Formidable Dragon (Tribute to)

I've talked about and linked to Hurricane Hayward's The Atomic Grog in the past and it remains a great resource for cocktail and tiki info across the country, and especially from the east coast. His Mai-Kai cocktail guide and tribute recipes could keep you busy for a year or more. And I'm once again linking to him, this time to highlight his tribute recipe to the Formidable Dragon cocktail.

The Formidable Dragon was Martin Cate's cocktail for this past year's "Tiki Tower Takeover" at The Hukilau. I'm always in the mood to try a cocktail by Martin Cate but given that I was not at the Hukilau this year, I did not have a chance to try it in person. Fortunately, Hurricane Hayward has approximated the drink and posted his Tribute to the Formidable Dragon. 

Between the blend of rums, the spice, and the molasses syrup, this is a grog for the ages. This is my first foray into molasses syrup in place of rich demerara syrup but I'm happy with the results. Molasses syrup is a natural choice for a rum drink, but it needs a bracing rum or three to take it on - the flavor is strong. Be sure to grab the recipe from the Atomic Grog, and raise your glass to the Hukilau, Martin Cate, Hurricane Hayward, and Admiral Vernon.

Back from Tiki Oasis

Well, I've actually back for a few days now. It's just that the ratio of days spent at Tiki Oasis to days recovering from Tiki Oasis is about 1:1. As usual there was a lot of good information on rum (and tasting), especially from Martin Cate's presentation. Eventually that info will find its way into an episode or two of this here show.

And on Sunday of Tiki Oasis weekend I was part of the judging panel for the first "San Diego Bartenders Tiki Battle" at Tiki Oasis with some esteemed company (photo below). Ram from Boy Drinks World was the MC for the event. Watching the 4 contestants mix their cocktails and hear them explain their thoughts behind them was enlightening. It's one thing to get a nice cocktail served to you. It's another to hear the bartender talk through their thought process on the drink and garnish. For the 2nd round the two finalists had to create a new drink on-the-fly using unknown (until that point) spirits and mixers. It was a bit like Iron Chef in that way I suppose. Good times. Fun for all. And hey, the audience got 4 cocktails from the contestants too, so what's not to like?

Judges (left to right): Otto von Stroheim, Kelley Merrell, Rob Burr, yours truly, and Marie King. Photo by Marie King.

Lost in Spirits

When I was working on Tiki Oasis 15-inspired cocktails (they'll be in episode 45), I was also working on a Corn 'n Oil variant using Lost Spirits Navy rum. If you still have or can get some of the Lost Spirits Navy, here's a simple cocktail idea.

Lost in Spirits 
2 oz Lost Spirits Navy rum (works with either the 57 or the 68) 
1/2 oz falernum 
1/2 oz fresh lime juice 
1/4 oz simple syrup 

Build over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Stir until frosty. Sip.

There seems to be very little consensus online on the ratio of falernum and citrus in a Corn 'n Oil - obviously tweak it to your taste. 1/4 oz in one direction or another will have a demonstrable impact. I found 3/4 oz of (my) falernum to be too much, while 1/2 oz falernum and 1/2 oz lime juice wasn't quite the right balance of sweetness with this rum.