05:16 AM
A Cuban-inspired drink named after a pirate island and served as a Polynesian cocktail in tropical bars the world over
We were not entirely truthful last week when we said Jeff ‘Beachbum’ Berry had given us one recipe upon leaving his island in the South Seas. The sea-journey promised to be long and eventful so he actually gave us a second one – the Tortuga Cocktail – to make sure we had enough fuel to make it back to Cuba. Bless him.
Now if your memories of our conversation with Jeff are not too blurry (see below), you’ll remember he told us how Trader Vic was a huge fan of Don Constantino Ribailagua’s work at El Floridita. Vic expanded on his Daiquiri formulas to create the classical Tiki drinks that made him famous. Thing is, if, as Jeff says, “Tiki drinks are Caribbean drinks squared and in many cases cubed”, when Constante came up with his countless Daiquiri variations, he was already “squaring” and “’cubing” Cuban drinks. Unbeknownst to him, he became the godfather of Tiki.
Take a look at the La Florida Cocktail in Beachbum’s first book, “Grog Log”. This Constante classic was created in the 30’s and builds on the rum, lime and sugar formula, adding Crème de Cacao, grenadine, vermouth and Curaçao. Of course, when Jeff found out about this cocktail, he was instantly reminded of Trader Vics’s Tortuga. How did Vic tiki-fy our great Cuban drink? Well, simple, really: he kept the backbone of La Florida but he used heavier rums (overproof ones!), toned them down adding orange and lemon juice and served it over crushed ice.
He also needed a name that would make it more intriguing. Tortuga means turtle, and it’s also the name a good few Caribbean islands. We like to think the one Trader Vic had in mind was just off the coast of Hispaniola. In popular lore, Tortuga is known as a pirate haven. It’s there that a ragtag army of soldiers and buccaneers created the infamous Brethren of the Coast, wreaking havoc on the main shipping routes of the colonial empires of the XVIIth century. Yes, exotic enough to name a Tiki drink!
So before enjoying the updated recipe of the Tortuga cocktail, as provided to all Cuban rum lovers by Beachbum Berry, let’s sum it up: a Cuban-inspired drink named after a pirate island and served as a Polynesian cocktail in tropical bars the world over? Well, we just need to hide a shamisen player in Hawaiian shirt in a Hollywood band, have the guys belt out a few exotica tunes and we’ll have a real Tiki party on our hands!
*
TORTUGA (by Trader Vic, circa 1939)
15 ml orange juice
15 ml fresh lime juice
15 ml fresh lemon juice
15 ml orange Curacao
15 ml white crème de cacao
7.5 ml grenadine
22.5 ml Italian vermouth (rosso)
30 ml Havana Club Añejo 7 Años rum
30 ml Havana Club Selección de Maestros rum
Shake everything with ice cubes. Strain into a pilsner glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with lime wedge & mint sprig.
Thanks to the people at Kona Lei, in Madrid, for the cocktail on the photo!
Now if your memories of our conversation with Jeff are not too blurry (see below), you’ll remember he told us how Trader Vic was a huge fan of Don Constantino Ribailagua’s work at El Floridita. Vic expanded on his Daiquiri formulas to create the classical Tiki drinks that made him famous. Thing is, if, as Jeff says, “Tiki drinks are Caribbean drinks squared and in many cases cubed”, when Constante came up with his countless Daiquiri variations, he was already “squaring” and “’cubing” Cuban drinks. Unbeknownst to him, he became the godfather of Tiki.
Take a look at the La Florida Cocktail in Beachbum’s first book, “Grog Log”. This Constante classic was created in the 30’s and builds on the rum, lime and sugar formula, adding Crème de Cacao, grenadine, vermouth and Curaçao. Of course, when Jeff found out about this cocktail, he was instantly reminded of Trader Vics’s Tortuga. How did Vic tiki-fy our great Cuban drink? Well, simple, really: he kept the backbone of La Florida but he used heavier rums (overproof ones!), toned them down adding orange and lemon juice and served it over crushed ice.
He also needed a name that would make it more intriguing. Tortuga means turtle, and it’s also the name a good few Caribbean islands. We like to think the one Trader Vic had in mind was just off the coast of Hispaniola. In popular lore, Tortuga is known as a pirate haven. It’s there that a ragtag army of soldiers and buccaneers created the infamous Brethren of the Coast, wreaking havoc on the main shipping routes of the colonial empires of the XVIIth century. Yes, exotic enough to name a Tiki drink!
So before enjoying the updated recipe of the Tortuga cocktail, as provided to all Cuban rum lovers by Beachbum Berry, let’s sum it up: a Cuban-inspired drink named after a pirate island and served as a Polynesian cocktail in tropical bars the world over? Well, we just need to hide a shamisen player in Hawaiian shirt in a Hollywood band, have the guys belt out a few exotica tunes and we’ll have a real Tiki party on our hands!
*
TORTUGA (by Trader Vic, circa 1939)
15 ml orange juice
15 ml fresh lime juice
15 ml fresh lemon juice
15 ml orange Curacao
15 ml white crème de cacao
7.5 ml grenadine
22.5 ml Italian vermouth (rosso)
30 ml Havana Club Añejo 7 Años rum
30 ml Havana Club Selección de Maestros rum
Shake everything with ice cubes. Strain into a pilsner glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with lime wedge & mint sprig.
Thanks to the people at Kona Lei, in Madrid, for the cocktail on the photo!
By François Monti
+ add a comment
Submit
