About 10 years ago, the original ATFD was destroyed in a server crash. I’ve found it on the Wayback machine, but after digging through many pages, this was the only one I managed to recover.
This drink was part of a competition that my entire group entered at an event for the Society for Creative Anachronism called the Pennsic War way back in 2014. And yes, that’s how we dressed for the competition.
Today we present a Tiki drink.
So what makes a Tiki drink?
A cocktail as would have been served in the heyday of “Don the Beachcomber”, “Waikiki Beach”, or “Trader Vic’s” in the 1930′s-1960′s. Elaborate concoctions of Rum and juice with homemade Syrups and Bitters. High Octane and theatrically presented in tiki statues, coconuts, or other outrageous glasses with umbrellas, fruit spears, garlands, garnish, oh, and lest we forget – FIRE.”
On vacation one summer, I entered a Tiki drink competition. My team and I came in third. Not my best showing, but it was a blast. Had lots of compliments on my drink, but I lost because I blew it on my presentation.
Never try a novel, previously untried, method to set a drink on fire when it counts. I flubbed the ignition of my volcano and left the crowd wanting. Although it was fun as hell as we tried over and over to light the drink. Imagine if you will, multiple men and women standing behind your panicking bartender, dancing their hearts out like they’re in an old King Kong movie.
Finally, my lovely wife handed me a cup made of an orange peel and had me use that instead of the ring I was using, and woosh! Fire.
Anywho, here’s the drink. Enjoy it as the perfect summer drink that it is. It will inspire dreams of the islands when Fall covers the land.
Ingredients and construction
First, use a blender to crush ice with 2 parts each of pineapple and either passion fruit or mango juice and 2 parts amber rum. If you can’t make shaved or crushed ice, don’t sweat it, we worked with cubes in the field.
Build in a wide-mouth glass.
Pour the blended frozen mixture into the glass.
Drizzle grenadine and a couple dashes of Pechaud’s bitters on this
Vigorously shake 1 part coconut milk until it’s frothy and float this on the mixture in the glass.
Float 1/2 part black strap rum.
Float an orange peel cup. (trust me, use a cup not a ring, about a 1/3 section of orange skin will make a nice bowl)
Fill the peel with 151 or overproof rum and ignite. Remember to shout: “Volcano – BOOM”
Remember to blow out the flame before you adorn with an umbrella and fruits
Until next time, may all your drinks be tasty. Cheers.
