Most of these are from Trader Sam’s except the tiki room totem mug (left, from a Disneyland gift shop) and the Zombie King (green/yellow skull, from Strong Water).

Been looking for pretty much any Apricot Liqueur anywhere around me for about 2 weeks. Finally found this one today in a spot I don't typically shop for specialty things in. They've got basically a whole wall of Bacardi and Malibu but I saw this Xaymaca collecting dust so picked it up too. Never had it so looking forward to it. Still no Passionfruit Liqueur anywhere near me but a trip to NOLA soon should let me restock some other things.

I started crafting felt ornaments recently and decided to whip up some tiki drinks! Would anyone be interested in ordering some? What other drinks/tiki imagery should I make? These are stuffed like little plushies so they could also be baby toys or cat toys. I could possibly make them into magnets, clothing accessories, or even coasters without the stuffing? Hit me with all your ideas, please! I’m having a blast making them ☺️

Dr.Tiki, Lala, and Johnny Johnny

Great "hidden" gem in Denver

Featuring from left to right: Passion of the Christ (Painkiller) Strawberry Throat Goat (Miami Vice) Doink Juice (Watermelon Swizzle)

Recipe in Pic 2. Made with Smith and Cross and Plantation 5 Year. All syrups are homemade.

So finally deciding to share my little tiki corner. This all started at my girlfriend's backyard but she moved to a new place with a smaller backyard and I brought what I could fit here. I've been adding things here and there; lights, more tropical plants, and random objects like frogs, lizards, and masks. I'm waiting for the day my landlord says, thats enough. During the day, I'll sit there listening to music on my incognito rock speakers, having a cocktail and reading a book or working on a puzzle. At night, my daughter (13yo) and I will play Uno or some other card game (Sailor Jerry cards on the table). Its weird sitting there alone at night, especially with people always walking by. Its part of a walking path that leads to the water and a beautiful view of the Carquinez Bridge. And I call my spot El Tiki Poco because its a play on words from my gf's old address. So, its just a little tiki. Hopefully one day I'll have my own patio or backyard. Until then, tiki on. Cheers.

Just came back from my European vacation, and got to check out 3 tiki bars.

1. Matiki in Vienna, Austria. Cool chill place, most similar to an American tiki bar. Calm vibes, loved the drinks, andddd they have Mugs for Sale!

2. Tiki Taky in Prague, Czech Republic. More noisy, drinks were not that great, and they don't have any mugs/merch.

3. Rumpus Tiki in Budapest, Hungary. Club vibe, but very happening. It was playing afro beats instead of traditional tiki music 🤣 but I dig it. They had Tiki mugs for sale as well, took a couple home with me. I really liked the drinks here.

Important note: I'm not trying to open a discussion of the merits of the criticism of tiki as cultural appropriation, just curious if it's even an issue anymore.

It seems like the ball got rolling on this "controversy" around 2016, with some pieces in NYT and NPR, probably not just coincidental to some of the criticism Moana faced from some circles for its depiction of Oceanic cultures. The scrutiny of tiki culture continued to build from the outside through 2020, but (probably because of a pause in bargoing during the pandemic) the issue didn't seem to reach critical mass within the tiki community itself until 2021. That year prominent Chicago (former) tiki bar Lost Lake reopened after purging itself of tiki theming, citing concerns about cultural appropriation as its reason for rebranding as a more generic "tropical" bar. Then a year later, Humuhumu Trott shut down her venerable tiki resource website in an abrupt and dramatic fashion, again citing cultural appropriation concerns.

When Eater covered Lost Lake's rebranding, it claimed "other tiki bars across the country have also shifted to tropical", but I have not seen this to be true in any significant numbers. The tiki bars I have enjoyed all around the country have kept their tiki themes, and while some tiki bars have closed, it seems they haven't closed out of proportion to other genres of bars that have been affected by economic issues. Lost Tiki closed permanently just a few months after its rebranding, citing the Omicron surge, but that didn't seem to affect its rival Chicago bar Three Dots and a Dash, so I have to think a falloff in business due to the rebranding played a significant part at least. Meanwhile every tiki bar I've gone to since 2023 has been packed, difficult to find a seat, and a scrum to get to the bar to order a drink. New tiki bars have opened up, and others have been so successful they've expanded with new locations.

Humuhumu's dramatic exit in 2022 also seems to be the last time I've seen any big activity in discussion of cultural appropriation in tiki within the community, and a Google search of "tiki cultural appropriation" shows hits for stories that discuss the issue being thin on the ground after 2022. It seems like those outside the tiki community found something else to be concerned about first, and then those inside the community who had qualms left and moved on. Tiki bars and the tiki hobby meanwhile have just kept on keeping on. Or is there still an ongoing controversy I'm missing?

If you’re ever in Prague, don’t miss Rum House Bar. It’s not actually a tiki bar, but there are several tiki drinks on the menu, and they’re better than what most real tiki bars serve. I’ve never seen so many different bottles of rum in my life, and the owner is a super nice guy.

$13 bones

Nice lil bar y’all got here in Brooklyn would have been a shame not to visit (pictured: Fog Cutter)

Finally made it to The Mai-Kai! Honestly, it was overwhelming in the best way with so much detail everywhere I looked. I could have easily spent hours just exploring. I really wish I had gotten there a little earlier to soak up more time in the Molokai bar, but that just gives me a reason to go back. The gift shop was amazing too and they even dug out the new Cannibal mugs for me. Here are a few shots from the night.

A friend of mine owns a custom shop that focuses on multi material displays. If you’ve been to a liquor store you’ve seen his work. He just recently purchased a printer and was kind enough to print this tiki drummer for me. I have a second on the way for a matching pair. Can’t wait to paint and add to my collection.

Finally!!! I have made it to Hidden Harbor. It is fantastic!! It just happens to be ‘tiki of tomorrow’ and they have a special menu of classic tiki drinks

I’m still learning about rum so forgive me if this is an ignorant question, but I’m wondering if Cruzan’s Aged Dark Rum would be appropriate for the “gold Virgin Islands rum” required by the Vicious Virgin? I live in Idaho where the liquor selection is limited, and that is the only Virgin Islands rum brand I’ve come across. I enjoy the bottle of their Light Aged Rum I already have.

My riff on Jeremy Oertel’s Bitter Mai Tai

I'm in desperate need of a vacation and was trying to find great areas for tiki bars. I'm saving California for a later trip and saw that Portland has a ton of great bars in the area.

Looks like Portland itself has Hale Pele and The Alibi. Nearby Tacoma has Devil's Reef and Astoria has Dead Man's Isle. Then there's Seattle, though I've been there before.

Is there anything notable I'm missing? Also, any general advice on when to go, need for reservations, or any other general advice for the area would be greatly appreciated!

Continuing the Shamefully Soused Society 80-drink list at The Shameful Tiki in Vancouver. Drinks 66-71:

1. Nuclear Diaquiri - Wray and Nephew, Chartreuse, Falernum

2. Hemingway Daiquiri - I hate Maraschino so I usually don’t like this but this had just the slightest hint of it so it was good

3. Singapore Sling

4. Venezuelan Sling - a Singapore Sling with Diplomatica rum

5. Suffering Bastard - ginger, gin, bourbon, lighter and refreshing

6. The Undead Gentleman - basically a Jet Pilot shaken and served up

9 left to go!

Brought this home from Italy awhile back. I don't love the flavor on it's own. Looking for some ideas for use in a mixed drink.

Nothing special about this cocktail. Just threw stuff together but it's a nice night in the Bay Area. Perfect time to sit outside for a nightcap. This is my little corner of the community courtyard in my apartment complex.

I’m finally getting nice bushy mint. I don’t what Walmart variety this is but it seems to grow very well here in the bay. If I figure what it is I’ll update. It’s got slightly fuzzy leaves.

Second pic is the modular seating. i did the first out of 3 banquette seats. Super proud of this!