Tag: B-Rex

Posted on

New Mai Tai Glass and Cocktail from B-Rex is Out of this World

I have a collection of glassware from Brian Rechenmacher, the artist known as B-Rex, who also did the logo and header for UltimateMaiTai.com. For the first time in a couple years, B-Rex has issued a new double rocks / Mai Tai glass, dubbed “Out of this World.” The white print design features birds and whimsical idols, hallmarks of his design aesthetic. Glasses can be purchased individually or as a set of four for a discount.

The glass is best paired with the new volume two of Tropical Libations, a keepsake menu with nine original cocktail recipes including the Wrath of Keahi, Merchant Grog, and B-Rex Daiquiri. Notably in this collection is the recipe for a cocktail called Out of this World, the perfect cocktail companion for the new glass. These look great in your home bar and none of the recipes call for particularly exotic ingredients. Stocking up on Planteray OFTD rum would be wise.

As many of you know “Out of this World” is more or less what “Mai Tai” translates to in Tahitian, and indeed there are Mai Tai nods in the recipe for that cocktail (hint: yes, you’ll need Orgeat). But this includes ingredients that you’d never put in a Mai Tai, some quite far afield.

I think that since Brian keeps the recipe secret in his marketing materials, I’ll do the same. Suffice to say that Brian is keeping the tradition of cocktail excellence going, using his experience as a former bartender at Trader Sam’s and Forbidden Island to great use. The cocktail is juicy and spicy with a hint of cherry flavor, so consider getting Tropical Libations vol. 2 and trying it out for yourself.

The new Out of this World glass and Tropical Libations volumes 1 and 2 are now available on artofbrex.com.

You can also check out B-Rex at next weekend’s marketplace events at Pau Hana Studio in Oakland on Saturday Nov 16 or at San Jose’s Dr. Funk on Sunday Nov 17.

Posted on

Mr. Miami Cocktail

This made the rounds this week, including on Lemon Hart rum’s Instagram, so I thought I’d break in my new B-Rex glass with the latest cocktail creation from local raconteur Nathan Robinson.

All my years of collecting exotic rums and liqueurs has paid off since I had all of Robinson’s specified brand ingredients on hand, including a vintage red label Lemon Hart 151. And thankfully so, since this cocktail is fantastic.

Mr. Miami by Nathan Robinson
½ oz Lime Juice
½ oz Lemon Juice
½ oz Orgeat
½ oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
½ oz Maraschino Liqueur (Luxardo)
½ oz Pot Still Jamaican Rum (Doctor Bird)
1 oz Overproof Demerara Rum (Lemon Hart 151)
Shake with ice or flash blend with crushed ice and pour into double rocks glass. Garnish with banana slice and cherry.

Robinson describes the origin of the name, saying it is “named after what my favorite bartender in Venice, Italy called me after I wore a 40s styled tiki shirt. I’m sure he’d be surprised at how different Miami is from San Francisco. The name still cracks me up.”

If Maraschino liqueur has put you off in the past, I can assure it is perfectly balanced here.

Glassware: “Out of this World” by B-Rex, currently available.

Posted on

Logo Glassware at Dr. Funk in Downtown San Jose

When Dr. Funk opened in December 2021 they had a souvenir Mai Tai glass featuring artwork from B-Rex, similar to the B-Rex designed logo that is still featured on their cocktail napkins. That run of “1st edition” glasses sold out immediately and it seemed like Dr. Funk had forgotten that patrons so often want to take home something from the venue.

Well, this may not be the B-Rex second edition, but Dr. Funk is now selling glasses featuring the logo designed by @gennbunn. Each is $10, or $8 with a cocktail. Each features a heavy base.

These aren’t really anything unique or irresistable, but it is really nice to sip a Mai Tai with Dr. Funk himself providing inspiration for travels to Polynesia. Or just to take home as a souvenir of a night out on the town.

Get them now before they’re gone. Do more of this please, Dr. Funk.

The Mai Tai pictured was a special from Tuesday’s “Traditional Tiki Night” and featured Myrtle Bank Jamaican Rum and Cointreau as the orange liqueur. Just a little lighter than Dr. Funk’s always excellent Mai Tai but still really great in its own right. Dr. Funk is now doing these tiki nights every Tuesday, featuring a rotating set of DJs. Having a DJ is great, and adding drink specials is even better. Do more of this please, Dr. Funk.

Posted on

Funky Doctor Bird Mai Tai

Was feeling like I hadn’t had a rich and funky Mai Tai in a while, so I pulled out this wonderful bottle of Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum. This is the special Madeira cask release that was put out in conjunction with Bitters and Bottles a couple years ago, and I prefer this to the standard-issue Doctor Bird that’s finished in Moscatel casks. It is also issued at a hearty 59.2% ABV.

The result was a very chewy Mai Tai that tasted fantastic. Totally savory to have funky rum like this delivered in the Mai Tai format, where some of the rough edges are minimized.

I’m even getting a little fresh mint from a nascent planting in the backyard.

Glassware is obviously inspired by the rum. It’s an opening day B-Rex design for Dr. Funk San Jose. It would be great if the good doctor would do more of these, just saying.

Posted on

Club 33 B-Rex Glass in White

We were the fortunate recipients of this glass from a neighbor who perhaps saw the counterpart color print glass in our house, designed by @artofbrex back in 2019 for Club 33’s tiki summer event.



We had the lucky opportunity to go to Club 33 at Disneyland during this event so we had to buy the glass set designed by our friend @brianrechenmacher on sale that summer. That was a fantastic experience: not often you have a three Mai Tai (yes, three!) lunch at Disneyland, which at the time was still “dry” other than in the members-only Club 33. The white version pays obvious homage to the classic Trader Vic’s Mai Tai glass design.

To celebrate I made a Smith & Cross Mai Tai, the rum that Brian used in Mai Tais made for me at several venues during his bartending days where he amazingly remembered that I loved that potent Jamaica Rum in a Mai Tai. It is fantastic but hardly subtle. Kind of like B-Rex himself! Cheers.

Posted on

World-Class Tiki Bar Comes to San Jose: Dr. Funk

Our long national nightmare is over.

The 10th most populous city in America finally has a real tiki destination now that Dr. Funk has soft-opened in Downtown San Jose. We visited Tuesday during a soft-open for Tiki Ohana, and we’ve been told that Thursday is the first day open to the general public with next Monday being the official grand opening.

Situated at San Pedro Square, Dr. Funk is an immersive tiki bar with decor buildout by @topnotchkustoms + @m_p_o_r_i_u_m_ and bar program by @kenwongdejanan + @bondtylerbond44. The interior is first class, with seven huts, a long bar, and plenty of tables inside. Outside there are more seats on the tiki patio. There are lots of little nods to the actual doctor named Dr. Funk, including some bubbling potions above the bar. Service was great during our soft-open experience. Food was not yet being served, so stay tuned for further developments.

And the cocktails? FAN-TASTIC.

The namesake cocktail is quite good, leaning into Absinthe which is the signature ingredient. More unexpected was the creamy Dead Man’s Isle featuring Ube, Coconut Creme, and several rums. It had a very unique taste and was a big hit among all who tried it.

And the Mai Tai? Maybe one the best anywhere.

We need more samples before we’re able to add this amazing Mai Tai to our Top 5 worldwide, but it is a very strong candidate. Using Appleton 12 and Smith & Cross Jamaican rums, the Mai Tai was perfectly balanced including a creamy and sweet house-made Orgeat. And, if you’re so inclined, you can order it in a souvenir glass designed by local favorite B-Rex.

No longer a wasteland, San Jose finally has the tiki destination it fully deserves.

Dr. Funk Mai Tai Glass by B-Rex, held by B-Rex