by Steven Doyle
The allure of the tiki is primal. Sweet rum cocktails flowing from interesting vessels, often donning their own faces that stare back unabashed, often with revelry. Tiki bars have made a resurgence after laying dormant hitting their peak in the 70’s that rode on high with class favorites such as Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s.
Don the Beachcomber traces back to its Hollywood roots in the 1930’s when Donn Beach (Earnest Gantt) a former bootlegger opened for business and served powerful concoctions with alluring and exotic monikers such as the Zombie, Navy Grog, Samatra Kula and Tahitian Rum Punch. These seemingly Polynesian drinks were complemented by appetizing taste treats. Enter the PuPu Platter with it’s melange of tidbit that could be warmed by patrons under an open flame tableside.
Both Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s lay claim to the original recipe for the lustful Mai Tai. Both also had outposts in Dallas, Texas.
The tiki bar made a resurgence in the 1990’s, and again gained popularity over the past several years with patrons looking for kitschy fun and flaming cocktails that could be shared by the gallon replete with a half dozen straws for sipping.
Prepare yourself for the largest Tiki Week party Dallas has ever thrown. Events will have ticket prices either $10 per event, or an all day or all week pass for $50. USBG members are discounted. Tickets will be on sale soon, so follow this link to stay in touch – but save the dates.
Sunday Kick Off –
3pm – 9pm “All Day Registration Aloha Luau” @ Pilikia – PIck up tickets and credentials all day during the Fathers Day Luau. Sponsored by Plantation, Appleton, Bayou, and Admiral Nelson.
10 pm “Daiq a lacka – Daiq-off” @ The Standard Pour – C$20 cash buy in and winner takes all! Limited sign up of only 16 competitors! Happens opening night! Sponsored by Plantation, Appleton, Ron Zacapa – rsvp for competition only
Monday:
11am – 12:00noon – “Orgeat creation station Part 1” – @ Pilikia – Learn how to and create your own Orgeat Syrup with Brian McCullough– Take a bottle home with you. Cocktails by Plantation and Ron Zacapa, Full City Rooster Cold Brew – rsvp
12:15 – 1pm – “O.F.T. B. – Old Fashioned Tiki Bitters “- @Pilikia – Learn how to Make and Take Home some old fashioned bitters with finishing instructions – By Brian McCullough and Eddie “Lucky” Campbell – Sponsored by O.F.T.D. Plantation Rum – rsvp
1:15 -2:15 pm – “Falernum Laboratory Part 1”– @ Pilikia – Learn how to and create your own Falernum with Chris Furtado – Take a bottle home with you – – Sponsored by
Plantation O.F.T.D. –
3 – 4:30pm -“Funky Town” – A Tour and taste of Agricole, Jamaican, Panama, Trinidad, Barbados, Nicaragua and Guatemala – @ Pilikia – We will taste and learn from each terroir while enjoying some Ti Punches! Food Provided –- Sponsors – Plantation, Appleton, Ron Zacapa, Flor de Cana, Rhum Clement . – rsvp
5 – 8pm – “Feelin Groggy?” – @ Rapscallion. History of Tiki is a flavorful exploration that spans the globe. Lets talk about the Grog and how to adapt this cocktail into your repertoire this summer! Food Provided – Location: Rapscallion – Sponsored by Aviation,
Citadelle, Plantation OFTD – rsvp
9 – 12 midnite – “Fancy A.F. Tiki Crawl” Time to get Fancy and take a tiki trip between the Cockail Bars of Uptown! – The Standard Pour, Parliament, Tate’s,and Bowen House! Food Provided at The Standard Pour- SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED SOON- Sponsored By Plantation Fancy Stiggins Pineapple Rum, Appleton, Ron Zacapa, El Silencio, Cana Brava, Brugal
Tuesday:
11- 11:45am – Orgeat Creation Station Part 2 – @ Pilikia – finishing the product – and bottling to take home with you. Cockails by Plantation, Ron Zacapa, Full City Rooster Cold Brew
12 – 12:45 pm – Falernum Laboratory Part 2 – @ Pilikia – finishing the product – and bottling to take home with you
1 – 4pm – “Mai Tai Breakers and Shakers” COCKTAIL CONTEST– @Pilikia –
Which Bar Team will make or break the Mai Tai!! Bar Team vs Bar Team! Each member of the bar team must make a Mai Tai for overall best in show at the same time. WInning Bar Team recieves passes for 8 people to Hurricane Harbor and a bottle of Rare Plantation – FOOD PROVIDED –
Sponsored by Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, Plantation – Cocktails by Ron Zacapa and Flor de Cana. OPEN TO PUBLIC – TICKETS AVAILABLE – rsvp
RULES:
SIGN UP WILL BE ON FACEBOOK – Dallas Tiki Week – FOLLOW LINK –
Sign Ups Start JUNE 1. 6 Bar Team Spots available
Each Bar team must have at least 3 to 4 bartenders.
MUST USE Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao and Plantation Rums. They may choose from any of the Plantation Rums provided. Teams must all make same Mai Tai at same time. Winning Team selected by panel of 3 judges.
5pm – 7pm – “June and Tonic and Topo Happy Hour” – @ Shoals –A tour of tastes and twists on the Gin & Tonic and for us Texans, GIn &Topo Chico! Also the fun and fantastic flavors from D&D Shrubs and Syrups. Hosted by Travis Tober, Brian McCullough, Omar Yeefoon and Micheal Martensen, Chris Dempsey –– light food bites at Shoals – Sponsored by Citadelle, Aviation, and Fords Gin, Tanqueray, Bols, Hendricks, D&D Shrubs n Syrups
8pm – 1am – “Deep Ellum “Bermuda” Triangle” – @Armoury D.E., High & Tight, and Black Swan Saloon This Triangle of Bars in Deep Ellum is where it gets weird! Street Tacos! Tiki art, music, cocktails, and all the fun and twisted things that are TIKI! Jerk Chicken made by Bottle in Bond in Frisco will Set up in the Back of Black Swan, Pulpo from the ArmouryD.E. with live music as well as High & Tight! Alll happening together. Get lost in the Tiki Madness! With complimentary cocktail tastings at each location. -Sponsored by Plantation, Brugal, Appleton, Hennessey, Bacardi, Ron Zacapa, Ron Abuelo, Flor de Cana, Diplomatico, Novo Fogo, Aviation, El Silencio, Sailor Jerry
OPEN TO PUBLIC – TICKETS AVAILABLE at DOOR –
Wednesday:
NOON – 3pm – “Cuba Libre Kickball Games” – TEAM SHIRTS – Sponsoed by DIAGEO
4 teams of 10
SIGN UP WILL BE ON FACEBOOK – FOLLOW LINK – STARTING JUNE 1.
Winners get to brag about winning! – rsvp
Where: Glencoe Park
5300 Martel
Dallas, TX 75201
3:30 pm – 5pm – “RE- HYDRATION and Painkillers” at Peoples Last Stand “- Coconuts are essential to all things Tiki. Coconut Water is the perfect rehydrator. A Perfect PICK ME UP after Kick Ball! Sponsored by Still House, Diageo, Novo Fogo
7pm – 11pm “Swizzle Sundown Showdown at Sisu” – Its Bar Team vs Bar Team! We will find out who swizzles the best this night with a fun and spirited competition! Live Music, Swizzle Contest SPONSORED BY DALLAS USBG with Plantation, Avua Cachaca, Gun Room, Brugal, Novo Fogo, Diageo
OPEN TO PUBLIC – TICKETS AVAILABLE AT DOOR – rsvp
RULES:
Bar Team vs Bar Team – 3 or 4 bartenders per team!
Get Creative! Have Fun! Brands for teams will be randomly selected by USBG Committee.
6 Bar Teams will compete against one another for the Swizzle Showdown! Each Bar Team willl be sponsored by a different brand. Winner receives 8 passes to Hurricane Harbor and something else special as well! SIGN UPS will Start June 1.
Peoples Choice and Judges Choice decide winners!
Each Bar Team will make swizzles for the Crowd for 2 hours! Food will be provided.
11 -2am – “The Devil’s After Party “ – Industry Alley – This is where the industry comes to play! Texas ain’t Tiki without Agave!! So we are having the official After Party with our own little devilish souls! El Diablos are on the menu tonite! Sponsored by Mathilde Cassis, El Silencio and Lunazul!
East Dallas THURSDAY
1pm – 4pm – “F.O.E Pool Day – Fraternal Order Of Eagles” – Fun in the sun, play volleyball, swim, eat, drink, COST is entry to F.O.E. Sponsored by Sailor Jerry
5pm – 7pm – “Beach Blanket Bingo Happy Hour” – Lounge Here – Tiki Cocktails, Music, Food and games at this cool East Dallas Lakewood gem! Cocktails with Brad Bowden and Crew! Sponsored by Plantation and Ron Abuelo – rsvp
10pm – 2am – “DALLAS TIKI WEEK Bon Voyage Party” – Pilikia – That’s all Folks! The Bon Voyage Luau hosted by Pilikias bar team! Thanks to everyone for their support this week! Come let loose and say aloha to all of our friends in this industry! Sponsored by Plantation, Ron Zacapa, Campari, Diplomatico, Novo Fogo, Bayou Rum.
