Learn / 9 of the Best Tiki Bar Drinks To Enjoy on the Beach
July 31st, 2023
The sun, a molten coin in a sapphire sky, anoints your skin with warm kisses. The salt-laden breeze unfurls around you, the heat-etched sand softening under your feet, the world humming to the rhythm of the languid waves as they carve fleeting masterpieces into the coastline.
You are on the beach, surrounded by a world dressed in hues of turquoise and gold. You've left footprints in the sand and found solace in the symphony of the waves, their tireless cadence echoing the beating heart of the ocean.
And, in your hand, a tiki drink sweats the dew of tropical climes. It is more than a mere glassful; it's a compass guiding you through unseen territories of taste and sensation.
The Tiki drink is no ordinary potion, but rather a hymn to the heart of the tropics, pulling you into its soft current. Its allure lies not just in its riot of flavors but in the way it seems to capture the soul of the beach — carefree, inviting, and transformative.
So, how do you distill this sensation into our glasses, you may wonder? Like a lighthouse guiding ships through the azure vastness, allow us to illuminate the path to crafting your own tiki elixirs.
Hailing from the mid-20th century, tiki drinks have etched their names into the annals of cocktail lore. These intoxicating elixirs were birthed from a heady mixture of post-war escapism and a fascination with the South Pacific's exotic charm.
Rooted in tropical aesthetics and garnished with flamboyant decorations, tiki drinks have always been more than beverages; they're experiential tapestries, weaving stories through the language of taste.
Indeed, the allure of tiki drinks lies in their exquisite duality. They marry the familiar with the exotic, a seamless mingling of the comforting and the mysterious. Their flavors are curated from an assembly of fruits, spices, and rums, resulting in a profile as deep and layered as the azure sea itself.
With every sip, they gently nudge you, encouraging you to slow down, breathe, and truly lose yourself in the ebb and flow of the moment. After all, in the end, isn't that what a day at the beach truly encapsulates?
As we journey further into the heart of the tropics, let us delve into the rich landscape of four classic Tiki bar drinks, each one holding a unique essence, a distinctive dance of flavors that mirror the carefree rhythm of beachside living.
1. Mai Tai
In the radiant afternoon sun, when the beach reveals itself in full glory, it’s time to reach for a mai tai. With tantalizing notes of bright citrus, aromatic almond, and a rum-soaked backbone, this Tahitian-named "very good" drink captures the essence of tropical pleasure.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with crushed ice. Shake well and pour everything (do not strain) into a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime shell and a sprig of fresh mint.
2. Piña Colada
Bask in the tender embrace of dusk as the sky blushes and the sea turns into a mirror of stars. This is the moment for a piña colada. With creamy coconut and sweet pineapple, this is a drink that embodies the gentle caress of the evening breeze.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Put all ingredients into an electric blender with crushed ice. Blend at high speed for a short length of time, strain into a large glass, and serve with a straw.
3. Zombie
A robust cocktail with complex fruity flavors underscored by a potent trio of rums, the zombie calls to the wild heart, those untamed hours when twilight trades places with the moon, and the nocturnal symphony begins its melodious play.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Combine all ingredients with a cup of crushed ice in a blender and blend for five seconds. Pour into a tiki mug or Collins glass, adding more ice to fill. Finally, garnish with a mint sprig.
4. Jungle Bird
As the night falls and the constellations begin their cosmic ballet, the jungle bird comes to life. An intriguing mix of dark rum and tart pineapple, with a surprising bitter twist from Campari, this drink holds all the depth, mystery, and majesty of the tropical night.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Finally, garnish with a pineapple wedge or leaf.
These cocktails encapsulate the spirit of the tiki wave, each with its distinctive sensory footprint, echoing the rhythm of the tides and whispering the secrets of the tropics.
As the sun sets on the landscape of traditional tiki drinks, we invite you to step into a new dawn. The wellness-oriented world of functional cocktails awaits your exploration.
With Aplós, you can reimagine the classics using our non-alcoholic spirits or venture into new, untrodden paths with a selection of original cocktail recipes designed to support your well-being as much as they delight your palate.
1. After the Beach
The moment of coming home, carrying the memory of the beach on your skin, the scent of the ocean in your hair, and the echo of waves in your ears. This is what After the Beach captures, a drink designed to extend the sensory pleasure of a day by the sea, a tether between the sun-soaked outdoors and the tranquil indoors.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Add all ingredients, except soda water, to an ice-filled shaker and shake. Strain into a glass and top up with soda water.
2. Taro & Tahitian Gardenia
Imagine the lush, velvet greenery of the tropics, the earthy taste of taro, and the ethereal fragrance of the Tahitian Gardenia. This functional cocktail paints a picture of tropical landscapes and fragrant flower gardens, a multi-sensory journey through island paradises.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Shake and strain your drink over pebble ice into a short Collins glass. Top it off with a fragrant edible white flower, such as Tahitian Gardenia or Butterfly ginger blossom.
For the taro simple syrup: Combine ½ cup of sugar and water with 2 oz. dehydrated taro powder and stir over a gentle heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Aplós Negroni
The weekend has its own sense of time, slow and indulgent, stretching out languorously. The Aplós Negroni is a toast to the rhythm of leisure, as enticing and welcoming as soft waves lapping against the sun-kissed sand at your feet. Savor this citrusy celebration of unhurried moments seaside.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Serve in a glass over a large ice cube garnished with a slice of orange.
4. Aplós & Ākulikuli
The taste of Ākulikuli, a coastal herb, invites the whispers of the ocean into your glass, crafting a story of warm sands and lapping waves. This cocktail feels like a seashore stroll at sunset.
Ingredients:
Instructions: Combine ingredients in a shaker. Shake and strain into a martini glass.
5. Aplós Mojito
Who says your beach day can't last a little longer? The Aplós Mojito stretches out the sweetness of days off, punctuating your relaxation with the cool mint and zesty lime.
Ingredients:
Instructions: In a shaker, combine Aplós Arise, sugar, lime juice, and ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass over ice. Add soda water and garnish with fresh mint and flower sprigs, if desired.
These non-alcoholic functional cocktails, steeped in the essence of Aplós, provide not only a sensory journey into the tropics but also a voyage into a lifestyle rooted in balance, mindfulness, and wellness.
The tide of the beverage world is shifting towards mindful drinking, a conscious approach to what we sip, how it impacts our bodies, and how it enhances our experiences. Aplós is riding the crest of this wave, offering a luxurious alternative to the traditional spirits that dominate our glasses.
Our signature spirits, Aplós Calme and Aplós Arise, infuse every drink with botanical magic and a touch of sophisticated luxury. Calme, with its soothing hemp-derived cannabinoids and gentle blend of citrus and herbal notes, pairs perfectly with those quiet moments of introspection.
Alternatively, Arise harnesses its bold, earthy flavors from a proprietary blend of adaptogens. Crafted for lively celebration and conversation, arise brings together a wealth of botanical ingredients meant to support the body’s stress response and help energize the spirit.
Each sip of an Aplós-infused cocktail offers the same enjoyment as a traditional drink with the added benefit of nourishing your body. The range of functional ingredients in our spirits offers a chance to unwind or uplift without the haze or health risks associated with alcohol.
The result? You remain clear-headed, present, and attuned to the beautiful nuances of life’s experiences, such as a glorious beach day. Imagine savoring the salt-kissed breeze, the laughter of companions, and the gentle rhythm of waves without the looming specter of a hangover. This is the promise of Aplós — a recalibration of the drinking experience towards wellness and presence.
Our journey through the world of tiki drinks invites you to taste the tropics anew, to indulge in the charm of these beverages with an added dimension of wellness and conscious enjoyment. The potent alchemy of traditional tiki flavors and the innovative essence of Aplós spirits create an unforgettable symphony, one that is more than the sum of its parts.
Aplós stands as an invitation to savor the magic of life's simple pleasures with mindfulness and presence. Whether you’re lounging by the beach or dreaming of sunnier days from the comfort of your home, these functional cocktails bring the beach to you.
So explore our range, craft your drinks with Aplós, and elevate your everyday moments into sensorial experiences that are not only captivating but also nourishing. Here’s to slowing down, savoring the present, and drinking mindfully with Aplós.
Sources:
Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids | NIH
Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health. Learn the facts | CDC