Hard to believe we are way over into June and still making cocktails from quarantine. Worse than that there are more people that I know personally who are suffering from the virus at this moment than at any time since this started. There are lots of things to be depressed about, but I don’t have the energy for it. It’s Father’s Day and I got to spend it with the family and I got some sweet new tiki glasses so let’s make a drink. Since it is Father’s Day let’s make the Bahama Mama. 

This is a much maligned drink, often bastardized, and rarely made to the original recipe which is interesting. I didn’t even consider this one when making my list of things I wanted to make or try. I’ve had it. It’s too sweet, Hawaiian Punch with some well rum and a pineapple wedge, not an interesting drink. Then, while looking for something else, I stumbled across what claims to be the original recipe from the Nassau Hotel. Two rums, a coffee liqueur, coconut and pineapple? This is nothing like the Bahama Mamas I have been served on the beach in Nassau. This drink has potential, so let’s make it. 

Grab your tins and pop in 1 ounce of dark rum, I went with Smith + Cross because It is so good and has that banana funk to it; 1/2 an ounce of light overproof, Wray And Nephews 151, cause it is my goto for overproof; 1/2 an ounce of coffee liqueur, normally I’d use Songbird, but I just scored a bottle of St. George Nola and it’s amazing straight, so I want to see how it plays with others. To these alcohols add 1/4 ounce of creme de coconut, 3/4 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice and 4 ounces of pineapple juice. Add ice and shake vigorously, well not to vigorously, since I was at mom and dads and they have an awesome ice maker that makes smaller, wetter ice than I like. This beggar shall not choose. Fill a suitable vessel with whatever ice you can find, in this case, the small, wet stuff and strain over this ice. Garnish with some mint, an umbrella, maybe an edible orchid hijacked from a drink at a real tiki bar, you know, whatever you have handy. 

I was excited for this new glass to make its maiden voyage. I don’t know why I had it in my head that a drink that is predominantly pineapple juice would make a nice contrast for the clear tiki mug, clearly I got that wrong. Still, it’s gonna be a good mug and the boy gave it to me for Father’s Day, along with some other more esoteric ones, so I am excited to use it. So how was the drink? Honestly, kinda meh. It’s good enough, I wouldn’t send it back if I ordered it out somewhere, but I wouldn’t order it again. That’s how the cookie crumbles, you win some, you lose some, some get rained out. It’s a good base and I may play with it a little, pumping up the coffee or getting some falernum in there, who knows. More likely, I’m gonna be suitably appreciative for the experience and move on to brighter shores. That sounds like a good plan for 2020, as well. Get through to the other side, chalk it up to experience and wander into the post apocalyptic wasteland with the dog, the wife and the boy. Till then, y’all keep on keeping on. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.