I sent out a request on our Facebook Fan Page and on Twitter for suggestions for this week’s Tiki Cocktail. I got some great ones (thank you all) but this drink seemed to win out over the rest, probably because of the luscious photo I posted.
Somewhere around 1934 our old pal Trader Vic Bergeron concocted a frozen drink that not only tasted great, it looked fantastic. This double-layered cocktail was dubbed
The Molokai Mike
and was served in a special glass to emphasize its unique color combination. (The glasses are difficult to find; an old fashioned glass or hurricane glass can work too.)
The trick is in getting the consistency of the frozen-ness just perfect. Blend the bottom layer quick, just enough to get it nice and thick. Blend the top layer more thoroughly and you’ll get the layers perfect. Here’s the recipe:
For the Bottom Layer:
- 1 oz. light rum
- 1 oz. orange juice
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- 1/2 oz. brandy
- 1/2 oz. orgeat syrup
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
Blend ingredients in a blender on pulse for 1-2 seconds. Any more will make the mix too watery. Pour it into the glass and get moving on part two.
For the Top Layer:
- 1 oz. gold or dark rum
- 1 oz. grenadine
- 1 oz. crushed ice
Blend it up in the swirler for about 15 seconds, until it’s nice and smoooth. Pour it (take it easy!) over the bottom layer. Garnish with some fruit and a Chinese paper umbrella. (You didn’t know they were Chinese?) Sit back, put on your shades and enjoy yourself.
-Tiki Chris P. reporting from the Tiki Bar at Tiki Lounge Talk.
Hi, love this excellent recipe, as I do your last several posts! I miss great writing….but always find it here!
Any idea where to buy the Molokai Mike glass. I have looked on ebay, amazon, etc. perhaps another name it might be under? My husband is a tiki drink guru and he would love this glass!
Someone else asked me that same question…not as easy to find as I though they would be. I haven’t found any on the net. Someone told me they are available from Trader Vic’s, but there aren’t any around here for me to check out.
Sorry to be jumping in so late here.
The Molokai Mike glass is, traditionally, a Thistle Brandy Glass. Thistle Glasses are commonly very ornate and made to look like horrible, lacy little flowers. There are also taller varieties designed to aid in beer consumption.
The closest I’ve ever been able to find to the Trader Vic’s glass was discontinued by Baccarat in 1960 (and tends to sell for upwards of $100 per on the InnerWeb these days).
Image available here: http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/crystal/B/baccarat_thistle_brandy_glass_P0000220876S0002T2.jpg
Groovy, thanks for the info!
this is my first time here and I just wanted to stop by and say Hello Everyone
Aloha Sarah!
Funny, once I looked it up, I recognized it. The difference between spelling and pronouncing it really threw me off!
This looks and sounds great! (I did not know that the cocktail in the photo had not been covered already.) Will have to see if I can find orgeat syrup (that’s a new one, even for me) on the magical interwebs.
Oh, it’s easy to find. Pronouncing it is another story altogether.
Orgeat syrup is one of the main ingredients of the *real* Mai Tai too, so it won’t go to waste.
Here’s some cheap:
http://www.wallywine.com/p-18665-trader-vics-orgeat-syrup-32-oz.aspx?affiliateid=10098