Here are some suggestions for Hawaii's tropical cocktails as you probably want a cocktail if you're visiting the islands. Depending on the hand that combines them, there are several of each and countless permutations of each. Over many years, the culture and practise around adult beverages have changed, leading to the widespread use of novel ingredients, techniques, and “tropical” and traditional cocktail interpretations.
Hawaiian tropical beverages: a brief history
I've spent 30 years working in the bar business as a musician, barmaid, promoter and booking manager, so I'm going to take that as a complement. Since I've been a working journalist for almost 25 years, I'm going to assume that Bruce is wanting my sharp professional acumen for “getting the story” so let's get started!
Even though I have spent a disproportionate amount of time (even working!) in bars, I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much more about the illustrious past of Hawaii's exotic drinks than, say, a sober-minded teetotaler arriving from Topeka, Ottowa, or Liverpool.About what is truly inside them, I know less. I decided to research it.
But what's within them?
The Mai Tai comes first. The history of the Mai Tai is mostly mythical, like many myths involving alcohol. That is to say, largely folklore and barely supported by evidence. According to Wikipedia, Victor Bergeron created the Mai Tai in 1944 at Trader Vic's in Oakland, however another man asserts that he did it first in 1933. Really doesn't matter. A homemade cocktail cannot be protected by copyright.
The answer to the question “What's in a Mai Tai?” will probably vary depending on how many bartenders you ask. All of them will include rum—light, dark, or both—along with lime juice, simple syrup, and a fruity liqueur like orange curacao or grenadine. When business is sluggish, I know seasoned bartenders who will perform an intricate Mai Tai for customers. When there are three people deep at the bar, though, they will mix some white rum with sweet and sour mix in a highball glass with rocks, add a dark rum float on top for show and call it a night.
The key idea is that if you want a Mai Tai, you will receive one. In general, every bar in a tourist area will have a “signature” Mai Tai. In my neighbourhood pub in Chinatown, the only Mai Tais I see being ordered are by disoriented, motion-sick cruise ship passengers trying to get their ‘land legs'.
The Blue Hawaii is up next. Its past is largely well-known. Harry Yee, the head barman of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, created it in 1957. He was instructed to create a cocktail that would highlight a Dutch distiller's line of blue curacao. Blue curacao and rum, vodka, or both, are its key components. The cerulean curiosity was the inspiration for one of Elvis Presley's Hawaiian-themed films from 1961.
The number of variations of the vibrant Blue Hawaii cocktail, like the Mai Tai, is equal to the number of bartenders who can make them. They'll all have blue curacao in them. We'd like to meet any true fans of Blue Hawaii so we can learn more about their lifestyle choices.
The Chi Chi, the Zombie, the Pina Colada, the Daquiri, the Sea Breeze, and numerous other drinks are also available. They all have traits that are fundamentally the same. They contain rum or vodka, or even both, and are sweet, vibrant, and frequently strong. Here at the HAT Blog, we believe that ordering a tropical beverage like a Mai Tai is more important than knowing exactly what is in it. It's a ritual of a tropical trip that involves embracing paradise.
I live in paradise, so there's no practical reason for me to order a tropical drink whenever I enter a bar to celebrate being here. I enjoy drinking beer cold, bourbon on the rocks, Irish whisky neat and dirty martinis in the right glass. In fact, the last time I had a day of tropical beverages was in the Caribbean more than ten years ago, and it left me with a poisonous, nasty hangover of epic proportions. Knowledge gained.
If you are looking for Vacation Rentals, feel free to check out Hawaiian Beach Rentals .They are the best in this business.Going gentle is our best piece of advise when it comes to Hawaii's tropical cocktails. Eat them in moderation and accompany them with plenty of water. When you finally reach Hawaii and are able to relax by the beach or a pool, it is a memorable experience. Relish it sensibly. Cheers!
