The Best Year

Apparently The Best Year was 1975, because that's when this drink was created.  I got this one out of my favorite Tiki drink book "Bechbum Berry Remixed," by the master himself Beachbum Berry.  You should definitely check out any and all of his books if you enjoy a tropical libation or three.  POW!  See what I did there?  Here we go...

3 Ounces unsweetened pineapple juice (fresh juiced from a real live pineapple is always the best fyi)

3/4 ounce Licor 43

3/4 ounce blue Curacao (normally I'm against things like super sweet artificially colored liqueurs, but hey....it was the 70's you know?  Though I am known to use a high quality orange curaçao and vegetable based blue food dye as a blue curaçao substitute)

3/4 ounce Rose's lime juice cordial (making your own lime cordial is fun too.  I'll do a write up on that at some point.  The short answer though is it's Lime syrup but you want to simmer the lime zest with the juice and sugar, etc)

2 1/4 ounce vodka (now here is where I personally change the drink.  I hate vodka.  It disappears in cocktails, and I like my spirit to have a little more of a "hey, howya doin ;-)" attitude.  So instead I use a good white rum like Cruzan.)

8 ounces (1 cup) crushed ice

Now put everything in the blender.   Blend for a good 30 seconds, and poor unstrained into a glass of your choice.  I liked this ridiculous Hurricane glass I had laying around.  Now put on some Doobie Brothers and you're good to go.

Zombie (1950)

This is usually the version of the Zombie I go for. There is an earlier version of it as well that I'll post at some point that is also delicious.

1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce passion fruit syrup
1 ounce light puerto rican rum (use cruzan)
1 ounce gold puerto rican rum (again, use cruzan)
1 ounce Lemon Hart 151
1 tsp brown sugar syrup
1 dash angostura bitters

Shake well and pour ice and all into glass.

Chartreuse Swizzle

This one from the clock bar in san francisco. It's a slight step up from the Swamp Water that you get at Tiki Ti (that's literally the name of the drink not a comment on the drink, which i find to be delicious). This drink just takes it to the next level. Chartreuse goodness

1 1/4 ounce Green Chartreuse
1/2 ounce Falernum
1 ounce pineapple juice (freshly made if you can)
3/4 ounce lime juice

Fill with ice and....SWIZZLE!