5 Tiki Drinks and the Perfect Glasses for Each
Love tiki? Need tiki? Of course you do. Here are five of our favorite tiki cocktails with the perfect (and we mean perfect) barware to match. So let's get the party started.
The Drink: The Royal Orchid. St. Germain's subtle elderflower flavor and light essence of lychee play nicely with the other spirits in this cocktail. The Barware: Glass. Glass tiki drinkware embellished with palm or bamboo designs was a product of the tiki-modern home design trend. Many antiques shops, especially those that specialize in midcentury finds, carry them. Get the Glasses: Jeannette Glass Company Vintage Tree Bark Glasses, $30 each. Vintage Tiki Barware Double Rocks Cocktail Glasses, $70 for six. Vintage Gold Palm Trees Frosted Glasses, $120 for four. Libbey Vintage Glassware, $28 for seven. Vintage Bamboo Glasses, $16 each. Jill Bar Cart, $399.
The Drink: Passion Fruit Zombie. Tropical fruits and apricot brandy provide this drink with a balanced sweetness, tempered by tart lime juice and a dash of bitters. The Barware: Frosted Glass. Siestaware—characterized by its colorful frosted glass and carved wooden center—was trademarked and sold by Jacksonville, Florida–based Benner Glass Company in the early 1960s. Get the Glasses: Vintage Tiki Glasses, $15 for two. Siestaware Tiki Tumblers, $30 for six.
The Drink: Piña Colada. The secret to this lively drink is chopped fresh pineapple instead of canned. The Barware: Ceramic. Iconic tiki bars in the 1950s and "60s served umbrella-topped cocktails in ceramic mugs, the drinkware of choice for popular bars like Don's and Trader Vic's. Get the Glasses: Otagiri Mercantile Kahlua Hut Tiki Mugs, $72 for six. Westwood Vintage Pottery Tiki Mugs, $29 for six. Vintage Ceramic Tiki Mug, $21.50.
The Drink: Kapalua Sunrise. It’s delicious, beautiful, and healthy. Make it anytime you want to re-create that amazing Hawaiian vacation at home. The Barware: Wood. The tradition of hand-carved tikis still exists today—artists like Southern California–based Oceanic Arts regularly manufacture specialty mugs for restaurants and private collections. Get the Glasses: Philippine Monkey Pod Wood Goblet, $11.50 for three. Wooden Tiki Cup with Handle, $14. Vintage Monkey Pod Tiki Glasses, $20 for two. Vintage Wooden Carved Hawaiian Polynesian Tiki Mugs, $24 for two.
The Drink: Voodoo. Drinking this libation on the sand transports you to your beach bliss. The Barware: Wicker. Integrating wicker or rattan decor was a popular way to channel mid-century tiki style. Consequently, the materials started showing up on items like lamps, dishes, and barware during the era. Get the Glasses: Vintage Rattan Glasses, $42 for four. Vintage Glasses in Individual Rattan Holders, $16 for four. Rare Bar Green Glassware with Wicker Baskets, $32 for four.
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