Stephen Crane’s Scorpion Bowl
During a recent talk here in Portland at the Great American Distiller’s Festival, I shared a few stories and told of the time when Stephen Crane’s Luau coming into town began the “Big Showdown” of the Exotic restaurant chains. Stephen Crane’s Luau had been a big hit in Beverly Hills, and when he joined forces with the Sheraton to help them compete against Hilton and Trader Vic’s Outrigger chain, he found himself opening restaurants in Montreal, Chicago, and here in Portland.
With this chain, known as Kon-Tiki Ports, Stephen brought all his best bartenders and their recipes to help open each location. One of the drinks developed and served at the Luau was their own version of the famed Scorpion Bowl from Trader Vic’s. One of the first known communal tropical drinks, Vic had been slinging this “thing” since at least the early 1940s, having written about it in his Book of Food and Drink. Stephen Crane’s version takes a few liberties, changing Lemon to Lime and omitting one of the ingredients from Vic’s version, an ounce of white wine.
A single-serving Scorpion these days is a bit… okay, a lot like a lightly tamed FogCutter, with a bigger dollop of Orgeat and omitting the Sherry Float. This version from the Luau, circa 1958 is… well, one of the best. It was served at the recent Tiki Night at Teardrop Lounge, and I see little reason not to serve it again at the next one! The Volcano effect wasn’t on the original recipe but… hey, if Stephen Crane can embellish his restaurant with $1,240 door handles, I think I can embellish the drinks with a splash of 151.
Scorpion from Steve Crane™s Luau, 1958 (recipe courtesy Rick Stutz and Jeff Berry)
- 1oz Lime juice
- 2oz Orange juice
- 2oz Gold Puerto Rican rum
- 2oz Gin
- 1oz Brandy
- 3/4oz Simple syrup
- 1oz Orgeat
- 8oz Crushed ice
Donate everything to a blender. Spin up like the devil for 3 seconds. Pour, unstrained, into a wisely sized bowl. Drink by yourself or with friends.
Thatch Baby-Eater Mug Release Party!
Scooped by Tiki Talk, and I’m a local! Ahh well, I’ve been busy prepping for Tales of the Cocktail. Here’s the skinny on the sweet new mug!
Thatch Tiki Bar will be hosting a party to celebrate the release of their new Marquesan Baby Eater Tiki Mug on July 1, 2009 at 4 p.m. The mug is Designed and manufactured by Tiki Farm, based on the first of the bar™s vintage baby eater tikis. You can see the inspiration for the mug behind Thatch’s Bar.
The mugs sell for $15; for an extra $5 they come filled with a new drink devised just for the mug. The band Walking in Alaska will be showing up with some festive tunes around 8pm. There will be a Tiki Outfit costume for a FREE mug, starting at 9pm. Wear your brightest Aloha wear and boars teeth necklace!
I’ll be there, you should be too.
Thatch is located at 2733 NE Broadway, Portland, OR
Locally infamous!
Just a fun bit of bilge, Reynolés Galley was featured in the most recent On The Rocks column in the Portland Tribune. I’m going to have to go hit the store for a physical copy… to send to me mum, of course.
Oct. 21st, The Final Tiki Tuesday at Teardrop!
Well folks, hopefully you’re hearing it here first.
Tuesday, October 21st will be the Final Tiki Tuesday at Teardrop Lounge.
With the summer sun dwindling mighty fast, the time has come to let it set on the monthly fun. But this is no time to mourn! No time to weep into your rum barrels! If it’s going to be the last one, it’s going to be the best one!
Tiki Drinks will be available from a special menu all night, from 4pm to closing. Here’s a sneak preview of the menu.
151 Swizzle
The Don the Beachcomber classic, inspired by his travels to Montego Bay. It’s a potent and well frosted punch of 151 Demerara, tempered with Donn’s 1-2 of Bitters and Pastis.Dark Magic
By Craig Hermann, of the NW Tiki Kon. This is his riff on a Mai Kai Classic, the Black Magic. Coffee and Passion Fruit play to tingle your tastebuds with this tasty tempter!Golden Monkey Grog
A new classic from Patrick Callahan, forged for a recent Forbidden Island Cocktail competition! A real traditional tiki tippler with lots of spice, and an out of this world texture.Lei Lani Volcano
This drink hails from Disney™s Polynesian Village resort. A balanced sweet and sour combination of Guava, Lime, Coconut Rum and Pineapple juice is no Mickey Mouse cocktail.Mai Tai
Trader Vic™s most famous creation, and easily the most recognized tiki drink in the world. This lightly sweet combination of aged Rum, Lime, Curacao and Orgeat put Trader Vic™s on the map.Navy Grog
That good old Don the Beachcomber classic, with a mix of aged rums, grapefruit, and agave nectar.Nui Nui
Don the Beachcomber™s spicy classic, with Aged Rum, Orange and Lime juices, and Don™s Spices #2, a secret only recently unearthed by Jeff BeachBum Berry.Old Gold
A Trader Tiki original, this one’s a sweet treat with 12-year Aged Demerara Rum, Ginger, Orange, and a touch of Vanilla Extract and spice.Rum Pot
Trader Vic’s sweet and complex original, recently unearthed for Tales of the Cocktail 2008.Shrunken Bum
Taken from the Bum’s own notebook, this is our tribute to Beachbum Berry, author, lecturer, and one helluva guy. Slightly Sweet and Cinnamony.Zombie, 1950
The most infamous of all Don the Beachcomber™s creations, any more than two and you™ll be joining the living dead with this combination of tropical juices, passion fruit, and plenty of dark and light rums.Zombie Punch, 1934
Unearthed from the depths of an old Don the Beachcomber bartender’s notebook. This is the original Zombie, the inspirer, the downfall, and the resurrecter! This is a potent one.
If that’s not enough to drag you in, there will also be a few special surprises… you may just be taking home a new Tiki Mug or Beachbum Berry Book! What else could you want, a 96 oz. Volcano Bowl? A live Ukulele act? Well, we’ll see about that.. meanwhile, get ready for a tropic escape from the autumn weather! See you there!
Teardrop Lounge is located at 1015 NW Everett Street, in the Pearl District of Portland, OR.
September Tiki Tuesday Menu
This is going to be a good one. Drop on in and check it out at Teardrop Lounge in Downtown Portland. Drinks from this menu will be served 4pm to closing!
Tiki Cocktails
September 16th, 2008Amuse bouche ~ The Mai Tai 3000, by Jamie Boudreau
Coconut Kallaloo
Lime, coconut, and rum, the trinity of tropical tastes!Ginger Grant
A Beachbum Berry Original, featuring Ginger Liqueur and Trader Tiki’s own Tiki Bitters!Lei Lani Volcano
This drink hails from Disney™s Polynesian Village resort. A balanced sweet and sour combination of Guava, Lime, Coconut Rum and Pineapple juice is no Mickey Mouse cocktail.Mai Kai Barrel o’ Rum
A heaping helping of Rum, Citrus, and Honey, as served at the Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.Mai Tai
Trader Vic™s most famous creation, and easily the most recognized tiki drink in the world. This lightly sweet combination of aged Rum, Lime, Curacao and Orgeat put Trader Vic™s on the map.Navy Grog
That good old Don the Beachcomber classic, with a mix of aged rums, grapefruit, and agave nectar.Nui Nui
Don the Beachcomber™s spicy classic, with Aged Rum, Orange and Lime juices, and Don™s Spices #2, a secret only recently unearthed by Jeff BeachBum Berry.Pahoehoe
A blend of light rum and passion fruit, from the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Watch your hair, it’s served flaming!Pirate’s Grog
A Forbidden Island interpretation of the Pirate Grog from Blackbeard’s Galley in Newport Beach, CA. Strong Citrus and a bit of spice.Puka Punch
A boisterous blend of booze from the sons of the ninja down at the Tiki-Ti, featuring a blend of light, dark, and Jamaican Rum, topped with a paper parasol, in case of impending rain.Rum Pot
Trader Vic’s sweet and complex original, recently unearthed for Tales of the Cocktail 2008.Trade Wind Cocktail
A non-rum drink? Blasphemy! Well, the Gin and Citrus won’t do you wrong. From the Trade Winds on Long Island.Zombie
The most infamous of all Don the Beachcomber™s creations, any more than two and you™ll be joining the living dead with this combination of tropical juices, passion fruit, and plenty of dark and light rums.