On July 10th, 1995 at about 4.30 in the afternoon I ordered, unbeknown to me, my first ever Tiki cocktail at the pool bar of the Stoufa hotel in Maui. It was a Mai Tai and it has been my favourite cocktail ever since.
If you are not familiar with the term "Tiki" you're probably thinking"What is it?" and "Where is it from?" so here is a brief history and description for you.
Essentially, it started in 1933 at the end of prohibition when Constitutional Amendment 21 – “Repeal of Prohibition” was ratified on December 5, 1933. It repealed the previous Eighteenth Amendment which had established a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Prohibition had lasted for 13 years from 1920 to 1933 so at the end of that time there was a shortage of good alcohol in the country.
Enter, yep you guessed it, Tiki, a new style of Polynesian bar culture. Probably the most pivotol figure in the popularisation of Tiki culture was Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, better known as Donn Beach. In late 1933, he opened Don's Beachcomber, a small bar that in 1937 became a much larger Hollywood bar and restaurant called Don the Beachcomber that would become synonymous with Tiki culture.
Donn Beach created elaborate cocktails inspired by the flavours
of the South Pacific, served in exotic mugs and garnished with tropical fruits and umbrellas. His establishment became a hotspot for celebrities and socialites, cementing the allure of Tiki culture in American society.
These Tiki creations have evolved over the years and you will find many of the original recipes and new recipes sitting side by side with names like The Zombie (what I politely refer to as a very alcohol forward cocktail), Missionary's Downfall, Tiki Puka Puka, Vicious Virgin and the The Fog Cutter, just to name a few.
Another influential figure was Victor Bergeron, or Trader Vic, who founded his own chain of Tiki restaurants in the late 1930s. Trader Vic's, like Don the Beachcomber, offered an escape to a tropical paradise through its décor, cuisine, and drinks. Bergeron's most famous creation, the Mai Tai, became an iconic Tiki cocktail that is still enjoyed today.
Tiki bars and restaurants proliferated across the United States, each offering its own interpretation of Polynesian paradise. Bamboo, thatch, carved wooden masks, and tiki statues adorned these establishments, creating an immersive environment for patrons to indulge in exotic fantasies.
The popularity of Tiki culture experienced a decline in the 1970s and 1980s, as tastes shifted and cultural attitudes evolved. However, it experienced a resurgence in the early 21st century, fueled by nostalgia, a renewed appreciation for mid-century aesthetics, and the craft cocktail movement.
Today, Tiki culture continues to thrive, albeit in a more nuanced and sophisticated form. Tiki bars around the world pay homage to the classics while pushing the boundaries of mixology and design.
Right from the beginning of this adventure that I call More Social, I have wanted to bring Tiki drinks to this little corner of Cyprus. We have been slaving away making cocktails and testing them, you have no idea how many times we had to test them to get them right. It's a tough job but we all have to make our sacrifices right?
So whats happening. Well, we will be introducing Cheeky Tiki Tuesdays in the very near future and really hope that you will all join us on a regular basis to partake in a little bit of Polynesian paradise in Kouklia.
Cheers everyone.
Mal
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