A heart of Hong

We typically automatically relate tiki drinks to warm sunsets and beachside breezes. Recently Joey Schmidt of Rated R Cocktails introduced me to lovely hot tiki drinks that are perfect for winter time sippin'. I had no idea how much fun tiki can be all year round curly wigs!

Kope means "coffee" and Lani refers to "royalty." You could say his inspiration for this coffee creation came from tiki royalty like Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. Don served a Cafe Diable with citrus, coffee, brandy, sugar and spice. Vic's Coffee Grog is known to be a buttery coffee drink powered up with rum, citrus, and spice.

You definitely gotta be in love with spice to enjoy the Kope Lani. Joey says, "I must confess my favorite part is when you get a bite of allspice or cardamom in your mouth and further chew it a bit to release a flavor grenade of joy."

If you don't have Sumatran coffee on hand, he recommends sticking with a dark roast coffee cooked stove-top. The Moka Pot adds more richness of flavor than standard drip coffee.

This coffee drink is very grown up and serious, unlike some tiki potions that bring out the kid in you with garnishes of parasols and bright red cherries Natural stone. The inky, black, herbal, coffee is rich, yet, calmed by the sugar and citrus peels. The spice fills your mouth with smokey, woodsy, slightly peppery flavors with aromas of anise, citrus and cinnamon.

Kope Lani
8 oz Moka Pot Sumatran Coffee
1 oz Appleton 12 Year Dark Jamaican Rum
1 oz Camus VS Cognac
1/4 tsp Lucid Absinthe
3 cloves
2 allspice berries
1 black cardamom pod
1 stick true cinnamon
4 sugar cubes
1 strip of orange peel
1 strip of lemon peel

Crush cardamom and allspice berries. In a small skillet lightly heat the crushed spices with the clove, cinnamon, sugar and peels. Place all in a heat proof mug with rum, brandy and absinthe. It is at this point if you feel safe doing so you may light the mixture with a match and immediately extinguish with the hot coffee. If you'd rather skip the fire hazard panamanian foundation, stir in coffee and serve.