When it comes to tropical cocktails, rum reigns supreme. A favorite of both Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s, this sugarcane spirit is inseparable from tiki’s tropical flavors. But the genre has always experimented with different base spirits, with gin taking center stage. This is especially true today. Gin’s growing distribution over the past decade has made the category more diverse than ever, making it the perfect candidate for the layered approach that defines tropical drinkmaking.
for example, Double Barrel WinchesterCreated by Brian Miller, Zombie layers gin in the same way Don Beach layers rum. The cocktail plays on four distinct characteristics of gin, showcasing the depth and complexity of the category and its natural affinity with the fruity and spicy notes of grenadine, Angostura bitters and citrus that make up the rest of the cocktail.
of Gin Fizz TropicalMeanwhile, the , adds a tropical twist to the classic sparkling wine. While it’s not exactly new, the recipe has been given new life thanks to The Slanted Door in San Francisco. The drink was first recorded in Charles H. Baker’s 1939 book. Gentleman’s FriendIn this latest version, the pineapple juice is replaced with pineapple gum syrup and the heavy cream with orgeat, making for a light, refreshing drink.
In fact, one of the easiest ways to bring out the tropical side of gin is to pair it with orgeat, a syrup traditionally made from almonds and often flavored with orange blossom water. It’s a staple in the Mai Tai and other classic tropical cocktails. This combination, along with lemon juice, is what the Army & Navy is all about; however, Dutch Kills adds a few drops of bitters to this lesser-known cocktail from the 1930s that bears a striking resemblance to some of the more modern tropical cocktails. Royal Hawaiiana variation of the distant Mai Tai with the addition of pineapple, and Sleeping LotusAdd a refreshing cool feeling with fresh mint.
Of course, some of the earliest tropical gin cocktails are as relevant today as they were when they were created. The Saturn, a 1967 cocktail created by a California bartender, J. “Popo” Garciniis an unexpected gin-based flavour, but it has all the classic tiki characteristics and continues to evolve. At Paradise Lost in New York, this simple drink is enhanced with Thai Bird’s Eye chilli. It’s a great example of how gin can express tropical flavours and, like other spirits, it can complement any taste, from fruity to spicy to savoury. New York bartender Garrett Richard sums it up: “The Saturn deserves the title of the perfect gin tiki cocktail.”
