Category: Recipe

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Search for the Ultimate Navy Grog: Part 2

After trying the historical Navy Grog recipes from Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic, I tried a modern riff that included elements of both recipes (see: Search for the Ultimate Navy Grog: Part 1). This combo recipe was even better, but still wasn’t quite the heavy cocktails I was looking for in a Navy Grog. So, I set sail to make my own.

The historical recipes lean on a mix of rums, including some lighter ones. But I felt that the rum should be darker and heavier, so I turned to an old standby: my house Mai Tai Rum blend. This is a mix of rums largely from Jamaica and this blend has a higher ABV ratio as well.  I combined this rum with Lemon Hart, a mainstream Demerara rum. I also decided to go for the full three ounces of rum in the cocktail.

As a reminder, the Ultimate Mai Tai Rum mix is equal parts:

  • Appleton Estate Rare Blend Aged 12 Years (“Appleton 12”)
  • Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum
  • Plantation OFTD
  • Plantation Xaymaca

I really liked the soda in the modern riff, so I wanted to keep that in the recipe. But I also wanted a higher amount of honey and other sweeteners to balance the higher amount of rum. I decided to use an equal ratio of Pimento Dram and Vanilla Syrup, a combo historically known as Don’s Spices #2 from the Nui Nui.

Ultimate Mai Tai Navy Grog

¾ oz Lime Juice
¾ oz Grapefruit Juice
1 oz Honey mix
½ oz Pimento Dram (Hamilton)
½ oz Vanilla Syrup (BG Reynolds)
1 ½ oz Ultimate Mai Tai Rum
1 ½ oz Demerara Rum (Lemon Hart)
Shake with crushed ice. After pouring into glass, top with 2 oz of Soda.

I really liked this, and it definitely reminded me of the great Navy Grogs I had at the Kon-Tiki in Oakland. If you like your Navy Grogs thick and heavy, I think you’ll love this recipe.

Glassware and tiki mug by B-Rex

Further Adventures:

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Not that we’re doing much celebrating while we’re in “shelter in place” mode here in the Bay Area. At least we still have our jobs which cannot be said of many of our friends in the restaurant, bar, and service industry. Scary times.

Anyway here is an “Irish Mai Tai” which isn’t really that except for the one drop of green food coloring. It is otherwise a standard 1944 Mai Tai though made with clear liquids. I thought about an Irish Whiskey float but this is enough booze for today already. It’s delicious.



Irish Mai Tai

  • 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 oz Probitas Rum
  • 1 oz St. Benevolence Rum Clairin
  • ½ oz Cointreau
  • ½ oz Latitude 29 Orgeat
  • ¼ oz BG Reynolds Demerara Syrup
  • 1 drop green food coloring

Glassware is from the National Mai Tai event at Smuggler’s Cove last year.

The cocktail has been placed with some of my green mugs and glassware.

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Orange Liqueur Taste Test

Orange Curacao is an orange-based liqueur essentially similar to Triple Sec. It is based on the dried peel of the Lahara citrus fruit, otherwise known as the Curacao Orange, from the island of Curacao in the Caribbean. The liqueur is typically sweet, often through the use of added sugar. The spirit base is often combined with Brandy or Cognac.
 
It’s also an essential component in a Mai Tai.
 
 
The photo is from a tasting I did with fellow tikiphile Alex Fritch at his fab home tiki bar. We came to a few conclusions. The Ferrand is my personal favorite, but I have to admit the Drillaud wasn’t much different and is half the price. I also like Cointreau, and I like a higher ABV in an orange liqueur.
 
Here’s our recommended list:
  • Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao Orange Liqueur (40% ABV)
  • Cointreau Triple Sec Orange Liqueur (40% ABV)
  • Clement Créole Shrubb Liqueur D’Orange (40% ABV)
  • Drillaud Orange Liqueur (35% ABV)
  • Senor Curacao Orange Curcao (31% ABV)
 
May not be for everyone:
  • Hamilton Petite Canne Shrubb Orange Liqueur (35% ABV)
 
Tasting Notes:
Some people told us they like the Hamilton, but in our testing the grassy Rhum Agricole flavor is much harder to work with.
 
The Clement Shrubb is also based on Rhum Agricole but the grassy flavor is much more muted and works great in a Mai Tai.
 
Drillaud is considerably less expensive and still makes a fine Mai Tai. So, this is the one to get if you’re looking to save a little money.