of Mojito, then the Jungle in a glass is just that. Spiced rum, some maraschino liqueur, lime, mint, sugar syrup.

Well, this is how it all looks. Tiki is making a thundering return to the mixed drinks scene these days. Tiki cocktails are served in many bars, and the famous figurines cause only thirst and desire to taste the magical drinks poured in them ...
And of course, all the cocktails that you cannot make at home, then you can always try in my Dolcabar.

A tip is welcome, but always at your discretion.

P.S. Do you like the glasses? Write!)))

Tiki cocktails have recently started to come back into fashion.

But what is Tiki? These are Polynesian and Hawaiian idols depicting the gods who created the first man. New Zealanders wore miniature tiki figurines as amulets. The tiki statues were the image of a certain god and kept his power in themselves. Carefully carved figurines could save people from misfortune, give them strength in times of war, and ensure a good harvest.

Americans were strongly inspired by these funny and mysterious figurines, and in the 1930s, one after another, tiki bars began to open across America. The first such bar was opened by Don Beachcomber, followed by his eternal competitor Trader Vic.

At these bars, brightly dressed bartenders poured exotic, refreshing cocktails into tiki-shaped glasses. The main component of these cocktails in most cases is rum, because it is he who symbolizes hot tropical countries.

The most common tiki cocktail is Mai Tai, which we have already written about. Now let's talk about other cocktails.

Hurricane

It will take

Havana Club Anejo 3 Anos rum 50 ml

Rum Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos 50 ml

Passion fruit syrup 30 ml

Freshly squeezed orange juice 30 ml

Freshly squeezed lemon juice 30 ml

Grenadine 1 tsp

Preparation

Whisk all ingredients in a shaker with plenty of ice. Fill a glass of harricane with crushed ice, pour in a cocktail. The finished cocktail can be garnished with an orange slice and a cherry.

Missionary "s Downfall

It will take

Havana Club Anejo 3 Anos rum 40 ml

Peach liqueur 15 ml

Sugar syrup 10 ml

Pineapple 110 g

Cocktail cherry red 5 g

Crushed ice 250 g

Ice cubes 200 g

Preparation

Fill the sling to the top with crushed ice. Place the shaker on the peeled and cut pineapple wheel and muddle. Pour in the sugar syrup, peach liqueur, and white rum. Squeeze half the lime and add the mint. Fill a shaker with ice cubes and beat. Pour through a strainer and strainer into a sling. Add some crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, a mint sprig and a cocktail cherry on a skewer.

Zombie

It will take

Rum Havana Club Anejo 3 Anos 20 ml

Rum Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos 20 ml

When Americans discovered the pleasures of travel, tourism and war, they brought joyful exotic souvenirs from distant lands that helped them to abandon the banality of existence. Among these souvenirs - all kinds of shells, fishing nets, amulets and various figurines - were the famous "tiki". Tiki were born on the Polynesian or Hawaiian Islands and are stone or wooden creatures-deities of a mysterious appearance. Legend has it that Tiki created man. He has supernatural powers. He has a triangular face with short legs. The mouth is disproportionately stretched and terrifying to frighten the opponent. The first tiki bars inspired by the image of a tiki figurine were opened by Don Beachcomber in 1934, followed by his alter ego, Trader Vic.

The tiki bar became a real social phenomenon, and even the bar of London's most serious Savoy in the 1950s turned into a tiki bar for a while.

In tiki bars, the figurines played the role of glasses in which Mai Tai and Zombies were served, prepared by bartenders in colorful shirts. The Zombie was so strong that Don Beachcomber refused to serve more than two cocktails per person. Because otherwise, when you leave the bar, you will probably have Tiki's head on your shoulders.

Tiki makes a thunderous return to the mixed drinks scene these days. Tiki cocktails are served in many bars, and the famous figurines only make you thirst and want to taste the magical drinks poured in them!

Aku-Aku (Trader Vic's)
white rum, peach liqueur, fresh lime juice, fresh pineapple chunks, fresh mint leaves, simple syrup, crushed ice.

Chimp in orbit
aged demerara rum, orange curacao, sweet vermouth, creme de cacao white, grenadine, fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice.

Coronado luau special
dark Jamaican rum, light Puerto Rican rum, brandy, Grand Marnier, orgeat syrup, orange juice, sweet and sour.

Hurricane (Dale DeGroff)
dark rum, light rum, Galliano, passion fruit syrup, fresh lime juice, fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, Angostura bitter

Hurricane Merylin (Salvatore Calabrese)
Pusser's rum, Bacardi rum, canadian whiskey Seagrams, Cointreau, cranberry juice, guava juice, fresh lemon juice, grenadine

Mai Tai
best aged rum (best aged white rum and best aged dark rum), orange curacao, orgeat, rock candy syrup, fresh lime juice.

Navy grog
light Puerto Rican rum, dark Jamaican rum, Demerara rum, fresh lime juice, fresh grapefruit juice, honey, soda.

Zombie
light rum, gold rum, dark rum, cherry brandy, apricot brandy, pineapple juice, fresh orange juice, fresh lime juice, fresh papaya juice, orgeat, overproof damerara rum.