Swig & Swill: Allspice Dram

So yesterday I mentioned that I needed quite a bit of allspice, and I know you all had some trouble sleeping because you kept thinking, “What could he possibly be up to?” Well, here’s you answer: allspice (or pimento, if you want to be old-school) dram. It was a common ingredient in many tiki drinks, and along with the revival of both classic and tiki cocktails, it’s enjoying a bit of a comeback. There is even a commercial variety on the market: St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram. But who needs to buy a finished product when you can make it yourself? Not me!
Read the rest of this entry »

Swig & Swill: Passion Fruit Syrup and the Port Light Cocktail

I am continuing to wish it was summer, so that I can jump on the tiki drink trend. Naturally I was really excited when I saw a recipe for passion fruit syrup. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a passion fruit before, but I was able to track some down at our nearby Whole Foods.

Read the rest of this entry »

Swig & Swill: Dead Bastard

{ Tiki Gardens Postcard from Greg Tykal }

With the revival of vintage tiki drinks and the opening of bars like Smuggler’s Cove in SF, Rum seems to be set for a big decade. For our party a little while ago, I used Joe Scialom’s recipe for the

Dead Bastard (via TraderTiki):

• 1/2 oz Gin
• 1/2 oz Brandy
• 1/2 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Rum
• 1/2 oz Rose’s lime juice
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 4 ounces of chilled ginger beer

Shake Gently with 1 cup Crushed Ice, pour into Goblet or other large vessel.  Garnish with whatever the hell, it’s dead and doesn’t care.  I used a whole lime.  It’s a big drink.

To really hammer home the deathly theme of the drink I used Bulleit Bourbon, and Death’s Door Gin. If anyone happens to know any death themed Rum or Cognac, please let me know.