Tiki Central Canada

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

We decided this year to add our Christmas scene at the end of the show so you can enjoy the regular show. So, as a bonus and our traditional Christmas show we have added a Christmas Carol scene for you from us (end of the show)!!

This episode we will discuss the very tiki cocktail Voodoo Grog. This cocktail is like a combination of Don the Beachcomber's Navy grog and Trader Vic's Navy Grog. It was created back in the 50's by Trader Vic who was always trying to duplicate Don's drinks and so this is his attempt to make his version of the Zombie. It would come in a special Trader Vic Voodoo Tumbler which is very rare and no I don't have one. You can use a double rocks glass instead.

It has a ginger bread kinda of taste and frothy as well. It will be made in a blender so yes you will need that!
This drink will us Martinique Rhum which is a rum from the French Caribbean island of Martinique. Yes, it is spelt RHUM not rum. We go over the differences.

This drink does contain an egg white but don't panic as long as its tore bought and pasteurized you won't have any issues. Many ritzy cocktail bars use egg white to make their drinks frothy and so you might have already experienced this already not knowing.

We discuss just where did voodoo start and why is it so popular in today's society. We even cover another James Bond movie "Live and Let Die" with Roger Moore that has voodoo customs throughout the movie. Orson Welles even back in the days made a production called "Voodoo MacBeth" which has a lot of crazy situations surrounding it.

On "Did you know?" segment we give you more information about Martinique and its history and I hate to say some of Cam's dirty laundry!!

Here is the recipe: Trader Vic's: 1 oz Martinique Rhum, 1 oz Gold Puerto Rican Rum, 0.5 oz Passion Fruit syrup, 0.75 oz Pimento Dram (Allspice Liqueur), 0.75 oz Grapefruit Juice, 0.5 oz Lime Juice, 0.25 oz Honey, 1 Egg White, 8 oz Crushed Ice AND Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's recipe: Only difference is that Pimento Dram as he made it strong with 0.75 oz of Pimento Dram.

Here is the link to making Pimento Dram if in Canada as in USA you can buy it at your local liquor store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc9Z75hMgPI&t=188s

Here is the link to making the cocktail on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzdYFzocSC0

James Bond link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTzsm9-XWQo

Haiti Voodoo YouTube links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpeLdXeIbwA or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8A02LCbtyw

Link to the Martinique Rhum: https://www.saq.com/page/en/saqcom/rhum-agricole/saint-james-royal-ambre/27763?selectedIndex=5&searchContextId=37565991819171128325

Hi Guys,

NOTE: This is not our regular show format as we don't feature a drink or its history at all. We been asked by many listeners, what rums I should have on my bar to make these tiki drinks? Do I need all these rums to make drinks?

This is a tasting show that Cam and I did where we describe some basic rums from different parts of the world to give you an idea of what you need for our drinks. We will cover in this show the following rums: John Watling (Bahamas), Havana Ritual Spicy rum (Cuba), Gosling Black Seal rum (Bermuda), and finally Cam's favorite (I really do mean that as I have converted him from Malibu to Cruzan) Cruzan coconut rum (St. Criox).

We will go over the locations of these rums; the distillation of the rums (pot/column) with video attached on what these means (on the website page); history of the rums; tastes; and smells plus drinks that you can use for them for.

Page for the show is: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/rum-tasting/
Enjoy as we sure did...LOL! We also will suggest some rums to use as starting out compared to more complex ones.

Distillation YouTube video page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRx1bfpdz6E&t=404s

Happy holidays guys!!
We know that our USA listeners just celebrated Thanksgiving weekend and Black Friday (ouch!).

We will be discussing Missionary's Downfall cocktail which is an original Don the Beachcomber classic. It is a drink that was actually inspired by the Cuban's Daiquiri which Don found while travelling the Caribbean. He was fascinated that they would alter the drink and this drove him to do the same.

This is a blended drink and so yes you will need a blender for this amazing drink. BUT wait there is more...a second drink that is from Smuggler's Cove book that is less frothy and slightly different in texture. Smuggler's version is altered enough that they call it Aku Aku. What does that mean...well listen to find out.

Don the Beachcomber: we give you recap of this amazing man who created tiki in North America and how he got his start. From bootlegger to valet to bartender, he had a great adventure for sure.

On "Did You Know?" segment: we go over just how did Thanksgiving start in USA/Canada and why is it so confusing as to when it is. Well, there is a reason for that as past presidents had a say in when it was.

Also, I give Paola a bottle of Cream of Coconut from the coffee shop so she can make her Paula's wish/Blue Hawaiian cocktails at home. We will have on our website the picture of the bottles I use and how to get them. Also we thought we would throw in a funny video for you of turkeys chasing postal workers..nothing better say Thanksgiving then see a postal worker on the run.

Here iss the link to a video on YouTube on how to make the Missionary Downfall as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yysxb_RmPAk

Postal worker been chased: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcRcFk0H1Hs&t=2s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYyd3Lfnt30

Recipes: Don's recipe: (makes two servings) 1 oz Light Rum, 0.5 oz Peach Liqueur, 0.5 oz Lime Juice, 1 oz Honey Syrup, 2 oz Diced Pineapple, 2 oz Tightly Packed Mint Leaves, 6 oz Crushed Ice; garnish Mint Sprig

Smuggler's Cove recipe: 5 (1-inch-square) chunks fresh pineapple, 8 mint leaves, 1 oz fresh lime juice, ½ oz Demerara syrup, ½ oz peach liqueur, 1 ½ oz blended lightly aged rum; Muddle the pineapple chunks in a drink mixer tin. Add the remaining ingredients and 12 ounces of crushed ice and flash blend for 10 seconds. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass. Float a large mint leaf on top of the drink.

Hi Folks!
This is a great episode that deals with a new spirit we haven't discussed before. This spirit is called Mezcal (which is Tequila's brother) as it is made from only kind of agave plant (Blue agave). We go over two different cocktails that contain this great spirit.

Also, we discuss a holiday celebrated in Mexico called "Day of the Dead". This amazing celebration is a three day event that starts on October 31st and goes through to November 2nd. It is a time spend with the past deceased relatives who say come back to party with their family. The culture believes that there are several levels one must go through to get to heaven and so this event is a guidance in some way to help the deceased get to their final destination. It is looked upon as a positive moment and not a grieving moment as we have in our culture.

The idea for the show came from an event I go to annually called the Third World Bizarre which is held every October here in the Ottawa region. This amazing event is a collection of arts and crafts from around the world that are collected the rest of the year and then brought back to Ottawa to be sold. Several regions are covered including Mexico. We got a ceremony skull which is called "Calavera" which represents the "Day of the Dead". So instead of doing Halloween cocktails which are not really tiki, we decided to research more of this event and bring you some cool drinks and facts about it. Here is the link to the 3rd World Bizarre event: https://thirdworldbazaar.ca/

Ocotber 31st is the day for the kids (also called "Angelitos") of the celebration and you can see little skull (also called "calavera") and often have the name of the deceased person inscribed on the forehead which are placed at the grave site.

The adults part of the celebration is on November 2nd when offerings (also called "ofrendas") of liquor and cigarettes plus their favorite food would be placed on their sites. Mark gives us more information details on how this event originated.

On "Mark's adventures" segment: Mark gives us information on The Bali Hai. It is in San Diego very near the coast on an area called Shelter Island. Shelter Island is not actually an island but a sand bar that was built up with materials dredged up from the bay in 1934. We discuss several characteristics of the bar such as "The Goof" and "Mr. Bahi Hai" himself. They also have a Mai Tai of their own that during happy hour the price changes as you drink.
You would like to know more, please give it a listen!!! Also, here is the link to The Bali Hai website where you can see just how many Mai Tais have been sold so far (its alot): https://www.balihairestaurant.com/

On "Did you know?" segment: We will discuss "Day of the Dead" facts such as it is celebrated around the world in different countries. A cool fact we go over is that the James Bond movie Spectre's opening scene is a Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico City that was Hollywood staged with hundreds of locals on set in costume. But here is the cool fact, the city never had a parade for this day til after the movie was shot there and the city decided to add it to the celebration yearly now.

Here is the cool YouTube video on the behind the scenes of the whole opening production on the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59_YFkYrLQQ

Some of the ingredients needed for these drinks are hard to find so I have added these links to help you find them.

Chocolate bitters: https://www.amazon.ca/Aztec-Chocolate-Bitters-Fee-Brothers/dp/B002GUZHLO/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=chocolate+bitters&qid=1573888481&sr=8-5

Mezcal that I used for the recipe (LCBO-Ontario): https://www.lcbo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/lcbo/mexcalia-mezcale-697953#.Xc-YgtVKjX4

Hi Guys,

NOTE: This is not our regular show format as we don't feature a drink or its history at all.

We been asked by many listeners, what rums I should have on my bar to make these tiki drinks? Do I need all these rums to make drinks?

This is a tasting show that Cam and I did where we describe some basic rums from different parts of the world to give you an idea of what you need for our drinks.

We will cover in this first part the following rums:
Flor De Cana, Cruzan Aged rum, Plantation 3 years pale rum, Pusser’s Rum, El Dorado Demerara rum (5 and 12 year), and Bacardi Reserva 8-year rum.

We will go over the locations of these rums; the distillation of the rums (pot/column) with video attached on what these means (on the website page); history of the rums; tastes; and smells plus drinks that you can use for them for.

Part 2 will follow next month after our regular show....

Page for the show is: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/rum-tasting/

Enjoy as we sure did...LOL!
We also will suggest some rums to use as starting out compared to more complex ones.
Distillation YouTube video page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRx1bfpdz6E&t=404s

Hey Folks....
It's true ...CAM IS BACK!!!!!
This episode is great to the tiki world as we discuss two famous tiki cocktails (that's right: two co-host equals two cocktails). Blue Hawaii invented by Harry Yee in 1957 in the Hilton Hawaiian Village (formerly the Kaiser Hawaiian Village) in Waikiki, Hawaii. Do you know the significance of that hotel in TV land today? Listen to find out!!
Also, the Blue Hawaiian cocktail which has the tiki mystery of who created this delicious drink.

We go over the Brady Bunch as Cam as returned to the tiki bunch...LOL!!
The show is on its 50th anniversary being aired and the famous 3 episode Hawaiian vacation was aired on September 22nd, 1972 and was the first American TV show to film in Hawaii. HGTV bought the original Brady house (exterior shot house) and with the help of all 6 actors who played the kids rebuild the entire Brady house room by room on the "Very Brady Renovation" show which aired in September.

Back to the drink...did you know that Harry Yee was the first bartender to use the tiki umbrella in a cocktail and an orchid?

So we go over the difference of these two drinks and of course their recipes.
One is a build drink and the other can be blended or shaken.

On "Did you know" segment: we cover the mysterious blue curacao and where did it come from and why is it blue if its an orange liqueur...hmmm!!!

Recipes:
Blue Hawaii: 3/4 oz of white rum/ and 3/4 oz of vodka, 1/2 oz of Blue Curacao (BOLS from Amsterdam), 3 oz of pineapple juice, 0.5 oz of fresh squeezed lime juice, 0.5 oz of simple syrup (or use 1 oz sweet n sour mix: original recipe) and use chunk of pineapple for garnish with an umbrella and orchid

Blue Hawaiian: 1.5 oz Light rum - 3 oz Pineapple Juice - 1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur - 1 oz Cream of coconut

FYI: this episode is a little longer than usual BUT trust me with Cam back and Paola co-hosting, it's worth it!! Enjoy!!!

Future episode: Rums from around the world and which ones should you use!!!

Hi Guys,

This is a special extra episode we came up with since it will be "Talk Like a Pirate Day" on September 19th. We decided to give you guys a cool episode just for the special day.

The cocktail we will go over is Dark N Stormy cocktail since it looks like a stormy black cloud like the conditions pirates dealt with while at sea.

We will go over Gosling rum from Bermuda for this cocktail. This special rum has a great story on how it started. James Gosling hit the seas with a mission to the New World and ended up in Bermuda. He figured that he may as well stay and make a business and eventually made rum. Navy sailors drinking ginger beer needed something more and BANG! Dark N Stormy was created!!

The Recipe: 2 oz Gosling Rum, 4-6 oz Ginger Beer, 0.5 oz lime juice, 0.5 oz of simple syrup (if your ginger beer is spicy) and garnish with lime wheel. Build over ice in a Collins glass.

So some terms to speak like a pirate:
Clap of Thunder: A strong alcoholic beverage, usually referring to a shot
Hearties: Friends, comrades
Scallywag: What an experienced pirate would call a newbie
Landlubber: A person who is uncomfortable, or not incredibly skilled, at sea
Dead men tell no tales: phrase indicating to leave no survivors

On "Did you Know" segment: we go over the fact that there is over 300 identified vessels lying ruined at the bottom of the surrounding North Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda.
Also, Bermuda is not in the Caribbean. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1030 km from the United States’ East Coast. Bermuda is a cluster of 181 islands.
There is no public water system on Bermuda, as the island has no natural source of freshwater. Bermudians have to rely on rainfall to fill up their water tanks, greatly helped by the shape of their limestone roofs.

I hope you enjoy this special episode and don't forget to talk like a pirate...here is a website to go to translate any words or phrases from English language to pirate language.
Website: http://pirate.monkeyness.com/online_pirate_translator

Hi Folks,

Well the summer is over and we are back to work now. Yes :(

This episode we will be talking about a cocktail named Nelson's Blood. Why are we drink his blood? Well, there is more to the story then just the drink. We have to start with Pusser's rum (British Navy rum). Why are we talking about this rum and what is its relation to the drink?
Pusser's rum was a British royal Navy rum that was portioned out to the sailor from 1655 to 1970 (July 31st to be exact). It was then released to the public (who didn't have access to this prior). Black Tot Day is when the royal navy stopped handing our rations of rum to the sailors. The ships got to technical and the main reason for the ration in the beginning was to deal with hardship and not for drinking.
So again...who is Nelson?
Admiral Nelson was a killed in battle in 1700's in a colonial war and had requested that his body be put into a cask of Pusser's rum to preserve him for the long journey back to England. The problem was the journey took longer than expected and the sailors ran out of rum on the ship. So...they tapped into the cask that his body was preserved in and by the time the ship got back to England, the cask was empty except his pickled body. Pusser's rum is sometimes referred to as Nelson's Blood.

This drink (Nelson's Blood) is on the Pusser's rum website and can only be made with that rum.

Mark (our tiki expert) goes through some cool facts on different rations of spirits by different countries and each of them had their own Black Tot Day as well.

In our "terminology" segment: we discuss different terms used on the navy ships and what they meant. Curious: you have to listen in...

Recipe: 2 oz. Pusser’s Rum (Gunpowder Proof), 2 oz. Cranberry Juice, 1 oz. Orange Juice, 1 oz. Lime Juice, 1/2 oz. Sugar Syrup, A dash of Angostura bitters. Directions: Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a glass with ice and serve.

What is gunpowder rum?? Well listen to find out!!

Bonus recipe: (my own creation..ops I mean Norma's):
Sucking the Monkey:
1.5 oz coconut rum, 0.5 oz banana liqueur, 2 oz pineapple juice,1 oz cream of coconut. Shake and strain into a Collins glass.

Hey Guys,

So this is a first! This show is co-written by Mark Keill (our tiki expert). So tons of information.

This show will be about a tiki bar in California called Tiki Ti. This amazing bar is created and was ran by Ray Buhen.

Who is Ray? We will go through his history and that he worked with Don the Beachcomber and was one of the famous Filipino bartender that worked into the back of the bar. These bartenders made the secretive drinks that nobody knew how to make but these guys and ...wait for it...Jeff "Beachbum" Berry.
We talk about him too and how he influenced the tiki culture we know today. But back to ray, he went from bar school to Don's to Seven Seas Polynesian restaurant to Christian's Hut (which has its own history) to The Luau and finally to opening Tiki Ti in 1961.

The cocktail is called Puka Punch created by Ray. We go through a very detailed recipe with 4 different rums. Why do we need that many rums? Mark helps explain.

We will also talk about a bartender technique called: Floating
Here is a YouTube link on how to float a liquid on the drink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gorjMLp8_cg

Mark tells us all about Ray and how he created Tiki Ti bar and who runs it now??

We also cover who is Don the Beachcomber and how he got his start as well.

By the way, did you know that Jeff and Ray had a relationship??
On The "Did You Know?" segment, we will explain this.

Hey Folks! I hope you are enjoying the summer and some tiki drinks as well!!

This episode will cover the cocktail named Chief Lapu Lapu. It is one of those typical tiki cocktails that have different stories of "who" and "when" this was created. We will cover the story with Don the Beachcomber and his Filipino bartenders that he had in the back room creating the secret cocktails.

There is the legend of Chief Lapu Lapu from the Philippines who was the first leader who resisted the Porteguese's leader (explorer) Ferdinand Magellan who was the first to go all the way around the world and prove the earth was round. Yes, after Christopher Columbus.

The recipes are the following as we cover three of them on the show:

Don the Beachcomber's recipe: 1.5 oz light Puerto Rican rum (Bacardi), 1.5 oz Dark Jamaican rum (Blackwell), 3 oz orange juice, 2 oz lemon juice, 1 simple syrup, 1 oz passion fruit syrup. Shake and unstrained pour into a large snifter glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serves 2 people.

Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's recipe: Aku Aku Lapu: 1 oz gold Puerto Rican rum (Bacardi gold), 1 oz Jamaican rum (Blackwell), 1 oz Lemon Hart 151 proof rum, 1 oz lemon, 1 oz unsweetened pineapple juice, 1 oz white grapefruit juice, 1 oz orange juice, 1 oz falernum, 2 cups of crushed ice. Blend for about 20 seconds, pour into a large snifter or tiki bowl, add more ice and garnish with a flower. Serves 2 people.

Tipsy Bartender's recipe (who is this guy? Listen to find out): 1 oz white rum, 1 oz dark rum, 1.5 oz orange juice, 1 oz lime juice, 0.5 oz passion fruit puree, 0.5 oz simple syrup. Shake and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple leaf and an orange wedge. I have not made this yet and so let me know what you think of this recipe if you try it out.

On the "Did you know?" segment: We talk more about Ferdinand Magellan's exploring the world and finding spices in the new world. He set sail in 1519 with over 300 crew members in 3 ships. By the end of the journey back to Spain, there was 18 crew left in one ship and (spoiler) Magellan is killed. Get this Paola has a fact that I did not know..yes it happens!!!

We let you know how the "Pacific" was discovered and why it's name that.

Here is a YouTube video to make this cocktail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z10OBRcSPts

To purchase the large Snifter glass on Amazon click this link:
https://www.amazon.ca/Luxbe-Crystal-Glasses-Handcrafted-Lead-Free/dp/B07MCYKNKS/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=large+snifter+glass&qid=1564128478&s=gateway&sr=8-2