109 Holiday Music for your Tiki Bar

ZTL 109

Sunshine Tiki

It may seem far to early to bring you the merry and exotic sounds of the holidays.  But, because the actual reality of exotica Xmas music is relatively rare we thought we should tell you where to get it early.  Sunshine shares a few artists that endeavored to mix polynesian percussion with the usual kitch of the season.  Arthur Lyman is most notable, probably the best example of this sub genre.  Music alone does not put the holidays right, so we bring you an island inspired hot punch cocktail that will please even the Virgin imbiber.  Think pineapple, spices, honey and your favorite rum.  Outstanding after a heavy meal, its like dessert in a tiki mug.  All things festive put aside, Sunshine and Pumpkin each share some much pent up bitching.  Our recent listener email suggests that a good bitch fest was in order anyway.  We aim to please.  Ted Haggard, Paula Abdul, dumbasses in minivans and artificial sweetners are just some of the bashed.  So sit back, drink your hot pineapple tea and spin yourself a vintage holiday....a little early. This weeks drink: Hot Pineapple Tea

1 can Dole pineapple juice (try to find NOT from concentrate), 1/4 cup honey. 3 cinnamon sticks broken in a few pieces, 3 peppermint tea bags.

On the stove top or in a crock pot, add all ingredients except the tea bags.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer.  Add tea bags, brewing tea for approx 10 minutes.  Remove the tea bags.  Serve as is, or as we do here in the Zen Tiki Lounge: add 1 to 1.5 ounces of your favorite rum to one glass of the tea.  We recommend Bacardi O, Captain Morgan spiced rum, Sailor Jerry, Myers Dark just to name a few.

108 Pumpkin's very special day!

ZTL 108

Sunshine Tiki

This weeks show is very special.  Special with a capital "S" and everything.  Little did Pumpkin know (she may have suspected a little something, but she was surprised when it happened) but I decided to give her a surprise birthday party while recording the podcast.  We start the show out just like any other, a delicious cocktail, some tiki music and a little mail.  Then everyone showed up and it turned into a party.  FUN!  Our cocktail this week was concocted out of necessity.  Basically my bar is still very low from a lot of parties, so you gotta use what you have.  Luckily I threw together a boozy treat that even Pumpkin gave high marks.  The "French Mai Tai" as I called it is a twist on the Trader Vic's original, but has a French twist.  Cognac and Cointreau give this drink a sophisticated palate, but the Mai Tai origins are not lost.  Using Cognac as a float instead of a dark rum actually turned out to be an amazing discovery.  Try this one at home today.  Besides the cocktail we did welcome a few new listeners to the lounge and had a few interviews with some of the party guests.  You will either be turned off or laughing to hear our friend tell all about her romantic adventures with her home spa.  Naughty. This weeks drink:

French Mai Tai

2 oz pineapple juice (not from concentrate)

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup (don't use orgeat)

1 oz silver rum

1/2 oz Cointreau

1/2 oz Cognac for float (Hennessy works great)

Add everything but the cognac to a shaker with crushed ice.  Give just 4-5 good shakes, you don't want froth.  Pour into a chilled, clear glass with plenty of crushed ice.  Top with the cognac.  Garnish with a really think lime wheel on the rim, a cherry and sword or pick and the pretty parasol of your choice.  Looks great, tastes even better.

107 Passion fruit and the Thai Princess

ZTL 107

Sunshine Tiki

The entire country has been caught up in one of the most debated political races in a few decades.  We don't know about you but it all got to be a little much for us.  So in typical fashion, Sunshine and Pumpkin raise their tiki drinks high and drink up.  Some things are better in the past, yet still give us hope for the future.  Without spilling our presidential opinions to much we do a little commentary and toss in plenty of tropical goodness.  Our cocktail for example is a deliciously fruity rum variation of the virgin Bora Bora punch.  So much better with the booze and as you will hear, Pumpkin gets a little saucy after #2.  Sunshine shares some highlights from this years Halloween party.  Including some of the fun tid bits that party guests left behind.  And, it may sound a bit early but we give a good holiday shopping tip or two for your tiki friends.  Good ol Trader Vic has a gift package waiting for you.  Lastly we share what has become Sunshines favorite new podcast.  The quiet village podcast is full of great exotica and some good DJ work to go with it.  Check it out NOW!

Drink of the week

Bora Bora Cocktail

3oz pineapple juice 

1oz passion fruit juice (not syrup)

1.5oz gold rum (Mt. Gay is good in this one)

.5oz lemon juice

.5oz grenadine

Shake it all up real nice with some ice.  Pour into your favorite tiki mug filled with crushed ice.  Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cherry and pick or sword.  Lime on top is also a nice treat.