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 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 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 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 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.
Read MoreGinny Gin Gin. The kids love their gin these days. Here in the Zen Tiki Lounge we prefer a gin drink with a tropical touch. When using gin we like something more herbal and floral vs. astringent and juniper forward. There are so many specialty gins on the market these days that you won’t have any trouble finding a nice local gin to use in this cocktail along with fresh juices and some Brazilian cachaça.
Read MoreThis quick little cocktail was inspired by nothing more than leftover bar ingredients. And with fresh limes and lemons on the tree (yes, living in the sunbelt has its privileges) you can juice a lot of fruit now and serve this till the new year.
Read MoreLook out for the Sand Trap! This perfect for Summer blended cocktail is not your usual piñaesque blender tragedy. If you like a good cocktail but shy away from way to sweet blended concoctions, this is your frosty and boozy treat.
Read MoreSweet, tart, creamy and balanced. Mother of Pearl is one of those rare cocktails that includes both butter and cream as well as a touch of honey. Dark rums and mezcal add the complexity you will notice but may not be able to pick out without reading the ingredient list.
Read MoreIf this drink sounds like it may be adjacent to a Moscow Mule thats because it is. Swapping out dark rum for the vodka and adding some extra ginger kick is what makes this drink perhaps better than the usual mule. The naming inspiration comes from none other than our current political climate which includes Russian social media hacking and all kinds of other shenanigans we would all like to forget about over a drink or two, or three.
Read MorePOG GROG isn't a cocktail by any means but it is what people ask for. Rum and juice. Tropical but not too sweet and still the flavor of rum comes through. Choose a rum that you enjoy the smell of and that also has a slightly sweet taste. Jamaican rums are great for this due to their lovely island aromas of sweet cane, floral touches and general smoothness.
Read MoreAt some point we all experience a brush off or return to sender notice from the very person we are infatuated with. These "bruised passions" can sometimes sting a little more than one might be prepared for. The solution is a lovely cocktail such as this
Read MoreIf you seek a place of relaxing contemplation you may want to try Chinese Sandman. For those who imbibe before bed time, this may be the drink for you. Potent enough to sedate and just sweet enough to hit you like an end of day dessert.
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