Texas Tiki

By Thrillist

Published on 6/19/2018 at 4:27 PM

Marisa Chafetz / Supercall

While most tiki cocktails are rum-based, this psychedelic blue libation uses vodka as the main spirit. Created by Norman Strobel, head bartender at South House in Jersey City, New Jersey, the Texas Tiki cocktail is bright, layered with flavor, and almost too easy to drink. Absolut Elyx Vodka, which is creamy in texture and exceptionally smooth, is light enough to allow the vibrant fruitiness of pineapple juice to pop. Strobel combines a honey syrup with amaretto for sweetness and to give the drink a nutty, floral quality that’s reminiscent of the best orgeats. Between the drink’s fresh flavor and its electric blue hue, it is the ideal summer sipper.

Texas Tiki

FLAVOR PROFILE
Sweet
STRENGTH
DIFFICULTY
intermediate

INGREDIENTS

  • 1.5 oz Absolut Elyx
  • 0.5 oz Lemon Juice
  • 0.5 oz Pineapple
  • 0.75 oz Blue Curaçao
  • 0.5 oz Honey Syrup
  • 0.75 oz Amaretto
  • Mint, for muddling
  • Fresh mint, for garnish
  • Edible flowers, for garnish
  • Pineapple leaf, for garnish
  • Umbrella, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Step one

Add all ingredients, sans garnishes, to a shaker tin with ice. Shake.

Step two

Using a Hawthorne strainer, strain the cocktail into a clear tiki mug with crushed ice. Add more crushed ice if needed so that the cocktail fills the glass.

Step three

Garnish with a bouquet of fresh mint, edible flowers, pineapple leaves and a tiki umbrella.

Contributed by Norman James Strobel