What does “tiki” mean?
Tiki: Mid-century American "tropical" style: rum, layered citrus, spice syrups, crushed ice, big garnishes.
- Category
- Drink family
- Taste
- Fruity, spiced, often strong.
- Strength
- Often strong
- Similar to
- Mai Tai, Zombie
- Also called
- tropical
The story
Ernest Gantt opened Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood in 1933, right after Prohibition, and invented the style with layered rums and secret syrups. Trader Vic followed in Oakland. The craze faded by the 1970s and came back in the 2000s.