This ancient, royal pirate vessel is the perfect drinking companion whether you’re hunkered down in your own tiki lair or venturing out on an expedition blazing your own Tiki Trail. This captain sized mug holds up to 32 oz of your favorite grog, making it the perfect accessory for your tiki adventures.
The mug’s Compass Rose face features a Maori Wind God with a “Mouth of Truth” once believed to discern whether someone was telling the truth. Woe be to he who did not as they were sure to lose a finger!
Connect the enchanted jewel on the Canteen's Compass Rose face to your Tikicomber app and add to your crew with ease.
Each mug comes with a unique Tikicomber promo code that you can use to share and show off your pirate’s treasure in new and exciting ways.
We’ve uncovered some very special versions of the Lost Canteen. Find one that suite the pirate in you!
Kanaloa Kid Canteen: Bos'n Edition
The Bos'n Edition features a rustic, bones-of-my-enemies finish and comes corked and ready to go wherever you explore.
Kanaloa Kid Canteen: First Mate Edition
The First Mate Edition comes in a rustic, bones-of-my-enemies finish, is corked and adorned with magnificent pirate’s beads to add that special flair to let everyone around know about your high status.
Kanaloa Kid Canteen: Captain’s Mauka Edition
To protect this near-priceless artifact your Captain’s Mauka edition mug comes in a special crate customized just for you! In your order make sure to provide us with:
Kanaloa Kid Canteen: Captain’s Makai Edition
To protect this near-priceless artifact your Captain’s Mauka edition mug comes in a special crate customized just for you! In your order make sure to provide us with:
Kanaloa Kid Canteen: Davey Jones’ Coral Edition - SOLD OUT
To protect this near-priceless artifact the Davey Jones Coral edition mug comes in a rare black wooden crate customized just for you! In your order make sure to provide us with:
Kanaloa Kid Canteen: Davey Jones’ Patina Edition - SOLD OUT
To protect this near-priceless artifact the Davey Jones Coral edition mug comes in a rare black wooden crate customized just for you! In your order make sure to provide us with:
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The Kanaloa Kid was the original Paradise Bootlegger. A Privateer of the Pacific, he was considered the Robin Hood of the South Seas. He championed local islanders who were often at odds with the new world - Spanish colonialism, British capitalism, and the rogue lawlessness of Sea Pirates. The Kanaloa Kid stood up for the vulnerable - righting wrongs and returning ill-gotten goods back to their rightful owners.
By his side was an ancient canteen adorned with an enchanted jewel thought to have been possessed by protective spirits. It is believed these spirits provided keen insight and helped to ensure safe passage for the Kanaloa Kid throughout his travels.
On one side of the canteen bears the image of the sea god Oceanus who granted the Kid safe passage across his open waters. The other side of this charmed vessel features an ancient Maori wind god within a compass rose. This provided the Kanaloa Kid swift transport in the direction of his journey. This carving also features the Mouth of Truth, thought to provide the Kanaloa Kid insight into the truthfulness of those he encountered.
The canteen disappeared upon the Kanaloa Kid’s death adding to the fabled vessel’s mystery. A recent Tiki Trail expedition to Outline Island unearthed this relic from the past. An incredible find, it was thought to be so lost that no one ever spoke of it again.
Now whoever possesses the Lost Canteen of the Kanaloa Kid is believed to be protected by the spirits of adventure, ensured of safe travels wherever they may wander, and always protected in their own Tiki Trail expeditions.
If you missed out on the summer version of Tiki Caliente, do not worry, Rory Snyder has decided one Tiki Caliente a year is NOT enough! He is rebranding his Circa Caliente event to Tiki Caliente 11.5!
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During that time, we’ve also built up a social media following. First on Facebook with live interviews and videos from the various events we were able to attend. And with our Aloha Friday music videos and various other news and noteworthy posts. Then we added Instagram and garnered even more followers with images from our adventures.
That was all well and good, but we are looking to do more! We want to grow the collective tiki experience. Create memories, establish connections, and enhance the overall community of Polynesian Pop lovers. And with that as our focus, we have some pretty cool things coming! Unfortunately, I can’t go into to those here just yet. But I can say that this new updated website is the first step in the next generation of the Tiki Trail.
As we get to more events, meet more people - and have more cocktails of course! - we will share more of that. We also want to create live, on-going conversations, recommendations and sharing of memories and findings from everyone out of the Tiki Trail. We want to become a key part of your tiki experience - helping you blaze your own personal Tiki Trail. And as we grow you will come to find the Tiki Trail to be THE place to find out what are the best tiki drink, tiki bars, tiki bartenders, and more - all determined by the collective tiki experience of the community.
Stay tuned. As the song says, the best is yet to come!
]]>Wednesday night, June 7. The Hukilau in Ft Lauderdale, Fl, kicks off in grand style with a pre-party at the World Famous Mai Kai. The place was filled, not packed like it was for the 60th anniversary, so that was good!
From the Mai Kai, the evening went on to the MeduSirena Marina Mermaid show at The Wreck Bar. The show was pretty dang cool! And if you have not seen one, they are pretty fun!
The show this night was a campy, burlesque tribute to Jubilee, the long-running Bob Mack Las Vegas show that recently ended. MeduSerina was joined by her very aptly skilled aquatic performers. This was a hell of a show. And if you are ever in Ft Lauderdale this show is a must! The whole experience is exactly what you have seen in the old movies and great fun!
Make sure to checkout our interview with MeduSerina Marina to learn more about this amazing, all-go mermaid... er, I mean woman! ;)
Look for updates and links to photos, interviews and video from this historic annual event!
For more, including live video, follow us on Facebook
Thursday June 8. The first full day of Hukilau and things got off to a great start - in spite of the rain! As a first timer I appreciated the welcome reception for all us Hukilau newbies. Got a chance to meet some cool folks from a number of places around the country. Was actually quite surprised at the number of people coming from all over the country - and even around the world!
After the reception it was time to head upstairs for the Tiki Takeover on the top floor of the hotel. Here we got to experience drinks from tiki bars from around the world. Three Dots and a Dash from Chicago and Slowly Shirley from New York were joined by Dirty Dick out of Paris and the NU Lounge from Bologna, Italy. Let me tell you THAT was some serious world competition there! For me, I think the Dirty Dick had the best of the group, which was surprising because I am not a cucumber drink guy. But this was great. Hoping to meet up with Scotty Schuder of Dirty Dick and chat - so keep an eye on the Tiki Trail FB page for that interview!
For more, including live video, follow us on Facebook
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What does the artist known as MedusaSirena Marina NOT do? Aquatic performer. Mermaid. Dancer. Taiko drummer. Fire eater. Photographer. Model. Costume designer. Choreographer. Tarantula owner. And thanks to Mulder, she is even a tiki mug!
I had the chance to catch up with this very busy and very energetic self-proclaimed "Sea Hag" a couple days ago to talk about her upcoming performances at the Wreck Bar during The Hukilau.
With her impressive resume, I just had to ask, "What don’t you do?" She laughed and said, "cook". Then she proceeded to tell me about her cooking and that it might lead her to yet another endeavor! “Between the raw food diet and Japanese food, there may be something that comes out of that." she said. Seems she is getting requests to do a book about her cooking and dietary regimen. “Maybe I’ll do that sometime” she says. Yeah, so much for the ‘not’ cooking!
As for the mermaid part of her resume, she says never dreamed of being a mermaid. Rather it was a mix of Esther Williams movies and her father teaching her free diving at the age of three that inspired her onto the journey that would eventually lead her underwater as a part human/ part fish performer.
Then there is the tiki lifestyle that she has lived all her life that was another contributing factor on her path to the pool. She grew up in the Caribbean and her parents made the outdoor patio in middle of their house into a tiki bar. And it sounds like a straight up home tiki bar from your dreams, complete with tikis, lava rocks, and more! They played exotica and Hawaiiana music, and rocked some pretty good cocktails she says. That tiki environment was so much of an influence on her that instead of tea parties little Marina would actually make Tiki cocktails for her Barbie dolls! Now that is a seriously legit tiki spirit right there!
As for her shows at the Wreck Bar, she focuses on the craft of performance swimming, entertaining visitors every Friday and Saturday with her 14-person troupe. In her shows, she often pays homage to those who have come before her in the genre. For those that may not know, porthole pool swim shows were very popular years ago. The first ones starting in Ft Lauderdale, actually. But today there are only 4 porthole pool bars in the country. And only two of those have swim shows - the Mai Kai in Ft Lauderdale and the Sip n Dip, Great Falls, MT. (Both will be at the Hukilau!) So, experiencing one of her shows is a really great opportunity to experience a wonderful, almost forgotten piece of Americana.
And when it comes to The Hukilau weekend, her shows take on an even more fun and lively tone. She and her team will perform Wednesday night in a very special Burlesque show. She has been working on this for some time and from what I hear it will be special! The show will have an old school Las Vegas feel to it. There’s a special tip of the hat to Bob Mackie’s long running Jubilee show which recently has gone dark. And Marina promises this show will be an epic performance with some “extra stuff thrown in”. And so you know, the Hukilau audience is very special to this tiki temptress so make sure to bring your best tiki vibe if you are coming to her shows!
Her Thursday show will also be fun, albeit a little more tame - but not too much! It will feature a Polynesian theme and the fact it’s an afternoon show means the bar will be a bit brighter - all the better to see some of the cameo appearances by some special guests. She wouldn’t divulge who so I guess we have to go see the show to find out!
So if you are coming to the Hukilau and have your tickets to one or both of her shows, you are in for a treat! And if not, those shows are sold out so make sure to catch her at the Wreck Bar in Ft Lauderdale any Friday or Saturday night.
There is so much more I could say about this one woman wrecking crew who seemingly does it all and who is so much a part of the tiki scene. After all our interview “half hour” interview went for over an hour and a half! And she was a bundle of energy the whole time – even at midnight her time! She’s very easy to talk to and very engaging. When you meet her at the Hukilau you will experience yourself the same energy that has her doing so many things! Oh and you can get that tiki mug John Mulder did of her!! How cool is that! Here’s to hoping he brings enough of those to the Hukilau. They will certainly be in demand as they are not only great looking mugs, but they capture MeduSirena Marina doing something she rarely seems to ever do … sit still!
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Opening Day!
Tiki Caliente 9 kicked off yesterday in Palm Springs, CA at the Caliente Tropics Resort. This three-day festival of tiki is quite an extravaganza put on by Rory Snyder. As a first time attendee to the event I didn't know what to expect. Had been to Tiki Oasis, but never this one.
From the start I could tell it's be a bit different! First of all it was not crowded - and that is by design. Only 600 wristbands are offered, so if you want to come next year keep an eye out on the website! The Caliente Tropics is a pretty chill place. It's basically a souped up motel that is all tiki'ed out and a very apt setting for the event.
And the best part of the event is the people. Definitely a pretty relaxed, friendly and fun group of people! But rather than me blabbing on and on about it check out the live feed, photos, interviews and more on the Tiki Trail Facebook page. Believe me, I am hard at work on this reporting thing...
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So, a big discovery here. And it really had little to do with the restaurant and more to do with the fact that to really appreciate something you need both content and perspective. I tried to look at Kowloon in the context I was sitting in - looking at what it was relative to other tiki places. But with perspective I was better able to understand what the Kowloon *is* based on what *was* - its history. For example, what I saw as a weird, out of place section at one side of the restaurant was actually the original location that opened back in the early 1950’s. And the rest of the place was built onto that. Kind of cool to have the history and helped me understand why that area was different. Also, through talking to some of the locals at the bar, I came to find out that this is a place that many, many locals have been coming to for decades, celebrating the various events of their lives or just hanging out after a night of drinking and partying at the local bars. So, it is more than just a tiki themed Chinese restaurant north of Boston. It is a historic location, respected and loved by many in the area, and a last link to the big theme restaurants that dotted this particular stretch of highway many years ago. So, with that new perspective, let’s take a look at the Kowloon …
Drinks 3
Drinks were just 'OK'. Loved the presentation and the fact that they came in mugs. But was somewhat disappointed when the actual drinks came. My first drink was the Pineapple Passion. I *LOVE* pineapple but this one was just ok. The Mai Tai is their number one drink and is pre-made for the bartenders. So, when you order it, it comes quick! Kind of a let down on it being remade, but it was a decent Mai Tai. And then to finish off the evening, I had their Zombie. All in all, the drinks are a little heavy on the sweet and syrupy, and less focused on tiki traditions. Now that could be a factor of local taste, or the restaurant’s particular style. I didn't get the sense that they were as focused on the “craft" side of tiki cocktails as they were on just serving 'tiki drinks’. I could bump this up, but honestly, going to a 4 didn’t seem right. So maybe a 3.5 if you really want to fine tune it.
Decor 4
Loved the decor! It is a Chinese restaurant but it was chock full of tiki stuff. Masks on the walls. Carved poles at the bar. Murals on the walls. Palm trees at a fountain. It was cool. But the kicker was the life-size boat you get get a table ‘on’ in the middle of the dining room! That was sweet! The place was a bit funky with several different ‘areas’. In addition to the three areas in the dining room, there was a tiki bar area, a separate Hong Kong lounge, a sushi bar and an upstairs room dedicated to comedy shows. and let’s not forget the gift shop at the corn of the place. Like I said, funky. But in this case, they put the fun in funky!
Music 4
The music was very soft (and a couple of the tables next to me were very loud!) but the tunes I did catch certainly fit the decor. It was 60’s kind of music. Not necessarily tiki but it reflected the Golden Era of tiki and as such, added to the ambiance.
Food 3
It is primarily a Chinese restaurant, but much like the structure itself, they expanded to add sushi, Thai and some other Asian dishes to the menu. Make no mistake about it, though, they are first and foremost a Chinese restaurant. Loved the hot & sour soup. Hunan Chicken was so-so. They have a tremendous variety so that is great. Coming from So Cal, though, I tend to be picky on my Asian food. As a point of reference, I checked out Zagat's review while I was eating. They said about the Kowloon’s menu, 'basic yet satisfying" Yep. Would agree. That is why I say middle of the road as a 3.
Swag 5
They have their own branded and generic tiki mugs for sale. I also picked up one of their custom-made bowls that had the iconic front door on it, made by Tiki Farm. That was too unique and cool to pass up! I loved the napkins and menus. And they have t-shirts! Loved the tiki bar shirt so had to buy one!! I am kicking myself, though, for not getting the shirt that said "Got Pupus?” That one was pretty funny. Swag-wise, they hit all the key points! Probably because it is such a local favorite for so many years and easy to sell the merchandise to local customers. And for the tiki-while, there is definitely stuff to get!
Vibe 4
Overall it is definitely more of a family Chinese restaurant than a tiki bar. That said, if you venture over to the tiki bar itself in the dining room you can get a much more tiki-like vibe. Had a great time talking to a couple locals who gave me the proper perspective on the place and its long history. And the bartenders, when you engage them in conversation are fun to talk to!
Overall Score 3.8
This is about right on the score. It is an average 'tiki' bar - geared more to tiki tourists than true tiki-philes. But when you look at its location (Boston area), as well as its history, and some of the cool extras (mugs, decor, t-shirts, etc.) you can see that they earn some extra credit. So, if you are in the greater Boston area and want to get your tiki on, stop on in! If you want to pick up some cool tiki mugs or a tiki bar t-shirt, stop on in! Grab a couple cocktails, get some food, and then drink in its history! You will be happy you did.
Check out more images from the Kowloon on the Tiki Tail Facebook page
Check out the Kowloon in person at: 948 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906
Or online at: www.kowloonrestaurant.com
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some!" I was told. And with that I was handed a straw. Much like the drug addict getting their first hit, I was hooked! I loved the exotic flavors! So, I scrapped Vicki's wine order and whatever drink I was going to get and got us a Scorpion Bowl! Not having the cool bar-side experience with the movie industry elites like I had, Vicki was taken aback when I showed back up with a big-as-my-head bowl and a couple big ass straws. But after one taste and she, too, loved it.
As we sat there drinking in this new tiki world, it hit me. We could do the garage in a tiki-like theme! Ah, but I have been rejected so many times before. How to sell it? I am a marketer. How do I market this Trader Vic ambiance to Vicki? If only I could get Vicki to like the Trader Vic style... Wait ... Vic ... Vicki ... Oh yea! Got it. "Hey, honey. What if we did the garage tiki style? That'd be way cool. We could have parties. We could have movies playing silently in the background like they do here. We could make cool punches like they do here. And since we live in So Cal we could find cool things to add to it during our travels. And... (Here was the kicker!) ... we could call it 'Trader Vicki's'!" BAM! The ego play! And with that, history was made! No, not Jeff and tiki, Vicki actually agreed to let Jeff decorate something in the house! Wow!
So, we embarked upon our new journey of creating this 'tiki' thing as our party room. Realizing that I know handymen, and frankly, I am no handyman, I was going to be
facing some pressure to do quality work. What to do? In the meantime, we started picking up things here and there, including a bunch of plastic beach scene wall clings from the 99 Cent store. That sparked the second great idea. With the cheesy, plastic, cheap beach scene clings and other cheap tiki/tropical/beachy bits we seemed to find, we could call it the "Taki Tiki"! That would simultaneously allow me to keep getting the cheap decor and slapping it up! No pressure and low cost!! Looked crappy? "Well, hey, it *is* the TAKI Tiki, after all. What do you expect!"
We had a grand opening of the Taki Tiki and it was a hit! So much so, one of our good friends suggested that we - I - go to this thing that happens every year in San Diego, called Tiki Oasis. Well, once I was finally able to get to one, that was the final piece to the puzzle. Jeff was now firmly a tiki-phile! When you discover a whole new world of fun, frivolity, exotic drinks, killer decor - and a couple thousand people that are into it as well, the seed is planted. And it just starts to take on a life of its own. And for the “Taki Tiki”, yes, that’s still the name, but we have considerably upgraded the decor - to the point I am regularly being told it is no longer ‘Taki”. With upgraded decor and drinks, as well as the exotica playlists, it seems we have gone whole tiki now!
I know, if you ask her, Vicki will tell you she NEVER would have thought saying 'yes' to that crazy decorating idea that night all those years ago would turn out like it has! But here we are, and that is why - and how - I am here on the Tiki Trail. And it all started with my so very smart wife, my tiki love! So, you see, tiki for me - for us - is a love story! Something we enjoy and have a lot of fun exploring as a couple.
How about you? What's your tiki love story? Are you in it with someone special or is it a solo love affair? Email your tiki love story to TikiTrail@gmail.com. Tell us, in 300 words or less, what started the craze for you? Was it a certain bar? A specific drink? A memory that stuck with you? And how involved is your someone special? We’ll publish the best stories, paying tribute to the love of tiki!
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With tiki it’s all about the craft of the cocktail! And these guys grew out of the Raleigh craft cocktail scene to introduce a dedicated tiki bar to the city. They bring the focus and care of craft cocktails to tiki, which is a huge departure for most of the “tiki” drinks you can supposedly get around the city. They have a well stocked bar and keen eye toward delivering tiki staples - Painkiller, Jungle Bird, Zombie and others - as well as new tiki inspired innovations. They have 2 different takes on Mai Tai. I got the California Mai Tai as (1) I am from CA!, and (2) it is the closest they have to the original Mai Tais. I also got a Zombie. Both were very good! Definitely enjoyed them and would put them up against tiki drinks you’d get just about anywhere else in the country. Their own concoctions include a Fernet Mudslide, which I also had. That was very tasty and nowhere “tiki” but loved it just the same! It definitely fit in their overall cocktail portfolio. They also have some infusions they are working on, as well as some other projects! The menu is slated to change every 3 months or so to meet seasonality and to stay fresh. So, if you re lucky enough to be in the area you need to become a regular to stay up on their latest cocktails!
Food - 0
No food, just cocktails. Some appetizers would be great - something to go into the stomach beyond the alcohol! I know they have some restrictions, but maybe this will come down the road in one fashion or another. Maybe partner with a food truck and put it out front! That could be cool!
Music - 4
They refer to their style as ‘punk tiki’ and the music fits the theme. Not to worry if that sounds hard core. The music blended into the environment. It wasn’t a loud blaring punk. Just something that gave an aural edge to the vibe. I loved it and I think many tikiphiles will appreciate it as well. Exotica would not work here at all, I don’t think. Cool surf music and/or island reggae could work if it was edgy, so it'd be interesting to hear that in this scene. When I first got there, they had a singer performing live. He had a nice tone that was a bit more casual - it was indy for sure, but not punk and was a cool contrast actually.
Decor - 4
I can only imagine the degree of difficulty in trying to find tiki decorations in the South. You won’t find any bamboo or thatch work here, but these guys managed to do a great job filling the house with tiki. Yes, I said house. That’s not slang. It is an actual converted house! You can see what used to be the living room, dining room, etc. as they maintained the separate rooms. It’s very different from your typical establishment and I liked it. It gives a more intimate feel to wherever you are sitting. So back to the decor, they had an awesome wall mural right as you walk in. And at the end of that mural is a killer 6 foot huge tiki, making this one awesome entrance! And all around the place are a number of tikis and tiki art, from the likes of Doug Horne and others, that reflects that punk tiki attitude they have instilled.
Swag - N/A
I will cut them a break here as the place is only 3 months old! Also, I understand they do have shirts in the works. My hope is they can also figure out a cool mug as well (also in the works). So for now I will give The Outpost a free pass here. Make sure to be on the lookout for their shirts, though. They have a cool logo and I can’t wait to see it on a shirt!
Vibe - 4
It had a great vibe. Very friendly, knowledgable staff happy to talk tiki, guide you in your drink choices, and just chat in general. With the decor and the intimate room-based settings it just had a nice homey feel - no pun intended! The place kind of felt like a buddy's home party place and, as such, a cool place to just hang out and enjoy some great tiki libations.
Overall - 3.4
Overall, this is a solid tiki bar! And as they grow beyond the three months they have been opened so far I see it getting stronger. They have the right kind of knowledge behind the bar as well as driving their tiki vision. The biggest ‘knock’ is the lack of food. If you take that out of the equation they score even better. I am looking forward to my next trip to Raleigh so I can go back. Hopefully, they’ll have their shirts by then!
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Clever Koi, Gilbert
First stop was a craft cocktail place with a few tiki drinks on the menu. As far as tiki goes, I can’t really hold them to the 6 points as their only real tie to tiki is on the drinks. Although, I must say the food was excellent so they’d score high there, too! As for the drinks, what impressed me was their commitment to good tiki ingredients! Clement Rhum Agricole , Plantation Dark Rum, Hamiltonn Rum, Demerara Rum, orgeat. They are fully committed to the tiki scene! And while today they only have three drinks - Face Planter Punch, Almost Always Bad News, and the 2 person Scorpion - they are working to grow their tiki cocktail list. They have a downtown location in addition to the Gilbert spot so easy to hit one or the other! definitely a place to hit!
http://www.thecleverkoi.com/
Ostrich, Chandler
So the next stop was another highly recommended place, the Ostrich. This is a
prohibition-era style speakeasy dedicated to craft cocktails with a tiki menu and a Tiki Tuesday night. As with craft cocktail bars, they tend to focus on the drinks more so than the decor. And on this night when I visited, their tiki decor was rather minimalist as they were in between tiki events so most of their stuff was elsewhere. Didn’t matter, though, as this one had a special magic of its own, complete with a rich history or bootleggers, ghosts and a sordid past that would get Geraldo Rivera salivating! And for tiki, they had some traditional drinks - Blue Hawaiian, a Nui Nui,for example - as well as their own special tiki takes - Bermuda Yacht Club, Army Navy, and the Blood & Cane. The Blood & Cane was quite a drink. Very tart and strong, yet very, very tasty! And when you order up a tiki drink, they have tiki mugs. Unfortunately, though, they didn't have their own mug. Hopefully that will change! Had a chance to talk to the guys creating the magic - William and Maxton - and it was clear that these guys were on the ball with regard to craft cocktails and especially tiki. This is a great place to visit any night of the week. Make sure to tell them you read about them on the Tiki Trail!
http://crustrestaurants.com/ostrich/
Bikini, Phoenix
Now I was forewarned that this tiki bar was well decorated, but not really tiki beyond that. I would have to agree. Great sign, great decor, but it ends there. At least on this night, the music was … I have no idea. I've heard all kinds of music but this was just weird, loud and decidedly untiki-like. Now, the place was packed and people were dancing. But, again, it had nothing - I mean N-O-T-H-I-N-G to do with tiki. Moving past that I thought I’d a cocktail. Got the list of drinks and saw one that actually had “tiki" in the name so figured let’s go with that one. You know, when people ask me what ever happened to tiki - "why did it disappear after being so popular?" I always tell people it was the slushy, sloshy, syrupy, sickeningly sweet drinks bars started passing off as ‘tiki drinks’. The kind where the umbrella was more important than ingredients. Well, that's what Bikini served up - only without the umbrella. So, yeah, it was that bad. And that’s unfortunate since the place has a great name, a great decor, and a long history. I am hoping I was just there on bad music and shitty drink night. So, let’s move past this one ...
www.facebook.com/theBikiniLounge
Rum Bar, Phoenix
Night two started off the same - by visiting another craft cocktail bar. This one, though, was specifically a craft rum bar. Of course with the name, you probably already figured that, right! So while this was definitely not a tiki bar, they had some amazing rums and definitely served up some great drinks that I’d happily have in my own bar. As for rum, they have Arizona’s largest commercial collection - 135 rums! They have some of the usual tiki rums, as well as a wide range of other varieties. If you are up for it, they even have a bottle of Appleton 50! That is a blend of 50-62 year old rums and is very, very rare. You can get a 1.5 ounce shot for $2500! Now, I hear you can get that same shot for $350 at Smuggler’s Cove, but that's in San Francisco. Sure, theoretically, you could pay for the flight to San Fran and their shot cheaper than the Rum Bar’s shot, but hey, live it up! Haha! If you do get that shot make sure to invite me! I’d be happy just getting a sniff of that 50+ year old rum blend! And as with any craft bar, it's also about having a learning experience. These guys know their rums and they can tell you all about them - and their history. Who knew learning history could be so much fun!
http://www.thebreadfruit.com/rum-bar/
Hula's Modern Tiki, Phoenix
So, also in the suggestions of places to go, I found out that Hula’s Modern had a location downtown in addition to their Scottsdale location. So I wrapped up night two there. As I pulled up I was impressed with the structure! It was standalone place and was very much tiki style. The front featured a cool fire pit seating area and inside was filled with some impressive tiki art. Unfortunately for me, I got there AT last call and was only able to get one drink. Upon recommendations by the bartender and a couple at the bar I got their Mai Tai. It’s the house specialty and I can see why. Certainly one of the best Mai Tais I have had. I did notice, though, that the bar was abnormally stocked with traditional alcohols and mixers, more so than tiki ingredients. Even though it was a quick stop here I was able review the bar. Make sure to check that out, as well as the review on the Scottsdale location.
Hula's Modern Tiki, Scottsdale
The last night of this three-night desert tiki binge was by far the best, truest tiki experience! And it started at Hula’s Modern Tiki in Scottsdale - by far the best experience on this trip. I had been here a year prior, but could see the changes and advances they've made to get more tiki. They are really taking their tiki game to the next level - especially the cocktails, liquors and mixers they are bringing in and/or making. I had the chance to sit down with Mike who is driving some of these new, tiki focused changes to get some insight into what the grand vision. I learned that they're using this location to prove out some concepts with the successful ones being translated to the Central Phoenix location, as well as their new locations opening later this year in Tempe and Gilbert. The Hula Modern Tiki is a must visit! My overall experience has moved them into my short list of favorite tiki bars. If you want more details as to why, check out the review. You can get more details on the bar, what they're doing, and where they're going in our FB Live video we did that day and which is still available on the Tiki Trail Facebook page.
http://hulasmoderntiki.com/
Under Tow, Phoenix
A-may-ZING! I have heard great things about Phoenix’s newest tiki bar, the Under Tow. Had several people tell me I needed to go there. And I saw why. First, let me set the scene, though. You are probably familiar with those quick oil change places that take care of swapping out the oil and other things that "keep your motor runnin’" as the song goes. Well, one of those was gutted and turned into an awesome coffee bar - complete with big bay doors and all. It really works. So, now in the middle of that coffee shop are stairs down to what used to be one of the bays where the workers would work on your car. But now it had been transformed … into the Under Tow! So, at once you marvel in both the amazing decor and the incredible smallness!
Once inside, it was an awesome experience and the drinks were absolutely phenomenal. Some of the best craft cocktails I have had. I had a smoke infused cocktail that was incredible! And the way they did it was with a special little contraption that infused the smoke into your drink. Have never seen that before, but man, it was good.
Also cool was that they had a local tiki artisan there at the bar showing off some of his art. Hal Brown, a metalsmith, makes the cocktail stirrers for the bar and he does great work! He had some amazing art on display, including one hell of a bitchin’ tiki bolo tie! His tikis are awesome! As Hal pointed out to me, they are hand crafted, weighty, and three dimensional right down to the tiki butt cheeks. Yeah, the "tiki butt cheeks" sold me. Had to get one!
This place is still relatively new, so no full review just yet. They didn’t have any swag - ran out of mugs and didn’t have anything else. The staff were pretty busy as the drinks take a lot of effort to craft. And I didn’t notice the music as I was too busy with Hal, the drinks, and harassing one of the bartenders about looking like Eli Manning! Haha! So, I'll be back to the Under Tow and will write something up then. But DO NOT wait for my review! Go NOW if you have the chance!!
http://www.undertowphx.com/
www.facebook.com/DrinkUnderTow/
Overall the Tiki in the Desert experience was great! I could really see putting together a tiki road trip from So Cal! (Hmmm, good idea! Of course we’ll have to do it before it gets too hot!!! Stay tuned!) In the meantime, there is more tiki coming to Phoenix and unfortunately I am going to miss it. Martin Cate of San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove and Georgi Radev of London’s Mahiki will be speaking during Arizona Cocktail Week. So, if you can, get there! Check out the details at: http://arizonacocktailweek.com/event/the-art-of-the-tiki/
See more pics from the Arizona portion of the Tiki Trail on our FB page here.
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Saw quite a few articles about this new tiki bar in DC. Had the chance to make it here a couple times. The first time I came here I remember walking right past the place. The only signage for the place was on the door - which was propped open at the time so I completely missed it. But the good news is I figured it out!
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Overall the Archipelago cooks up a 4.12. The Archipelago is a must when you visit the greater DC area. It's a fun bar that the owners seem to be dedicated to delivering as much of a tiki experience as possible.
And when it comes to these three areas, Rancho Santa Margarita's Blind Pig more than held their own in 2 of the 3 areas - and in a bonus area! And frankly they are the most important areas!
Drinks 5
They had some great tiki classics as well as some drinks they took and made their own with their special "riffs". They had the classic Pain Killer, Jungle Juice and Navy Grog. All three were killer! The rums they stock and the knowledge they pour into their drinks is very much to be admired! They also took some liberties with the Mai Tai and made their own versions. Didn't get to those on this trip, but will next time!
Food 5
They really took the tiki concept and expanded it - eastward. They had some, what I will call *craft* tacos (after all what else would you call a sweet potato taco!). And they were great (even the sweet potato one)! They took that tiki theme and pushed the envelope. Which, quite frankly, I appreciate! Challenge me! Challenge the idea of tiki and grow it beyond what we might think of.
Music 3
OK, when it came to music, they could use some improvement. I'd like to see them playing really tiki forward music. Island tunes, reggae, classic Polynesian, Hapa Haole...I'd even take rock-a-billy, hula-billy or some other stylized music that fits. While they could use some work on the play list, it was not enough to distract us from the tiki drinks. It's just, you know, I check that stuff out!
Now where they really hit the jackpot bonus is swag! Wasn't expecting them to have any but how I was wrong!
Swag 5
These guys are so committed to the tiki theme, they had their own mugs created! I know some full on tiki bars that STILL don't have theirs! But they did! And it was a killer representation of their name! You simply MUST get a Blind Pig tiki mug! If nothing else it will fit for your next bbq pig luau! Oh yeah, and do not forget to grab up a few little Blind Pig drink umbrellas, too!
So, overall, when you are in the Orange County, hit Trader Sam's, Don the Beachcombers and Royal Hawaiian, but if you are there on a Tuesday night get yourself up to the Blind Pig in Rancho Santa Margarita (the town so cool it has 'margarita' in its name!)!
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Check 'em out for yourself, on Tiki Taco Tuesday or any other day of the week, at:
31431 Santa Margarita Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita,CA
And online at: theblindpigoc.com or on Facebook
]]>Drinks - 5. Royal Hawaiian was known for its Lapu Lapu and this new incarnation surely does not disappoint on this classic! And they have a great mix of classic tiki drinks and their own special concoction. In addition to the Lapu Lapu I had the 3 Miles to Mexico! As one who loves tequila and spice, this was right up my alley!
Food - 5. Having been there twice I have had the chance to sample a few things form the menu. Awesome is the word! And even here they kept to the island feel!
Decor - 5. They have maintained a commitment to the tradition of the Royal Hawaiian with a modern twist very nicely. Personally, I like the old school vibe, but this is Laguna Beach, after all. It's gotta be hip and cool. There is plenty of awesome bamboo work, pufferfish lamps and other elements to make it a nice albeit upscale tiki feel
Music - 3. OK, here it got a bit weird. The music I did notice was not really conducive to a tiki environment. I would like to have had some more polynesian themed music. Being in Laguna Beach, they could go with some nice exotica! That being said, it wasn't loud enough to really detract from the scene. Just would have been better if it added to the scene
Swag - 4. They have their own personal mugs in development and should be here
around the end of January. That being said they do have mugs for sale and a nice RH t-shirt. And I have to say, they have one of the coolest swizzle sticks I have ever seen!
Aloha - 5. They are nothing if not extremely friendly, inviting, and knowledgable about the tiki culture. The staff are great and the overall feel is definitely very tiki. I love this place.
Overall they get a 3.6 rating so add it to your must see list!
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