My long-awaited Moai decanter of Capel Pisco arrived today, along with a bottle of Bolivian herbal liqueur made from Coca leaves, called AGWA, so I wasted no time and whipped up this very tasty little green cocktail number called the Jaguar God, invented by Exotica blogger, Kono:

1 1/2 oz. Pisco
3/4 oz. AGWA
1/2 oz. Fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz. Passionfruit syrup (not nectar)

Shake and pour over crushed ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with fresh mint.

The AGWA when drunk straight up has a nose not unlike Hai Karate Aftershave, and it leaves a lingering taste of Listerine on the back of your tongue, but when used as a mixer, it offsets the bitter and slightly dry Pisco beautifully, and the coca leaf leaves you with an alert buzz, which counteracts the usually depressive effects of the alcohol in the cocktail. Did I mention that it's also a beautiful shade of pale green?

I'm afraid to have more than one though. I might turn into an Eighties stockbroker or something.

Mahalo, Kono!

Posted by MrBaliHai at 8:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

[Link: The Art of Thorsten Hasenkamm][via TC]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 7:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Here's some good bartending news: world-reknowned tropical-drink mixologist/historian Beachbum Berry's new book, Sippin' Safari, is slated for a June release! In it, the Bum details the fascinating history of Don the Beachcomber's legendary (and exceedingly potent) libation, the Zombie. Pre-order your copy now, at Club Tiki.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, Yours Truly contributed a couple of vintage images to the book [Link]

[Link: Sippin' Safari Pre-Order]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Click to Embiggen

[Link: Previously, in Tiki Propaganda]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tiki Farm, those fine purveyors of all things Nuevo Poly-Pop, have been soliciting Tiki Central members for new mug designs, and announced the 6 lucky contest winners yesterday. These talented folks will have their designs turned into actual mugs by the T-Farmers.

As much as I like the winning entries, however, I think the classic Christian's Hut "Goof" mug design by Eric Bass (shown above) should've won because, dammit, I want one!

You can view the winning entries here (scroll down):

[Link: American Idol Tiki Idol]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This'll be the scene June 8th-10th at Trader Vic's during the London Luau 2007. Unfortunately, I won't be able to join these fine fellows drinking out of the dugout canoe. Instead, I'll be attending my son's high-school graduation. Oh well, stiff upper lip, and all that rot.

[Link: London Luau 2007]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 6:14 PM | Permalink

After a hiatus of indeterminate origin, I'm happy to report that Scott McGerik's fine ephemera collection is once again available for your perusal. Of particular interest to me, are his small sampling of artifacts from Minneapolis' now mostly vanished Polynesian Pop scene.

Like most major metropolitan areas in the middle of the 20th century, the Twin Cities had their fair share of tropical temples, but very little of their remains seem to have made it into the local thrift and antiques stores. I recall driving around the White Bear Lake area back in 2001, looking for the Bali Hai Supper Club (matchbook and shield pictured above), and being bitterly disappointed when I discovered that it'd been torn down to make way for a cellular phone store only a few months earlier.

[Link: Scott McGerik's Collections]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 7:44 AM | Permalink

Photo ganked from Sweet Daddy Tiki's Mugshot Gallery

Populuxe's friends went to Easter Island and brought her back an ultra-fabulous Moai decanter filled with Chilean Pisco Capel liquor. Pisco is a brandy made from fermented muscatel grapes, and is used to make Pisco Sours which, according to declassified CIA documents, were Augusto Pinochet's favorite drink. Apparently, Pisco is pretty harsh stuff, but I figure that since I like both Grappa and Cachaça, how bad can it be?

In any case, the decanter is cool enough to obviate any concerns regarding its taste, so I've decided that I must possess my own bottle, and will henceforth dedicate my life to obtaining it...right after I send both my kids through college, of course.

[Link: Pisco Capel Moai Decanter]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 5:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

I normally don't blog blatantly commercial websites, but the shameless link-whoring of Troy Zimmerman convinced me to post about Fez-O-Rama, and in particular, their Fez of the Week collection of one-off, custom hipster headware. I'm particularly amused by this "meta-fez" design. Be sure to check out their line of production fezzes that include some very spiffy Tiki designs.

[Link: Fez of the Week]

Posted by MrBaliHai at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)