#39: Palace Court

     The Palace Court marks the last drink of this visit to the Hut, and also officially marks the HALFWAY POINT of the Grog Log challenge.   A rather unceremonious drink to mark the occasion, this little guy is more of a shot than a drink.  Served in a wine goblet, it is another tangy sipping cocktail, with a bit more sweet aftertaste.  39 down, 39 remain.  On to the second half!

#38 Don's Own Planters

     After the uber-tang flavor of the Derby Daiquiri, I was looking for something that was guaranteed to have the right mix of flavor, texture, sweet & sour, and some visual appeal.  I knew that Don's Own Planters would be the perfect choice, and I was right.  The Planter's Punch is already a great drink as it is, and to sample the original Don the Beachcomber's version is a real treat.

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz soda water
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 oz honey-mix
• 1.5 oz dark Jamaican rum
• 1 oz Light Puerto Rican rum

The Honey mix refers to a special concoction of equal parts honey and water, heated up to dissolve and mix, then cooled to room temp.  Garnished with a Lime, Stalk and Cherry, the result is an awesome explosion of perfectly balanced sweet & sour flavors.  One of my favorite drinks on the log for sure.

     Joining me this week is High School buddy Kevin Fosmark.  A fellow Michigander, a talented bartender himself, and a killer guitar player, Kev went for the house specialty: the Honi-Honi.  Great drink for whiskey-lovers who enjoy the rad ambiance of the Tiki zone.  

#37: Derby Daiquiri

     This visit to the Hut starts with the Derby Daiquiri.  It was created by a veteran bartender of the great Don the Beachcomber's, Mariano Licudine.  He went on to be a bartender at Mai Kai, and he created the drink for a "Rums of Puerto Rico" competition in 1959.

• 1 oz orange juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz sugarcane syrup
• 1 1/2 oz light Puerto Rican rum

This goblet-served drink is surprisingly tangy for how many sweet ingredients it contains.  Definitely one for the sipping, due to both alcoholic content and severe taste.  On to the next.

#36: Royal Hawaiian

   
     This visit to the Hut ends with a pleasant surprise, the Royal Hawaiian.  Served in a goblet / martini style glass, this relatively simple concoction serves up a nice smooth, sweet flavor that is easy to tackle.  Pineapple and Lemon juice combine with Orgeat Syrup and Gin, making a sweet and tangy result.  One of the best sip-drinks I've had on the log for sure.  Until next time, Okole Maluna!

#35: Tahitian

     Next on the list is a uniquely flavored, complex drink:  The Tahitian.  I was warned that I might not like this one, before I dived in.  The warning definitely had some merit, as it has an intense, tangy taste with a good alcoholic kick to it.  The intensity perhaps comes from the billion ingredients within; Rhum Barbancourt, bitters, syrup, creme de cacao, lime juice, pineapple juice, and Jamaican and Puerto Rican Rum.  Garnished with a lime, this was certainly a tough one to take down.

     My guest once again is the incomparable Mike McKee.  He managed to slam through the classic Honi-Honi, and then two Lisa-Marie specials; the Rye Mai Kai (pictured below) and her Blood Orange Manhattan, a new McKee favorite.  Cheers!

#34: Hurricane

      I had been saving the Hurricane for the halfway marker, but after several weeks of absence from the Hut, I figured a celebratory drink was in order.  The Hurricane is about as classic as it gets, and is one of my all time favorite go-to "boat drinks".  Meyers Rum, some passion fruit syrup, and lemon juice make up this simple yet effective cocktail.  Hurricane from the Hut is, as expected, excellent.  Next time you're out sailing or hanging on the deck, I highly recommend you all experience this one at least once.  Also, this new decorative and informative addition to the hut is something I hope to hang in my domicile someday:

#33: Waikikian

Before checking out this week, it was time to try the rhythmically named Waikikian.  I lucked out this week with two great drinks.  In contrast to the flavor of the Polynesian Paralysis, this drink is less blended, more straight-up, appropriately served in an Old Fashioned glass.  This deceptively simple concoction consists of Lemon Juice, Orgeat, Curacao, Light Rum, which is then shaken in a cocktail shaker, poured into the appropriate glass and then served with a Dark Rum floater on top.  Overall, it has a rich, almost smokey/nutty flavor, the Curacao mixed with Orgeat sets it apart.  Nick tackled the house specialty, the Ginger Flame, always a good decision.

#32: Polynesian Paralysis

The adventure continues this week, with the Polynesian Paralysis.  This drink is pretty classic, and sometimes comes in different styles (such as the Norwegian Paralysis).  Depending on the way it is prepared, it can pack a pretty serious punch as well, earning its name.  The Grog Log defines the drink as being made from Oregat, Martinique Rum, Lemon, Pineapple, Orange, and syrup.  Really excellent cocktail, and is often available at standard Tiki Bars, though the Hut of course has the most fresh ingredients employed in its recipe.  Joining me this week is my friend Nick Palmer.  A former visitor to the Northern Californian Tiki Tom's, this was Nick's introduction to the SoCal Tiki Scene, and I was very excited to bring him to my favorite Tiki Temple in the southland.