Episode 22 - "Tiki Time Two"

In this episode the Gentlemen of Elegant Leisure return to the islands.  Which ones?  It doesn’t matter, we’re going!  Tradewinds and grass skirts are beckoning us.  We do have to make one short stop in outer space though.  What?!?!?  Read on . . .

The Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver, B.C. recently had their 4th anniversary, and one of their featured drinks on their anniversary menu was a gin classic from 1967 called the “Saturn”.  This drink was created by J. “Popo” Galsini and it won him that year’s IBA World Cocktail Championship.  It’s not too sweet, and just a little bit tart, and perfect for that drinker who may be spooked by a bad time with rum in high school.  They know who they are.  Grab yourself a blender and get mixin’!

Saturn
by J. “Popo” Galsini, 1967.  Adapted from Jeff Berry, “Beachbum Berry’s Taboo Table” 2005

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce passion fruit syrup
1/4 ounce falernum
1/4 ounce orgeat syrup
1 1/4 ounce gin
1 cup of crushed ice

Put everything in a blender.  Blend until smooth.  Pour unstrained into a pilsner glass or other tall glass.

Why "Saturn"? Why not?

Next up is a drink featuring one of our latest purchases, Plantation Rum’s O.F.T.D Overproof Rum.  O.F.T.D. stands for old fashioned traditional dark and is the delicious result of 7 “rum geeks”; Alexandre Gabriel (from Plantation Rum), Jeff “Beachbum” Berry (Latitude 29 in New Orleans), Martin Cate (Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco), Paul McFadyen (Trailer Happiness in London), Paul McGee (Lost Lake in Chicago) Scotty Schuder (Dirty Dick in Paris) and David Wondrich (sprits and cocktail historian and author).   Plantation’s previous overproof rum contained some pot still rums that could be as much as 20 years old.  Supplies of these older rums were becoming harder to find, so a reformulation was needed and these were the guys to do it.  After tasting several old, overproof historical rums, and then comparing them to several modern formulations, this was the one that won out.  You can read more about it here. 

Here's a picture of what you're looking for in the store.

Now this wonderful rum has been used in “Mister Curtis”, a drink that sits quietly on the menu at Latitude 29 just between the “Old Fashioned Rum Cocktail” and the “Queen Annene”.  The description below it says it all; “Adventure is his meat, and this is his drink.  East Indian spices and West Indian rums, shaken with lime.”  Find yourself a bottle of Plantation’s O.F.T.D and make this drink!

Mister Curtis
Jeff Berry, Latitude 29 New Orleans, taken from Imbibe Magazine Jan-Feb 2017

1 1/4 ounce Demerara Rum (Berry uses El Dorado 8 year old. We used Lemon Hart)
1 ounce Chai syrup (Yes there’s a recipe afterwards)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
3/4 ounce Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof rum

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge and a pirate flag.

Chai Syrup
In a sauce  pan, combine 32 ounces (1 carton) of liquid chai concentrate (Berry uses Oregon Chai Original, so we did too) with 20 ounces of gold turbinado or demerara sugar.  Bring to a boil, stirring regularly, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 2 minutes.  Remove from the heat, let cool, and bottle.  Keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

When you're this tasty, they call you MISTER Curtis.