I don’t really like many things that can be described as kitsch, but for some reason I love home tiki bars. This goes beyond rum being my favorite spirit. Maybe my affinity has to do with the fact that I’m a born-and-raised Floridian who no longer lives in a warm place, and sipping an ornate tropical cocktail allows me to pretend I still do. Or perhaps I just appreciate the amount of work it takes to turn a basement or shed into a transportive environment. In any case, I spend a lot of time lurking the r/Tiki subreddit and fantasizing about building my own version of paradise at home.
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Many people feel the same way—despite their decidedly retro character, tiki bars only seem to be increasing in popularity, with thriving scenes in Los Angeles, New York, and everywhere in between. That said, newer proprietors are increasingly cognizant of problematic elements in tiki's past, such as racist imagery and a colonial romanticism of native cultures, and are leaning away from those tropes and toward a more general "tropical" vibe of relaxation and escapism. "It’s not about thatch and bamboo or dancing girls. It’s about the level of craft and hospitality, the attention to detail,” author, beverage director, and tiki authority Shannon Mustipher recently told the New York Times. "[Tiki] is a “deeply considered, well-executed, high production value cocktail experience.”This is an evolving conversation, but as a general rule of thumb, it’s generally a good idea to consider the history of the South Pacific when beginning to collect tropical decorations and wares, and it's certainly worth doing the research to make sure your personal oasis is welcoming and respectful to all. (Here’s a good primer.)Although purists hew to a mid-century California aesthetic, Chockie Tom, co-founder of the New York-based pop-up Doom Tiki, says the subculture is highly adaptable. Her version borrows a lot from the world of heavy metal; yours can revolve around whatever makes you forget about your problems. Given that there are only a couple of weeks left before the weather gets nice-ish, and that I’m currently in need of an indoor project, I’ve started trying to figure out what that looks like—so I consulted Tom and Martin Cate, the proprietor of world-famous San Francisco bar Smuggler’s Cove, for their suggestions. While this is by no means a comprehensive list of things to have on hand for all of your tiki needs, it’s a good start for those looking to up their home bar game or to start making more complicated cocktails in general.
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Choose your mugs wisely
Consult a cocktail bible
Keep on rollin,' and not in the Limp Bizkit sense of the word
A citrus squeezer that’s not a lemon (dad jokes are a part of tiki)
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If you're strictly adhering to mid-century aesthetics, Verve Culture's countertop juicer fits the bill and is a super reasonable buy:This citrusy, spicy liqueur adds tons of complexity to any drink and is a critical ingredient in hundreds of cocktails. John D. Taylor’s is considered the original and therefore a staple of any serious tiki bar. According to Tom, it’s also an example of what’s known as “thoughtful tropical”—its producer is part of a collective of locally owned and managed distilleries helping to codify the rules around rum production in Barbados.Having an ice crusher on hand is what separates the boys from the Señor Frogs. Seriously, I’ve done the whole put-ice-in-a-Ziplock-and-hit-it-with-a-hammer thing, and while it’s provided decent tension relief during the pandemic, the whole point of tiki is supposed to be relaxation. This is what pros use when they want to get that perfectly uniform fast-food ice.Flash blenders like Hamilton Beach look like they belong at a malt shop in the 50s, but they’re actually perfect for tiki drinks because they can dilute thick syrups such as orgeat and chill a cocktail in seconds. They’ll also leave crushed ice intact, so you can pour the entire contents of the mixer straight into a glass when you’re done.
The secret ingredient
Invest in the incredible hulk of ice crushers
Get one of those soda shop drink mixer things
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Oh yeah, and you’re gonna need rum
Take it outside
The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story.