8 Tropical Cocktails
Break out rum, syrups, paper umbrellas, and coconut cups for the tropical drinks that sweeten summer.
While "tiki" is often used as a catch-all for any tropical cocktail, the United States' tiki style evolved in California in the 1930s as a romanticized vision of Polynesian island life and culture. Ernest Beaumont-Gantt — aka "Donn Beach" — is credited with starting the U.S. era of the tiki-style cocktail when he opened his famous Don the Beachcomber Bar and Restaurant in Hollywood, California.
Of course, true tiki culture originated in the Pacific Islands, and we pay homage to Polynesian people with rums from Polynesia, such as Plantation Double-Barrel Rum from Fiji or Koloa Coconut Rum from Hawai'i. The broader array of tropical drinks extends to island influences from around the world, often featuring Caribbean rums and spices.
Related:16 Refreshing White Rum Cocktails
Envision a tiki bar that celebrates the union of rum and carefully crafted syrups, adopts a fabulous "more is more" approach to garnishes, and uses gorgeous glassware — without ersatz Polynesian iconography or images of titillating hula dancers. Welcome to tiki 2.0, where instead of ignoring the medium's fraught history, bartenders are bringing the cocktail style into the modern day — while continuing to give guests the elements of tiki that don't appropriate culture.
Hit the sweet spot where kitsch meets consciousness with these tiki-inspired tropical cocktails.
Mai Tai
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
The quintessential tiki cocktail, the Mai Tai blends rum and citrus flavors with just the right amount of sweetness. The origin of this classic rum cocktail is one of the great debates in tikidom. Both Donn Beach and Trader Vic founder Victor Bergeron — Beach's tiki contemporary and friendly competition — lay claim to its invention.
Zombie
As the story goes, Donn Beach created this potent drink in the 1930s and named it for its mind-altering effect after a friend consumed three of them.
Tamarind-Mezcal Sour
Smoky mezcal and savory bitters are rounded out by sweet-tart lemon juice and tamarind puree in this punchy cocktail.
Fog Cutter
The Fog Cutter is a classic concoction of white rum, gin, brandy, and sherry from the legendary "Trader Vic" Bergeron. Martin Cate not only serves the tiki drink at his bar, Forbidden Island in Alameda, California, he's also the registered owner of California license plate FGCUTTR.
Banana-Rum Old Fashioned
A bold, strong cocktail with both high-proof bourbon and light rum gets a hit of floral sweetness from mellow crème de banane.
22 Punch
Orange-cinnamon syrup sweetens this potent cocktail that combines aged rum, tawny port, and Champagne.
Third-Wave Swizzle
A swizzle stick is the key to a cold, well-mixed, frothy drink. To create the best froth and chill, rub the swizzle stick in between both hands to swish the stick back and forth in the cocktail.
Frozen Hula Hoop
A sweet-tart blend of pineapple, raspberry, and lemon adds fresh fruit flavor to this slushy frozen drink from Erick Castro spiked with white rum, Aperol, and dry red wine. Make your own raspberry syrup by infusing simple syrup with fresh berries.
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