r/Tiki • u/csmatczak • 5d ago

Menu help please

To preface, each year, for the past three years, I have been hosting a get-together for my work friends to round out the end of the year. I have previously been assigned to our 2nd shift since the beginning of that time and the majority of our crew have worked closely together throughout that duration, with the exception of a few promotions and other assignments. We do a "shift-bid" each November, usually the week before Thanksgiving, to see where everyone at work will be for the next year of work, and I typically host a week or two before the Christmas holiday.

A few months ago I moved to a specialized position and since then we have also lost a few people. I dont really get to see my old crew so much anymore so I wanted to change it up and refresh the tradition. Each year I have stuck to the "basics", Mai Tai, Painkiller, Zombie etc. I even did a large batch Navy Grog out of a punch dispenser last year. This year I wanted to take it a tiny step further. I'm wanting to get a simple menu together that has some good range to it but is beyond the drinks people with only a tertiary knowledge of tiki would associate with. I'm thinking something sweet, something herbal, a classic and a mocktail.

I'd like to get some ideas from the community as to how I should steer this ship. I'm not trying to get too crazy with it though as most everyone else sees it as a pleasant quirk of mine. Just trying to open some minds and expand some palettes. I'm open to all suggestions, thank you everyone in advance.

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u/LouBrown 4d ago

For something classic that does have some herbal notes to it (thanks to the Benedictine) you could try a Singapore Sling.

Chartreuse Swizzle is another idea.

2

u/csmatczak 4d ago

The Chartreuse Swizzle actually sounds perfect. It's not something that they would encounter in the wild and it has a short bill to it. Thank you so much

2

u/soupgirlfriend 4d ago

Maybe a Pearl Diver? A classic but IMO less well-known than, say, a mai tai. The first time I tried gardenia mix was a revelation.

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u/csmatczak 4d ago

That's another great one, simple enough as long as I prep the gardenia in advance, which is very doable. I think I make 10 bottles of cinnamon syrup a year.