Episode 47: Cana Brava

5 Minutes of Rum episode 47: Cana Brava rum from Panama, Trader Vic’s and communal drinks, an example of one of those drinks - the Scorpion Bowl - and an original cocktail called The Bitter Sting. Oh and fire.

Inside label on Cana Brava

In the show I didn't reference the white wine from the punch. That's the element of punch that lengthens the punch (similar to water or tea, but in this case also adding a small amount of alohol and sweetness).

Scorpion Bowl (Trader Vic’s)
6 oz orange juice
4 oz lemon juice
1 1/2 oz orgeat
6 oz light Puerto Rican rum (Cana Brava)
1 oz brandy
2 cups crushed ice

Combine everything in a blender. Blend or 10 seconds and pour into a scorpion bowl (or other communal bowl). Add some larger ice cubes if needed to keep the drink chilled. Use long drink straws for each guest. Trader Vic’s version is garnished with fresh gardenia. If you choose to add a fire chamber and ignite, be very careful, keep your guests away while you work, and make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby. I can’t say it enough - be careful. Serves 2-4 people.


The Bitter Sting
1 oz light Puerto Rican rum (Cana Brava)
1 oz brandy (Christian Brothers)
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 oz orange juice (fresh if practical)
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz orange curaçao (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao)
2 dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters

Shake with ice cubes in a shaking tin. Pour unstrained into a double old-fashioned glass or a small tiki bowl. Serve with a piece of dark chocolate.

Episode 46: Rhum JM VSOP

5 Minutes of Rum episode 46: Rhum JM VSOP, Luxardo Cherries, and the 3 Dots and a Dash cocktail.

3 Dots and a Dash, as served at Smuggler's Cove.

Serving punch from a 40 gallon volcano bowl, as you do.

3 Dots and a Dash

1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz orange juice (fresh if possible)
1/2 oz honey mix
1 1/2 oz aged agricole rhum (Rhum JM VSOP)
1/2 oz demerara rum (Hamilton 86)
1 dash Angostura bitters
1/4 oz falernum
1/4 oz pimento dram

Combine with 3/4 cup crushed ice in a spindle blender. Mix for 5 seconds and pour unstrained into a “specialty” glass. I’ve found that small wine goblets work well, as does a squat stemless cocktail glass. Garnish with 3 Luxardo cherries on a skewer. 

Tiki Oasis 10th Anniversary Punch

1 oz Rhum JM VSOP
1 oz Zaya rum
1 oz strong English tea
1 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz cinnamon syrup
1/2 oz vanilla syrup
1/4 oz demerara sugar syrup (optional, depending on the sweetness of your syrups)

Combine in a shaker tin with ice. Shake and pour unstrained into a volcano mug or a double old-fashioned glass. To make it a punch, just multiple each ingredient by the total number of desired servings.

Episode 45: Hamilton 86 rum

5 Minutes of Rum episode 45: The Tiki Oasis 15 episode featuring Hamilton 86 rum, new cocktail glassware from Cocktail Kingdom and Beachbum Berry, crushing ice on the go, and 2 cocktails: the Space Madness and the Escape Velocity.

Lewis bag.

Tiki tOny mallet.

Lewis bag and Tiki tOny mallet.

The Escape Velocity

Space Madness

Space Madness
2 oz Hamilton 86
1 oz Scarlet Ibis Trinidad rum
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz orange juice (fresh if you have it)
1/2 oz maple syrup
1/4 oz vanilla syrup
1/4 oz pimento dram

Combine all ingredients with ice cubes in a shaker tin. Shake and pour unstrained into a tiki mug, Pearl Diver glass, or another tall glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and an orange peel.


Escape Velocity
1 oz Hamilton 151
1 oz Smith & Cross
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz demerara sugar syrup
1/2 oz cinnamon syrup
1/4 oz orange curaçao
2 dashes Regan’s orange bitters
1 dash chocolate mole bitters

Flash blend with 1 cup crushed ice and pour unstrained into a tall glass or metal pilsner/swizzle cup. Alternately, swizzle in a tall glass or or metal pilsner/swizzle cup filled with crushed ice. Once mixed, add more crushed ice and continue to swizzle until the vessel is frosty.