Ready for takeoff.

Aviation has always had an influence on Tiki culture. From flyboys in the Pacific theater of WWII to airliners whisking tourists away to exotic locations,pilots and aircraft have been featured in the names of Tiki drinks and esthetics of Tiki mugs and decor. Here’s a trio of aviation cocktails to keep you flying high.

Mix #151 Ace Pilot

1oz Demerara rum
1oz gold Jamaican rum
1/2oz 151 rum
1/2oz velvet falernum
1/2oz fassionola red
1/2oz white grapefruit juice*
1/2oz orange juice
1/2oz lime juice

Shake with ice and pour into double old-fashioned glass.

*I used red grapefruit.

I found this recipe in a Facebook posting about fassionola,but I’ve since lost the posting and haven’t been able to find any history on it. I believe it’s either a Trader Vic or Donn Beach creation,but can’t be sure. In any case,it’s a nice drink. Sweet with a spicy/tart finish,this is a strong drink that will have you flying.

Mix #152 Test Pilot

1.5oz dark rum
3/4oz light rum
1/2oz triple sec
1/2oz falernum
1/2oz lime juice
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash Pernod

Shake with ice and pour into glass.

Created in 1941 by Donn the Beach(who served in the Army Air Corps in WWII) this is tart and spicy with an absinthe finish. If I make this again I’ll use curacao to sweeten it a bit.

(fun fact,your Uncle Giltron worked on this bird back in the ‘90’s at Bergstrom AFB)

Mix #153 Jet Pilot

1oz overproof Jamaican rum
3/4oz overproof Demerara rum
3/4oz gold rum
3/4oz lime juice
1/2oz grapefruit juice
1/2oz falernum
1/2oz cinnamon syrup
1 dash absinthe
1 dash Angostura bitters

Blend with ice for a few seconds and pour into double old-fashioned glass.*

*Blend until crushed-icy,not smooth. Still waiting on my Blendjet recall,so I shook this instead.

Created in 1958 at the former Beverly Hills bar Luau (owned by actor Steve Crane),this was inspired by Donn’s Test Pilot. Cinnamon-y with a bit of spice and citrus,it’s Zombie level strong. One of these and you’ll be flying,but too many and you’ll crash and burn.

So strap in,put on your drinking goggles,and have a nice flight. Excelsior!