Hi folks,Sorry we have been not online for some time...it has been items such as schedules, work, private lives and other items that has set us back. We will work harder to bring you the shows and thanks for sticking with us.This episode, we will be talking about the Pago Pago cocktail and its origins. There was a time where in North America there was several tiki bars named Pago Pago and a few still stand today. The main item we discuss on the origin of this drink t=is two little islands in the Pacific ocean that are surrounded by the international date line. This imaginary line has gone through so many changes as to which areas it covers. So one of the islands West Samoa and the American Somoa islands are on opposite sides of this line. The capital city of American Somoa is Pago Pago. The line is by the way not a true straight line as you will see on any map. By the way depending who you reference the line it changes depend if its Google maps or other sources. For the cocktail, we will give you not one or two recipes but 3 different recipes to this cocktail. Some ingredients can be hard if not impossible to find especially the Chartreuse. On Mark's adventures: we finally get to a location in Canada. The Shameful Tiki Room in BC Canada is the next location Mark has adventured to and will give us a full report on. This unique bar (as there are not many at all of tiki bars in Canada) has tons of character, drinks, rums, music and décor to discuss. It has been operating for 10 years now and just has its anniversary celebration which Mark was part of.Links to the show:Recipes from the show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/International Date line YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBppb2quqkEMark's Adventures page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/marks-tiki-page/

Hi guys,Sorry for the delay we had a recording session that was a bad recording and so we had to re-schedule this show to get a good recording. So this past year we lost a famous and pioneer in the tiki world, Harry Yee at the age of 104 years old. Wow, that in itself is an amazing accomplishment. Do you want to grow that old? I'm aiming for 100!!Anyways, on this show we will cover two of Harry's cocktails: Tapa Punch (1959) and Chimp in Orbit (1961), Tapa Punch was the first cocktail to have a parasol incorporated in a drink. The Chimp in Orbit was named after a chimpanzee also known as Ham the Chimp and Ham the Astrochimp, was the first Great Ape launched into space. Both of these drinks will include some Puerto Rician rum and Jamaican.We also get into Harry's life story and where and how he started his journey to the tiki world and some of the accomplishments he made along the way that we know and cherish today.  Here is a sample of some of these facts such as he flew in World War II for the Chinese air force. He also worked for Don the beachcomber and Trader Vic which we know are the pioneers of tiki. He then moved onto the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is a resort hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.  There several show including Hawaiian Eye and the movie Blue Hawaii were shot and Harry created drinks for them. He also was approached by Bols to create a nice tropical blue cocktail to go with their new Blue Curacao liqueur. On "Did you know?" segment: we will give you some cools facts about Hawaii like did you know there are no snakes on the plane (ops, I meant island...sorry Samuel)!! There are also no billboards and they are the only state of USA that still honors a king!! and much more.....Links to the show:Recipes from this show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/The YouTube Video for Tapa Punch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMuelHTwFCUAnother YouTube video for Tapa Punch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278HKOc3dHAChimp In Orbit Cocktail YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md8jpp9xS-Y&t=67s

Hi folks and Happy New Year,This is our 5th year doing the show and wow we have gone through a lot in that time!! I was hoping we would have cracked 100th last year but it's coming!! Ok, enough about that, this show is part two of Mark's adventures to Hawaii....We will do two cocktails on this show for you from there. We need to do some Mai Tai cocktails of course and so we are giving you two versions of Trader Vic's Mai Tai. Now wait a minute Craig, I thought there is one original and all the other are spin offs of that but how can the same man make different versions of his drink? Well, I will tell you, the reason is the rums that he purchased to make the original Mai Tai cocktail were specific rums from specific parts of the Caribbean and through time those rums depleted. So, he had to start all over with new rums and maybe change some of the mixes to compliment those new rums. Also, tourism is a factor in creation of tropical drinks as they want something more main stream and ingredients that they would know and already have a craving for.  Remember, NO grenadine though ok!!!So we will do 1956 version of the drink with specific regional rums and the next one will be 1961 and the rums will be more general and the mixes will change as well.  We find out just what does Mark put in his version of the Mai Tai and his thoughts on many Mai Tais that he did try out while he was in Hawaii.  We explain what is Rocky Candy syrup which was a common ingredient back in those days in some of the recipes you will find. It's very simple (lol) to make!!!We discuss the secrecy that was back then to keep competitors or clients wondering just what is in this drink. I ask Mark on his thoughts as to why is the Mai Tai the Hawaiian tiki drink ???On "Mark's Adventures" segment: we discuss great small place Mark found called "Tahiti Nui". We discover another strong willed woman ran this place and had things like Pot lucks and live music to keep the clients coming back for more. This long running bar has a lot of history in it and Mark dived right in to find out more!!!Links to the show: Recipes for this show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/Mark's Adventure page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/marks-tiki-page/Tahiti Nui website: https://www.thenui.com/YouTube Video of Tahiti Nui restaurant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqqyRNFkcHo

Hi folks,I hope everyone had great holidays this year and some time off of course. Isn't the best thing of the year to end it with family and friends and time to reflect on the year we have had....This episode we will give you two Christmassy recipes for you o try out during this time. I said Christmassy as I don't normal make cocktails that are holiday related. I know you are saying "Craig you are such a Scrooge" but for me I like making cocktails that are not so targeted to a specific holiday but something you can enjoy anytime of the year.So we have the Island Holiday cocktail which is a layered drink and does contain a special liqueur called Midori (or Crème de Menthe dark). Now, we do give you some tips to layering a drink but don't worry if you can't do it as my grandpa would say:" It's all going down the same hole" and so don't sweat it but give a try. Our second cocktail is "Rudolph's Night Off" which I found on Pinterest which I am sorry I don't understand how to use and I guess I'm old school on these things. We also talk about what are our Christmas plans for the season, what was our most memorable gift we ever got (and yes mine was drums LOL).  We also talk about New Year's resolutions which I know we never stick to but fun to talk about.On "Did you Know?" segment: we find out Santa has his own postal code in Canada. How many gifts are given out on the 12 days of Christmas and how NORAD started tracking Santa's journey on that special day. Here are the links to the show:Recipe for this show (remember now we have 2 pages of recipes): https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/Island Holiday Cocktail: https://www.moderntiki.com/island-holiday-tiki-cocktail/Modern tiki home page: https://www.moderntiki.com/Here is a Christmas Cocktail we didn’t mention on the show but give it a try:https://www.pinchpurrfect.com/2020/12/24/christmas-in-the-caribbean/Rudolph’s Night off cocktail: https://www.elletalk.com/rudolphs-night-off/Cranberry simple syrup video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Htxz1M0MIw

HI guys,So, I know we are cutting it close for the year end to jam a few more shows in for you. This special episode (this is part one of 2) is about Mark's adventures to Hawaii. He finally went back to the oasis he knew so many years ago and re-visited a few places and checked out some new ones as well. He tried out 30 Mai Tai just for research. I know the things he will do for our listeners, what a trooper!!This episode we will talk about two cocktails he experienced there on his journeys: Sand and Sea Cocktail from Rumfire bar and High Maka Mai Tai which I saw in some of the pictures of menus he sent back to me as I enjoyed our cold (burr) weather here. We figured we give you two drinks and one of course has to be a version of Mai Tai which seems to be the Hawaiian trade mark of drinks. We will go further into that in part 2.On Mark's adventures segment, we will be discussing the bar called "La Mariana Sailing Club" which started back in the 50's! Yes, that long it has been around and thank god we see tiki can survive things like hurricanes, earthquakes, financial troubled times,  and still stand tall. Paola and Mark compare notes to just how the tiki/Polynesian times have changed over the years to more commercial and high end tourism. Links for the show:Recipes for the show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/Mark's adventures page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/marks-tiki-page/Facebook page for "La Mariana Sailing Club": https://www.facebook.com/lamarianasailingclub/Menu page for La Mariana Sailing Club: http://www.lamarianasailingclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/LMSC-Dinner-Menu.pdf

Hi guys,Long time no show...I know, I know!!!This is one of my favorite shows yearly as we talk about September 19th: "Talk Like A Pirate Day"Rob and Erica Brunner always join us for this show and you maybe be asking why if you ever listen to this show yearly??Well, first off Rob is a Lieutenant Commander of the Canadian Royal Navy (ok that qualifies him for sure), and he is also part of a pirate society association of Canada that does pirate re-enactments and show across the country (ok, now he is very qualified)!!! So I know this show is usually longer than our normal show but when I start talking about pirates then just like Rob and Erica do; I can go on for hours!!! So, we do have a pirate themed drink for you this show called the "the French Pirate" cocktail. We used this drink for several reasons: 1) Cointreau and brandy are related to the French community and of course to piracy on ships,       2) tiki ingredient of Falernum is being used so that is a plus      3) Pusser's rum which was the British navy's rum given out to sailors on ships as rations is again another plusYes, I did tweak the original recipe but come on it's me....I'll post both the original recipe and the tweaked version for you on our website so check them out and get a stiiirrrring!! Eye!!So with Rob and Erica's expertise we discuss words or phrases that would be used on the ships during the pirate era. We discuss their crew the " Cut N Run" which travels to different events and educates and entertains crowds on piracy and the hardships they went through. Erica goes into detail about hardships and myths that maybe given pirates the glamourous life we think they might have had but was not so. Rob discusses some of the rums around the world he has come across and transporting those back to Canada. Yes, I have mentioned on previous shows about travelling and rum....Links to the show:Recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/Pirate magazine (Rob writes articles for and very informative: magazine is in English and French): https://fliphtml5.com/homepage/gybp?fbclid=IwAR35t1nqRCoTjksgPSa-lT3KN5ZvLSbkuA_OFdZDdy8s-5K8VbvP2PKRe1MCut N Run Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CutAndRunPiratesCut N Run videos FB: https://www.facebook.com/CutAndRunPirates/videosPirate Website: https://mftproduction.wixsite.com/festivaldespiratresOh bonus YouTube video: rum knowledge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4BFb5sknGY

Hi guys,Yes, this is been a crazy year and getting shows out has been a challenge at times...I'll work on that but I do have a surprise for you on this episode as Cameron (original co-host) is back for this one and my guinea pigs as well as Mark on some new variations of the summer classic: Mojito.So with the origin, we go through a few of the theories to this drink as some of the classic cocktails wasn't documented well back then as to who create them. We dug deep and came up with a few for you to ponder over: Sir Francis Drake (explorer, pioneer, adventure and yes a pirate) has his men go ashore in Cuba to gather items to create a drink to cure Scurvy and other illnesses; OR Cuban tribes men create the remedy to cure illness and passed it onto new pioneers that came ashore: OR Ernest Hemingway helped a bartender create the cocktail while on his usual stops at the bar. You decide which you think is the right answer....So recipes we do a basic Mojito and don't forget to SMACK your mint for your garnish LOL. We then attempt several other takes of the recipe such as coconut rum, demerara syrup instead of simple syrup, limoncello liqueur in the mix, or basil (yes basil...which didn't turn out so hot).We go through some cool facts about Cuba, Bacardi rum, and Havana Club rum that you might have known such as why is there a bat logo on the bottle of Bacardi, where did Bacardi leave to and why, Havana Club always been owned by the gov't?? These questions and more like the new rules to Embargo to Cuba are answered on this episode.Some Links for the show: Recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes-page-2/Cool link page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/cool-links/YouTube "How To Drink" episode on 8 variations of the Mojito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxq2xuqVsf0YouTube Anders Erikson video on making mojitos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMypSCazyRwMain website page: www.tikicentralcanada.ca

Hey guys,So we are continuing on our talks with Paola and Justin on their great adventure to Hawaii..Sorry the intro is the same as part one as we only recorded one intro and then decided to split the show into two. But it is worth hearing again. Mark is not a tiki expert according to him just someone who drinks a lot LOL (running joke). And Paola will finally say who our special guests is...Justin!!!On this episode, we will be talking about Justin's favorite drink he had which is the Big Island Iced Tea (a spin off of a traditional Ice Tea cocktail which we will be covering soon). He explains to use the significance of the name to the drink and the islands. Justin also talks about the many Mai Tai's he tried and which one was his favorite. After hearing the ingredients, my mouth watered but sadly we can make it here in North America due to a ingredient special grown in Hawaii only.We get into the Hilton Resort they stayed at and some of the pluses and minus of the resort. I think either way its oasis and will always want to go there. Justin tells his about meeting up with a special bartender and his background which in tiki world is amazing. Paola gets into the Blue Hawaiian cocktail she had and its variations she came across.Links to the show:Recipes for the show:http://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Hawaiian Village resort: https://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/

Hi guys,I bet you are wondering, where did they go ? Did the show stopped? Where is my drink recipes because I need a drink stat? Well, Lots has happened since our last show and I feel I need to explain (if you want to skip this go to SHOW NOTES BELOW). So around Christmas last year, I got separated and moved to a new apartment. I also had to move the entire liquor cabinet (360 bottles) and the studio to a new location. I then had to move again in May to a new townhouse where I have finally set up shop. Also, the bar scene has been quit a ride with shutdowns and re-openings/staffing/patio season prep and so on...Overall, we are back and I apologize sincerely to our listeners for this massive delay. But we are back and will be bring your new shows more frequently than last year. That said let's go onto the show!!!SHOW Notes:This episode and the next we will be talking to my co-host Paola and her husband and love of her life Justin on their adventures to Hawaii that they took in May. The cocktail to this show is Paola's favorite from the trip (beside the Blue Hawaii, and yes apparently mine is better..no big head now LOL). The drink is the Lava Flow. This cocktail features fresh/frozen strawberries, white rum, coconut rum, pine apple juice and NO bananas according to Paola.  You will need a blender for this one for sure and a large tiki glass or Hurricane glass.On Paola's adventures, we ask about the resort Aulani they stayed at which captures the Polynesian culture and has several man made lagoons. Justin explains why they are there and how they came to be. Paola goes into detail about her first luau. Monkeypod is another stop they made on their journey and Paola gives her opinion on the drinks. Justin tries what he claims is the best Mai Tai. They give us details on their car trip around the island and the climate changes you see from one side of the island to the other. Finally on this first part of the show, they discuss the Mai Tai bar at the Grand Hawaiian hotel.  Stay tuned for part 2 of this great adventure, where we will ask Justin his favorite cocktail from the trip and more locations to adventure off to on the island. Links to the show:Aulani Resort (Disney) in Hawaii: https://www.disneyaulani.com/Monkeypod Kitchen : https://monkeypodkitchen.com/Mai Tai Bar Royal Hawaiian Hotel: https://www.royal-hawaiian.com/dining-overview/mai-tai-bar/Recipe to the show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/

Hey Folks, Sorry for the delay! I have moved and the studio needed to be reset up again as well as my liquor cabinet as well LOL!This episode we don’t have Paola unfortunately as she is travelling to Hawaii and do some “research” for us and it’s her first time there and so I’m sure she is checking every single tiki bar she can. Mark gave her a list so look forward to seeing what she experienced but that is another show….This episode we are doing a spin off a Pain Killer cocktail. You can go back and check out that episode, but this cocktail is called the Pain Killada (yes, a Pina Colada and Pain Killer combined). It came from a YouTube channel that I follow, and we have mentioned before on the show called “Distinguished Spirits”. This channel is packed full of tiki drinks and tons of history and knowledge on the drinks. Well produced and entertaining as well. I go through some history of the Pain Killer which you must use Navy Pusser’s rum that is trademarked to the drink or its not a Pain Killer. We go through some of this rum’s history and even the bar that the Pain Killer was created (Soggy Dollar…why is it called that, listen to find out). On “Craig’s Creation” segment, we dip into a new cocktail that I have tweaked for years and now finally on a summer menu at my bar. The “Blue Fusion” cocktail is a nice spin of spiced rum, blue Curacao, lime juice, pineapple juice and vanilla bean syrup. This is definitely a Linda/Paola’s drink if you are a follower of the girls. On “Did You Know?” segment, we talk about something that is not usually a topic on our show, but it got me thinking. DST (Daylight Savings Time) is something that always throws me off. When does it happen? Why do we do it? What would happen if we stopped doing? And so much more cool facts I bet you didn’t know like us Canadians started it…yep (trust me, I don’t want to take credit for it). Links to the show:Recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Vanilla bean YouTube syrup video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32wBmWQxbX0Cinnamon Syrup YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHoCSuYkKckDistinguished Spirits YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DistinguishedSpiritsMini Ring Game on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Handheld-Handmade-Fast-paced-Interactive-Drinking/dp/B091BR3999/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=3BHVI4TGTF2D1&keywords=ring+game&qid=1650482353&sprefix=ring+game%2Caps%2C1040&sr=8-4-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWFFMSkZLSkZZM0E1JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzI4ODMyMlpGTU5QRTdZTDNNMyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTU1NDY1M05OTVZNOU0xNUM1NCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=Craig’s Creation page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/craigs-creation/

Hey guys,We finally got this show out after Lockdown and other obstacles that delayed out show. We are glad to have Paola back on the show after she had to go back to Brazil for family affairs. Today, we will give you two cocktails and also they both have one key ingredient in them. Bali Hai cocktail and Muerto Bali Hai (which is a spin off the original drink). Kahlua liqueur is used in both these drinks as it is National Kahlua Day February 27th. Now, I have a bad experience with this particular liqueur in my past. Do you remember that one spirit or liquor that you stay away from due to some dramatic event that happened with you at a young age. Kahlua is mine!! Listen tot he show to hear just what happened to me.So Bali Hai is a bar we covered previously on Mark's Adventures and has quit the background story. This bar was built originally for a movie crew filming  and needed their own watering hole after a long day of shooting the film. It then was taken apart and transported to Shelter Island, San Diego. This man made island started with "The Hut" (which is Bali Hai before it was named). It wasn't doing well and so a financial advisor came into the bar to evaluate the value of the bar. He saw the view on the upper 360 deck and said "Bali Hai". This reference is to the movie South Pacific where secluded island was called Bali Hai by the locals.  Mark tells this story better than me and so listen to his explanation of this bar.  Now the Bali Hai cocktail usually is served in a Mr. Bali Hai mug which Mark will explain its history.On "Did you Know?" segment: we cover the cool facts about Kahlua (yes, I know...I talk about the one thing I am not a fan of).  Cools facts like in Mexico the crops of coffee beans and sugar cane are across from each other and the locals have been combining them since 1936. Also, it is a key item in drinks like the White Russian, Black Russian, B-52 shooter, Espresso Martini, Brown Cow, Mudslide and more. You can also make your own Kahlua at home (why easier and last longer though to buy at the store, but if you want to experiment then we will tell you how). Links to the show: Mark's Adventures (Mr Bali Hai Bar): https://tikicentralcanada.ca/marks-tiki-page/Recipes to the show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Bali hai video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3bizWYER8YMuerto Bali Hai video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMjE3vjcTRkOrigin of Kahlúa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmVKZMZr34gHow to make Kahlua videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCKEB5vSumo OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y02xyNzYiK0Beachbum Berry's Intoxica! Book by Berry, Jeff (2002) Spiral-bound: https://www.amazon.ca/Beachbum-Berrys-Intoxica-Berry-Spiral-bound/dp/B011WA29HS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K6I7BSI8VFR4&keywords=berry+intoxica&qid=1648504599&sprefix=berry+intoxica%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1Distinguished Spirits YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DistinguishedSpiritsDifference between Mezcal and Tequila YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub0nPImpMlM

Hi guys,So this episode is different than our usual format as we discover all the information and research we do to make the show and get the details you crave to hear. Paola is away on family matters but Mark and I will take you on adventure of our tiki library we both have some of the books that we dig deep into on a weekly basis for our show. We talk about pioneers of tiki in North America to today's version of the tiki bible. We do start of with two recipes for you (what would the show be without drinks). The recipes we are covering are in the very books we are talking about today. I will cover the Jeff Beachbum Berry's The Caribbean cocktail and Mark will cover the Riptide cocktail from the "Minimalist Tiki" book written by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith. Both are very tiki as they need crushed ice and one of my favorite ingredients: ginger syrup (Yummy)!!!So here are the books that Mark will cover today:1) Jeff Beachbum Berry's "Sippin' Safari" book: this book is a great book for those who are starting into tiki or not a bartender by trade but just a curious individual as we once was. It goes quickly into tiki recipes that Jeff has dug up throughout his ten year research and some of the syrups you may need as well. This book is very small as it is only 184 pages with index. 2) Jeff Beachbum Berry's "Remixed" book: this book continues on with recipes and some brief tiki history on the creators of tiki in North America. It is a combination of his "Grog Log" book and "Intoxica" book. He has expanded drink history and lore, incorporating newly discovered information about the origins of the Mai Tai, Zombie, Suffering bastard, and other legendary Tiki mysteries.3) Jeff Beachbum Berry's "Taboo Table" book: Beachbum Berry uncovers the forgotten secret food recipes from Polynesian restaurants of days gone by. Beachbum Berry's Taboo Table is a cookbook. Taboo Table features famous "lost" and exotic recipes (most ironically created in the USA) for appetizers, entrees and desserts. There is also a fascinating and informative history of tiki cuisine from the first Polynesian settlers to the last remaining Polynesian restaurants.4) "Smuggler's Cove" by Martin and Rebecca Cate: This more modern version of tiki and recipes is brought to us by Martin who as jeff did his homework on tiki culture, history and cocktails. He especially well known rum expert as his own private collection of rums around the world comes in over 300 bottles. This book is more for the professional bartender who wants to get into tiki or the step from Jeff's books with more elaborate cocktails, syrups, ingredients and  recipes. It is a heavier read coming in with 352 pages including index. Every tiki expert or bartender should have a copy of this new tiki bible on their shelf. 5) "Minimalist Tiki" book written by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith is also a newer version of tiki bringing the mixology part of the cocktail and new techniques into it. It also features a library of tiki bar's bartenders recipes such as Shameful Tiki Room in Toronto. These secret recipes that we love so much in these oasis bars is now available for you to make at home too. Craig's List of Books: 1) "Potion of the Caribbean" by Jeff Beachbum Berry; This more elaborate book covers the history of drinks/cocktails and spirits too back to the Aztec days to modern time. It will give you a history of rum, pirates, royal navy, Polynesian, and Caribbean history to get you up to speed on the tiki history and its culture. He goes into more recipes that he has found through so many resources in the past years of Don the Beachcimber to Trader Vic's and so many more...2) "Trader Vic's Tiki Party!: Cocktails and Food to Share with Friends" written by Stephen Siegelman NOT Trader Vic. This book is a great book for beginners to expert of tiki who want to know how to throw a tiki party or create their own oasis tiki bar at home. It covers some history of Trader Vic and his recipes. This book also goes into decor, food, drinks and everything you would need to know to throw a party. 3) "And a Bottle of Rum" by Wayne Curtis. This is not a bartender book and there recipes in this book but very few. This book is a history lesson into rum from its origin to modern day cocktails. It has exciting adventurous facts about some of our culture's drinks we didn't know had a history like the Daquiri from the Royal Navy to Grog to Mojitos in Cuba created by tribesmen to Cuba Libre (Rum and Coke) to guide to rum. It is a must have for those rum experts out there so you can get your facts straight. 4) "The New Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Think Like a Master Mixologist" by Dale Degroff: THis is not a tiki book but an book written by another man who gave cocktails a resurgence in the late 80s to modern day. Dale worked in New York city and as most of us was tired if artificial drinks and ingredients. Cocktails in the 70's and early 80's took a back seat to clubs/ dance bars and live entertainment. Dale brought classics cocktails back into popularity and start what we know as mixologist as a profession. He explains every spirit in where it came from, its feature elements and even some drinks to be in use for. He goes into techniques and garnishes. He even goes into types of ice and which one to use when. His cocktails are world famous especially the Cosmopolitan cocktail. There you go on some details we will cover in this episode.Links: Sippin Safari JBB: https://www.amazon.ca/Beachbum-Berrys-Sippin-Safari-Berry/dp/1593620675/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2315WFTIKV063&keywords=beach+bum+berry%E2%80%99s+sippin%E2%80%99+safari&qid=1646083058&sprefix=beachbum+berry+s+sippin+safari+%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1Remixed JBB: https://www.amazon.ca/Beach-Bum-Berrys-Remixed-Gallery-ebook/dp/B00JL58D7M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2315WFTIKV063&keywords=beach+bum+berry%E2%80%99s+sippin%E2%80%99+safari&qid=1646083087&sprefix=beachbum+berry+s+sippin+safari+%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-2Taboo Table: https://www.amazon.ca/Beach-Berrys-Taboo-Table-2013-01-01/dp/B01FGKWJJS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8HAQ83UNSXL&keywords=beach+bum+berry%27s+taboo+table&qid=1646083126&sprefix=beachbum+berry%27s+taboo+table%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1Smuggler’s Cove: https://www.amazon.ca/Smugglers-Cove-Exotic-Cocktails-Cult/dp/1607747324/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DMK0ZV4AD8T6&keywords=Smuggler%27s+Cove%3A+Exotic+Cocktails%2C+Rum%2C+and+the+Cult+of+Tiki&qid=1646083160&sprefix=smuggler%27s+cove+exotic+cocktails%2C+rum%2C+and+the+cult+of+tiki+%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1Minimalist Tiki: https://www.themodernbartender.com/minimalist-tiki-book.htmlPotions of the Caribbean JBB: https://www.amazon.ca/Beachbum-Berrys-Potions-Caribbean-Berry/dp/1603113800/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W9EIS781AOO4&keywords=potions+of+the+caribbean&qid=1646083327&sprefix=potions+of+the+%2Caps%2C72&sr=8-1The New Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Think Like a Master Mixologist, with 500 Recipes Dale Degroff: https://www.amazon.ca/New-Craft-Cocktail-Everything-Mixologist/dp/1984823574/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21G0H1TQYIWDR&keywords=dale+degroff&qid=1646083352&sprefix=dale+de%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1Trader Vic’s Tiki Party by Steve Siegelman: https://www.amazon.ca/Trader-Vics-Tiki-Party-Cocktails/dp/1580085563/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SFC56CJQYREG&keywords=trader+vic%27s+tiki+party&qid=1646083414&sprefix=trader+vic%27s+tiki%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-1And a Bottle of Rum, Revised and Updated: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails Wayne Curtis: https://www.amazon.ca/Bottle-Rum-Revised-Updated-Cocktails/dp/0525575022/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3BAQNFWELERIM&keywords=and+a+bottle+of+rum&qid=1646083461&sprefix=and+a+bott%2Caps%2C252&sr=8-2The Modern Bartender website: https://www.themodernbartender.com/OH here si the link for the mini ice cube tray I just purchased..this is great substitute for crushed ice in cocktails:https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07BQHC617/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hi Folks,We are doing a special show on the South Pacific Punch and the movie as well. Why South Pacific? This movie back in the 50s and "Blue Hawaii" with Elvis Presley made a major influence on North America culture and international to tiki culture and Polynesian crazy!!!We talk about two cocktails for this show: South Pacific Punch and the Castaway!! Both the drinks are from the Jeff Beachbum Berry "Remixed" book. Jeff is also another influence that brought back tiki to us. These cocktails use a wide range of Caribbean islands and also classic ingredient Falernum. I still have to make mine but if you can get it in the liquor store, I recommend it as it's shelf life last longer. On "Mark's Adventures" segment: we talk about no bar!!???? Yes, we don't talk about a bar but a company that gave all those tiki bars décor we know. Oceania Arts has been around for over 50 years and by the same owners who finally hanging it up for retirement. Robert Van Oosting and LeRoy Schmaltz started carving  Palm Frond masks out of their garage to sell. It grew and have supplied décor to tiki bars we know such as Trader Vic’s, The Mai Kai, Don the Beachcomber, the Coco Palms in Hawaii, and The Tonga Room in San Francisco, but also Foundation Bar in Milwaukee, the Bali Hai remodel in San Diego, Hale Pele in Portland. Disneyland's  Trader Sam’s Bar and the Tangaroa Terrace as well as Walt Disney World. Mark has visited this location and even came back with a blow fish light (jealous!!).In "Did You Know?" segment: we go in depth the movie South Pacific. It was released in 1958…and grossed over $36 million as a musical production. The filmed featured a lot of big names at the time but one in particular: Ray Walston (Mr. hand and My Favorite Martian). It also featured Russ Brown, Tom Laughlin, Rossano Brazzi, and Ken Clark. A few details that will blow you away including the singing voice of the Gringe sung by Thurl Ravenscroft who also sings for Ken Clark's character in the movie.Links to the show: The recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/South Pacific songs YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeXvaHZj5twExample of a Palm Fronds mask video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jn6k-RFR3MRay Walston In Fast Time at Ridgemont High YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J8__fWphE0Oceanic Arts website: https://www.oceanicarts.net/YouTube video Oceanic Arts warehouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkUiRPW-ISw

Hi guys,  Welcome to 2022 and our season 5 for us now!!! We are so excited about this year as we have dedicated to giving you more shows and more amazing cocktails. We will also be including more interviews from bartenders and tiki experts.   This episode has tons of information and cool facts but an amazing colorful cocktail that you got try. We will be covering the Royal Hawaiian cocktail and details about the hotel as well in Hawaii.   First off, the cocktail is got a Canadian product which is amazing considering this is an international cocktail and so makes me proud to see we are on the international platform on a tiki level. It has a great combination of pineapple juice, orgeat (almond), lime juice and Empress gin (which is a purple colorful floral gin that is not so booze forward). This cocktail definitely tastes tropical and looks colorful as well. Break out your crushed ice bag as you will need it for this cocktail or in Paola's case go to your fridge and grab some crushed ice. Recipe came from Jeff Beachbum Berry “Remixed book and The Royal Hawaiian Cocktail was originally called the Princess Kaiulani in the early 1920’s but was renamed in the 1950s.  Recipe to this cocktail and many more: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/  So we go over some cool facts about the hotel itself like that it cost $4 million to build in 1927 (which in today's dollars is $15,325,495) . It was also known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific” which was a Portuguese influence on its architectural design. It also was the location for the famous Webley Edwards’ then-famous radio program Hawaii Calls, featuring the Singing Surfriders and the Waikiki Maidens, and up to 3,000 tourists at a time would pack the courtyard to watch the show. Mark will give us more information on Edwards who was the first report Pearl harbor attack back during WWII which the hotel was home to US navy officers as well.  On "Did you Know?" segment: we talk about Captain James Cook who had 3 voyages around the world. On January 18th, 1778, Captain James Cook arrives in Hawaii. He was an explorer that navigated the Pacific Ocean and mapped out New Zealand. He also mapped out Newfoundland which those maps are still used today by naval ships. His first voyage was to help determine the distance from the Earth to the sun during an eclipse of Venus on the sun. Don't ask me how that is done as its all science. I must have missed that class. Anyways, he went on his second voyage and landed in Australia and third was Hawaii. He has come controversial stories behind his death as the tribes killed him on his second trip to Hawaii.   Links to the show:  Webley Edwards’ Hawaii calls show:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXBWLZngFg&t=252s Hawaii calls: exotic instrumentals (1961) Webley Edwards exotica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uhe0SnC5To&t=92s Hawaii calls greatest hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OLhG3q4uDc&list=OLAK5uy_n4NQZtaIybiWIdlLRHAS0hOebIVAGLZzk  Cocktail links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXaoo-5qGDM and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFPTowpKgoI Royal Hawaiian hotel video walk thru: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eHJbBtn3DY History of Captain James Cook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVUJkcy5dq8 Cocktail recipe page: https://www.reservebar.com/blogs/all-cocktail-recipes/empress-1908-royal-hawaiian

Hey Guys,Yes we squeezed in our last show of the year...Christmas!!! What a year and we want to thank all of loyal listeners who hanged in there with us through this rough year and we wasn't able to do as many shows as we wanted. But next year, right!!!Surprise for all your loyal listeners from way back...Cameron visits the studio and gives his input on the drinks today since Santa (me wink wink) dropped off a care package to his house. By the way, apparently Cameron likes to be in a onesie enjoying his morning tea outside in the morning LOL!!!Ok, so this is our Christmas show and we are going to talk about shooters. No not guns and ammo shooters but shots. Now, you maybe be asking, Craig is shooters tiki? well no there are not!! In fact, in my research and Mark's knowledge that most tiki bars don't have shooters on the menu. So why are we doing shooters? Well, this time of year and finally this year we was able to have company Christmas parties or friends get togethers...and one of the first things I get asked as a bartender is shooters!!!Now, what is a shooter? and is that the same as a shot? Well, no they are different: shot is a straight amount of an spirit or liqueur...a shooter is a mini cocktail in a way and has mixed items into a shot glass. So an example would be a blue Hawaiian can be made into a shooter!!So we will go over 4 shooters for you to try out that will get the party started!!Shooters are: Caramilk, Scooby Snack, Apple Pie a la Mode, and a Craig's Creation: La Petite Fleur!!!On "Did you know?" segment: we talk about cool facts about shooters such as it started in the 60s when the new generation wanted to party it up and wasn't to interested in the drinks but to get drunk and fast!!! We also talk about Jager and Irish car bombs cocktails.So please enjoy your holidays and be safe...get some rest and have a great time with friends and family!Happy holidays from us to you and see you in the new year!!!Links:Recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Youtube video for the Scooby Snack shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgSjNxMEXT0YouTube video for the Caramilk shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSdmWoACMjQ

Hi Guys,So this is a special episode as we get a special guest joining us to talk about cocktails, cruise ships, martinis and even Martini Airbnb. The shows is a bit lengthy but well worth it as we talk about cocktails and bartending..my two favorite things...well ok...maybe a beach as well...ok two out of three of my favorite things!!!So,  this is a different format to our show then our usual one. Yes, we still are going to talk about drinks of course. One of the cocktails that you might order on a cruise ship is a Miami Vice cocktail. Now, this cocktail is new to me and I'm sure I have had it but Jason goes through exactly what it takes to make one of these delicious tropical drinks that you would find on a cruise ship. It is basically a Pina Colada and a Strawberry Daquiri combined. I thought it would easy with those slushy machines you see at the resort but as Jason tells us that it's difficult drink to make with just blenders as you have to make both drinks and then combine them. But trust me, it is worth the effort. We also go through some alterations such as mango instead of strawberry...yummy!!! By the way, ask your bartender first if they even have blenders before asking for a frozen drink. LOLSo we go in-depth with Jason about his beginnings and how he became a bartender, flair and fire breathing, martini expert, to being bar manager of a fleet of cruise ships and now owning his own Airbnb and an online martini shop. He struggled through COVID but now is doing his own thing. He explains the journey and some things about bartending that most people don't know or think about. On "Did you know?" segment: we talk about the classic 80s show Miami Vice which for us was a show that impacted our lives. It could have been the music, the fashion or even the famous stars that brought this show to life. We all remember on Friday night turning on our TVs and watching the newest episode. We go over cool facts like who got offered the roles of Crockett and Tubbs. What the actors had to go through to play the roles, famous seasons and some famous names that have made appearance on the show.Links to the show:Recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Jason's Martini website for online shopping (starting soon so get your email registered): https://mymartinihouse.comCheck him out on Facebook where he has some great pictures of the Airbnb theme to cocktails and some instructional videos on martinis: https://www.facebook.com/martinisrusA must see scene from the first episode of Miami Vice featuring "In the Air Tonight" (for me this is a memory for life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aMCzRj3SygYouTube Video of famous people who appeared on the Miami Vice before their fame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P00RAWfFvF0You can also check out the themed rooms Jason has at his Airbnb through the following links:https://www.airbnb.com/h/mymartinihouse203https://www.airbnb.com/h/mymartinihouse202https://www.airbnb.com/h/mymartinihouse301https://www.airbnb.com/h/mymartinihouse302Thanks again to Jason Pierotti for being on the show and maybe some day we come visit you!!!!and Jason...does Mark really sound like Donald Sutherland...folks you be the judge!!!

Hi Guys,You ever wonder while listening to our show what its would sound like uncut and just how much editing does Craig do?? Well, due to finally recording live at Paola's house and some laptop experiences getting back to the right sound we ended up with a mono channel recording that I basically can't edit and is a  raw file. I also wasn't being a good sound engineer and was clipping here and there on this recording...now, don't panic as its still a great show and tons of fun we had making it...just my OCD tells me not the best sound quality that I put into the show! We also got back our sound engineer for post (lost due to COVID as he shut down his studio in USA) and so he was able to clean it up more!!!Ok, enough about that..as I say : Let's go onto the show!!!Today's episode is one of my favorite holidays of the year and yes, it is in the fall season which is my favorite season....Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration that does coincide with Halloween but let's make it clear: it is NOT Mexico's Halloween or Independence day either! It's a joyful celebration for the deceased and help them to their journey to the after life. Now, what a minute Craig isn't dead after life...well in their culture the afterlife is actually 9 levels to the end of their journey and so this is one way to have the living spend time with their spirits and help them on their way. They celebrate with music, food, drinks and even sleep at their loved one's graves....The cocktails we are doing today are two for this occasion (I want to say that as I don't do holiday themed drinks. Never have). First one is called ...you guessed it....Day of the Dead from the The Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver Canada. We will explain how I got this recipe...quit the story thanks to Mark. The other cocktail is called: The Alebrije  which has its own story. This one I got online and I will add a link below to the video.So you ask, what is this Alebrije  and what is story behind it. well if you watch CoCo (Disney's movie for the DOD) you will see a fantasy creature in it that is a mix of a dog and cat that looks like a flying jaguar. These creatures are called Alebrije and help guide the deceased spirits to the next level of their journey. Cool right!!On Mark's adventures segment: We will talk about The Ventiki Tiki Lounge and Lanai in Ventura,  California. It is right beside an amazing taco place which for Mark is a bonus!!!! He got to meet the owner Dwayne Couch and chatted about tiki and which drinks to have next with him and several locals during both visits. Link of this interview (conversation) is listed below. On "Did you Know?" segment: We talk about some cool facts about Day of the Dead such as it was originally created back in Aztec time as was on the 9 month and not in November. It wasn't til Spain brought the Christian ways into their culture and they merged the two celebrations together with All Souls Day and All Saints Day. The celebration pays tribute to Mictecacihuatl (She is known as the "Lady of the Dead") which watches over the celebration and world of the spirits.  By the way, today’s female figure we see today: la calavera Catrina (by the Mexican printmaker, cartoon illustrator and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada.) is the today’s representation of “lady of the Dead”. In these ceremonies, people build altars in their homes with ofrendas, offerings to their loved ones’ souls. Candles light photos of the deceased and items left behind. Families read letters and poems (called Calaveritas ) and tell anecdotes and jokes about the dead. Offerings of tamales, chilis, water, tequila and pan de muerto, a specific bread for the occasion, are lined up by bright orange or yellow cempasúchil flowers, marigolds, whose strong scent helps guide the souls  home. Why Marigolds? Well, it is said the scent and color draw the spirit back to their alters/graves where their loved ones waiting help celebrate with them that day. Yeah, how can you not love this holiday?Links to the show:Recipes: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Alebrije cocktail YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMIMWbNsgSMHistory of the DOD youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ale9DF9fZY8Pan de Muerto (day fo the dead bread) Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-398T9q-cMLink to Mark's interview with Dwayne Couch from the The Ventiki Tiki Loung: https://mega.nz/folder/yDYRkAKB#no5USMekhYarpZVbffi8Xw/file/aWZHQSTRPoems for the DOD: https://www.joincake.com/blog/day-of-the-dead-poems/

Hey guys,We are back and yes it has been awhile!! Our apologize!!!On this episode we are going to be talking about Daniel Craig's last James Bond movie (No Time to Die) with no spoilers (since Mark hasn't seen it yet)!!!The cocktail we will talk about are the Casino Royale (which is not a James Bond drink be say but a Dale Degroff cocktail) and Vesper (which is from Casino Royale movie which was Daniel Craig's first James Bond movie he did). Both these cocktails are ritzy yes and not tiki (but I do alter one to make it into a tiki cocktail...more about that in the show). Now, who is Dale Degroff you may ask. Well, besides one of my favorite bartenders of all time and inspiration to me. He is also the bartender back in the 70s that took cocktails out of the club scene era it was in with artificial flavors and ingredients and brought it back to real ingredients and layers and excitement in our profession!!! If you think about it, bartenders lost some creditability during the disco era due to clubs and drugs (yes cocaine).  He is also well known for the cosmopolitan, which strangely he did not create but altered into what we know now of that cocktail. For the cocktails, we do a recipe with champagne in the Casino Royale but don't panic as I give you alternatives options in the new version of the drink which will be in Craig's Creation section of our website and I finally called it "Full Deck" which means we are not playing with a "full deck" LOL!!!!In "Did You Know?" section: we discuss cool facts about Daniel Craig as James Bond like his reaction to the phone call from the producers telling him that he will be the next Bond. The fact that a pair of gloves in Skyfall almost cost the production company millions of dollars in reproduction, or that Daniel was a talking Stormtrooper in "The Force Awakens". Links to the show:Recipes to the show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/Craig's Creation page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/craigs-creation/Daniel Craig's as a Stormtrooper in "Force Awakens" scene video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq7MaKlvE5oDale Degroff's book on our cool link: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/cool-links/How to Drink YouTube video on Vesper cocktail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1rtEeSpswk&t=63sBeing James Bond Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOHhIkMy6dgGo check out the new James Bond in the theaters...it's a must see!!!!

Hey guys, Not our normal show as there are no drinks but I did put a Craig's Creation cocktail on our site just in case you was in a mood for a new cocktail. This is our annual trivia show where we see if our tiki panel (Paola and Mark) and you was listening to our show all year long and made some notes and this year is just as challenging as the past years.Topics like the Cosmopolitan cocktail, Grog, Mint Julep, Day of the Dead, Don the Beachcomber, Mariano Lucudine, Harry Yee, Cinco de Mayo and so much more...We will help you this year with a hint of what episode each question came from and the cocktail of that show. So, print off the trivia sheets and see if you have what it takes to be tiki god and year champion of trivia. (NOTE: answers are upside down at the bottom of that page). By the way, check out past year's tiki trivia shows as well and see if you know the answers to those ones as well...Triva page link: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/tiki-trivia/By the way, there is no prize for winning but make yourself a cocktail and play along and see if you can out score our panel!!!Craig's Creation page: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/craigs-creation/

Hey guys,This show is a little different then our usual show as we do our annual "Talk Like a Pirate" day show with our pirate expert and Canadian Navy Lieutenant Commander Rob Brunner and his wife Erica. Both are part of pirate society here in Canada and their crew called the "Cut and Run". Talk Like a Pirate day is September 19th every year internationally. This show is a bit longer than our usual show but pack full of information and fun facts about pirates!!!So Ahoy, Matey and Shiver me timbers!The cocktail we will be discussing today is called Bumbo (which yes is a rum from our rum tasting show we did that comes from Barbados). This cocktail is a spin off of the Royal Navy Grog which was rationed out each day on British navy ship back in the days!!We give you the history of how "talk Like A Pirate" day started.Bumbo rum! What is it and where does it come from? Listen to find out about this delicious rum!We go through an old school recipe (piracy era) and new school recipe of the Bumbo which has rum, water, spices, sugar and tons of flavor!Pirate legends: In this segment we give your all the juicy details about some famous pirates that we all know and grew up with in movies, books and stories. Black beard, Captain henry Morgan (yes, the guy on the rum bottle which actually didn't have a lot to do with rum til later), and Sir Francis Drake who was the first to circumnavigate the globe!!!Erica goes into great detail about two female famous pirates that had quit the adventure and maybe fouled people by dressing up as men. They had the reasons and she goes into why they did this. They also have more speculation and tales then facts on some of their journey as the history books couldn't put information together. But, it's a great story and Erica tells it to us!!Now, most important thing to do on TLAP day if anything you do is get yourself a pirate name. Rob and Erica break down their name and they challenged us to come up with ours as well. Slippy Stephens here will be my name from here on now or so be the black spot be ah cursed upon me!!! We go through just how to do and not use these typical name generators out there. Have fun with it and make your co-workers and family call you that for the day!!On "Did you know?" segment: We cover all the positions on a pirate ship and navy ship today as well that you would see. Captain, Quarter Master, Pusser, Boatswain, Carpenter (who would also be in charge of amputations...ouch), Sailing Master, Coopers, Cabin Boys and finally Powder Monkeys (not real monkeys ha ha). Links to the show:Rob Brunner's magazine article he writes about pirates and navy (in the magazine it's French on left column and English on right column and Rob's pirate name is William Blydes in the articles: https://fliphtml5.com/homepage/gybp?fbclid=IwAR0tallgpfoFbWE1kTrJzKvrPfWrEJjS7iNSCqHWju9XuQmtmjA923pEiWsRob and Erica's "Cut and Run" Youtube video on knots and pirate games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4tn1porX-8Recipes for the show: https://tikicentralcanada.ca/recipes/So remember: dead men tell no tales and enjoy your  clap of thunder!!!!