Month: May 2024

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The Fink has the Best Mai Tai in Napa

Did a little comparison shopping on Saturday and am pleased to report there are a couple places where you can get a good Mai Tai in Napa. Wilfred’s Lounge has a very good one made with Jamaica rum and Rhum Agricole from Martinique and it is quite nice, though to me it leans a little bit too much in the grassy flavor profile.

The Fink’s OG Mai Tai is incredibly balanced and leans a little creamy thanks to their house-made Orgeat. Jamaica and Martinique rums are also used here, but far more in balance. Very rich and flavorful, the Mai Tai at The Fink is just great.

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2010 era Mount Gay Extra Old

Found this at an independent liquor store about a mile from my house. I’m not sure why I never stopped in but this beauty from 2010-2015 was there for just $41. The character of this Mount Gay Extra Old blend leans a little heavier and has more traditional oak barrel flavores than the current XO expression that leans a bit fruitier. Chocolate notes are stronger in the older blend, too. Then as now, this is issued at 43% ABV.

I was lucky to find a 2000s era Extra Old in another local store a few years back, so I now have four generations of XO expressions, though my 2015-2019 era bottle is almost gone. These are all very flavorful Barbadian rums that for me a pretty easy to sip at this ABV level and they’re missing the “over oaked” taste you sometimes get with aged rums. These are great on those nights when I want to taste the rum but don’t want to deal with cask strength ABV.

The latest XO expression is commonly seen over $60 which factors as a premium for the well-known Mount Gay brand but which also means that savvy shoppers can find better values by looking at brands such as Doorly’s, Old Brigand, and Real McCoy (all produced by Foursquare on Barbados). Nonetheless, the XO has remained a good option for those looking for widely available and approachable sipping rums from Barbados.

Comparison Chart

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RIP Steven Liles

Today we learned the sad news that legendary San Francisco bartender Steven Liles had passed away. Liles was a fixture at Smuggler’s Cove for more than a decade, recently departing and working elsewhere in the City.

I was always in awe of Liles’ seemingly effortless bartending skills, and he was always had a friendly wink when we’d visit the Cove. He was very accommodating when I last saw him there, where he skillfully blended two rums for an awesome Mai Tai and even better conversation. Sincere condolences to friends and loved ones who knew Steven better than I did. Smuggler’s Cove announced the passing.

As a tribute, I made one of Liles’ recipes, the RongoRongo. Quite tropical and easy to drink.

RongoRongo by Steven Liles
¾ oz Lime Juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice
¾ oz Cinnamon Syrup
¾ oz Planteray OFTD Rum
1 oz Planteray Siggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum
1 oz Aged Rum (Real McCoy 5)
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Flash blend with 1 cup of ice for 5 seconds. Serve in Pilsner glass and garnish with orchid, pineapple leaf, and swizzle stick.