Binny's Blog

It's tiki time! Our Big Mama is full of tropical flavors that will have you feeling like you're floating on a flamingo raft somewhere under the sun. This tropical cocktail is a polite mix of lime, ginger, almonds, cinnamon, pineapple, and lemon. The savory sweet combo will have you making another and another and another.

Originally, the Sazerac cocktail was made with French brandy. In 1873, the recipe for the Sazerac Cocktail was altered to replace the French brandy with American Rye whiskey. We decided to recreate the original with Hennessy Cognac - plus ginger syrup, a few dashes of barrel aged bitters, and of course, a heavy absinthe rinse.

Legend has it that Don the Beachcomber concocted the first instance of the Zombie to help a hungover customer survive an important business meeting. We suggest skipping the meeting altogether to enjoy this classic cocktail, which uses four different types of rum. Limit two per person.

As of late, there is an immense interest for tiki-inspired drinks. Bartender Angie came up with one that's sure to make you feel like your toes are inches deep in the sand. It's quite literally called Tiki Drink, and is full of all the sunshine you'll ever need.

The taste of bourbon is a bit too austere for some. Fret not; there are some wonderful cocktails that can soften it up a bit. One such example is the Minneapolis Hustler. This cocktail has much in common with a classic cocktail from years past known as the Oriental Cocktail.

Give this unconventional bourbon cocktail a try. The key ingredient in this drink is Orgeat syrup, a sweet and nutty syrup familiar to Tiki devotees like myself, but a mystery to many. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle tout suite. This delicious almond syrup is the magical ingredient in dozens of tropical drinks, most famously the Mai Tai.

The mint julep has been a smash for centuries due to its potent yet supremely refreshing profile. It is now utterly unthinkable to let a Derby Day go by without enjoying a Julep or two. For those of us who have watched as mint has taken over our herb gardens this is just the starting gate for a Julep filled summer. That is definitely a hands down win!