Sunshine, our host and award-winning amateur mixologist, shares his recipes for the cocktails featured on Zen Tiki Lounge podcast. These drinks are delicious and the recipes are updated over time. They range from simple, to complex are often stronger than they appear.
Try some out and share your thoughts in the comments. We'd love to hear what you think!
Every tiki bar needs a few mocktails. A great virigin drink can be boozy or not, like this one. Starshine asked for a mock tail to keep her liver in repair mode. This tea based drink is light and refreshing with a foam top that adds that EXTRA to the presentation and first sip.
Read MoreHere in the Zen Tiki Lounge we enjoy classic and new tiki drinks. Missionaries Downfall is made whenever the plant is bursting with fresh green leaves. We prefer a little more booze in ours, and a little more flavor by choosing a Jamaican rum along with a rum from the French islands.
Read MoreIn June 2009, Sunshine and the husband took a road trip from the Hukilau down to the Florida Keys. While walking around on the second day, they came across the Rum Barrel. The server recommended Marooned as a sweet drink that was very popular with locals. Well, we had two each and have made hundreds since. Luckily the server wrote down the recipe.
Read MoreWaimea Blossom is a cocktail, not a tiki drink. In every tiki bar you tend to find a drink or two that patrons enjoy and request despite a lack of over the top garnish or the missing tiki mug. Tart cherry juice, fresh lemon and two rums are mixed with cinnamon and black walnut. If that sounds like a rum soaked cherry pie, you’re right.
Read MoreAkashi Guava Sour was inspired by the botanicals in 135º East Hyōgo Dry Gin. Pink guava and citrus are great pairings for this Japanese inspired dry gin. A little bitters and some amaro give a boost to the botanicals.
Read MoreMany people want a drink that looks good in social media. Some of those photogenic cocktails don’t pass the quality or taste test. We assure you that Auntie PuPu’s Butterfly will not only look great in a photo tagged #cheers, but the gin, tea and floral flavors make a very nice sip. Get ready to impress your friends.
Read MoreInspiration for a new drink often starts with an original, in this case the margarita. If you build this cocktail correctly you will find it sour first, then sweet. The green Chile is noticeable from the first time you swallow. Passion fruit works well with the Chile, who knew!?
Read MoreOriginal hostess and Lady of the lounge Pumpkin requested a fruity and sweet libation that cleverly hides the alcohol without sacrificing a nice cocktail experience. She loves her tacky faux Polynesian drinks, especially when blended. Blue Tsunami requires no blender but delivers on all the boozy and fruity flavor in the request.
Read MoreHow about a little smoke with your Pumpkin spice? Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down has a light smoke flavor with hints of Pumpkin spice, citrus and sweet silver rum. We are often asked for seasonal tiki style drinks and every now and then we like to oblige. Sunshine crafted this on a nice Sunday afternoon with the fresh ingredients on hand.
Read MoreThe word Mele in Hawaiian means chant or song or poem. In this libation the word is an ode to the subtle and complex flavors of the coconut when used correctly. Coconut milk is rich and creamy. Coconut liquor is sweet and toasty. Lime balances the sweetness and adds a bit of tart that isn’t expected. And orange blossom water provides a sweet floral note that sits in the background and lets the coconut remain the star.
Read MoreThe combination of Lychee, Maraschino and Passion liquors in this particular drink have become one of our house mixes that we use in multiple other concoctions including a Hemingway Daiquiri. Because every lemon and grapefruit is a little different, the key to this drink is following the recipe and then not hesitating to add more citrus if you feel its too sweet. After two of these you will find out what it feels like to have a leg you can’t control.
Read MoreIn warm and sunny SoCal we always have an excuse to look for a refreshing cocktail. Not too sweet and not to boozy. SoCal Hibiscus uses rum is made right here in Orange County, CA and has a beautiful sweet sugar cane and buttery aroma. The flavor is lightly sweet with a hint of burnt cane. Also from SoCal is the hibiscus syrup in this cocktail from Simply Gala. Simply Gala has a great line of syrups and hibiscus was perfect for this libation. Combined with fresh lemon juice, elderflower liquor and homemade passion fruit syrup.
Read MoreIf you enjoy the warmth of vanilla this will be one of your favorite Spring cocktails. Piña Royale offers fresh lime, lemon and orange juices of the season with pineapple infused rum and a strong does of vanilla liquor. Consider this a poolside drink thats ready the same time your pool starts to get warm enough.
Read MoreIn June of 2015 we visited Smugglers Cove for the first time. This place is a cocktail must for the tiki drink lovers out there. If you arrive at opening and head to the bar you will likely have a short period you can chat with the bartenders before the places gets slammed with thirsty sailors. In conversation with two mixologists we centered on the use of rose and orange waters as flavoring and aroma enhancers. The key is to use them sparingly so they don’t take over the drink.
Read MoreSome drinks are crafted on a dare. Thats how this cocktail started. In conversation Sunshine was tasked with mixing kiwi and banana along with a rum with strong character. Figuring out how to get kiwi and banana to mix together without creating a thick mess was the trick.
Read MoreIn a back and forth text, Sunshine and Starshine were discussing savory cocktails. Starshine requested something that was both savory and included cucumbers. After receiving the give of green Chartreuse Sunshine thought this was a great opportunity to bring it all together. Jaded has both savory and sweet qualities as well as some nice vegetal aromas from the green Chartreuse.
Read MoreEggnog can be a love or hate relationship. But Coquito is easier to love. This tropical version of an eggnog (eggs not even necessary) will likely become one of your favorite holiday traditions. Coconut, ginger, clove and rum make a tasty cordial enjoyed by many including vegans.
Read MoreDemerara Tamarindo is a good example of the good things that happen when you combine influences from around the world. South American rum, African tamarind and Mezcal all compliment an easy to drink concoction that is light and refreshing with multiple subtle flavors.
Read MoreOur original hostess Pumpkin loves her blendy drinks. Sunshine rarely creates one of these concoctions as he feels they are generally fairly “cruise ship” in flavor and overly sweet for no reason. Tangerines, clementines and Satsumas all have similar flavor but the tangerine or Cutie is most widely available in todays supermarket. For that reason this drink uses the fresh juice of tangerine along with a Satsuma liquor made by Bayou. Finding this citrus spirit may be challenging and you can easily substitute a 30% ABV sweet orange spirit if needed.
Read MoreFor pride month we you bring you a mixed drink that’s naturally colorful and full of fruit flavor. Lemon and Lime juices with Rum, Boysenberry, Orange, Almond and herbs are shaken together in a refreshing drink thats the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Multiply everything by 10 and make a pitcher for poolside fun that lasts the whole month of June.
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