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Cocktail History
The Staycation is a modern tiki cocktail that was created by Devin Kennedy at Pouring Ribbons in New York City, New York. It’s a variation of the Tradewinds, another tropical recipe from the 1970s, but this version replaces one of the rums with whiskey, adds cream of coconut instead of syrup, and includes a hint of passion fruit for more tartness. According to Kennedy, his goal when coming up with it was to make a drink that “you have when you play ocean sounds on your living room TV,” unlike other tiki cocktails that make you wish you were sipping it poolside.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with molasses or sugarcane juice, spices, and alcohol that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. We used Appleton Estate Special Gold Rum because it has a delicious rum flavor with notes of vanilla and baking spices. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the dark rum.
Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. We used Heaven Hill Distillery Rittenhouse Rye because it has a rich and clean taste with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, and citrus. For a mocktail version of this drink, try The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Coconut Cream: This is a sweetener made with a three to one ratio of cream of coconut and coconut milk.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Apricot Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with apricots, spices, sugar, and brandy. We used Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot Liqueur because it’s made with a rich brandy base and has a high-quality fruit flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative and Monin Premium Stone Fruit Syrup in place of the apricot liqueur.
Passion Fruit Syrup: This is a sweetener made with passion fruit juice, cane sugar, and gum Arabic powder. We used Liber & Co. Tropical Passion Fruit Syrup because it has a tangy, fresh flavor.
Lemon Slice: This is a slice of lemon that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. We used Mojito mint.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Tasting Notes
The Staycation starts with fresh aromas of mint paired with a slight nuttiness, a citrus-forward taste with muted coconut on the swallow, and a bit of spice and lingering coconut flavor after.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: With the exception of maybe reducing the citrus by a quarter of an ounce, this drink is so well-balanced that none of the flavors truly popped out until we stopped to contemplate them. For that reason, we agree with Kennedy’s intent; this cocktail is definitely designed for a slow and steady night in your favorite chair.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I was a little taken aback when I took the first sip of the Staycation mostly because I was expecting at least one flavor to shine, but this didn’t really have one of those. I also found the full ounce of lemon to be a bit overpowering, so I would take it down to 3/4 oz on the next one. The drink wasn’t bad, and the more I sipped it, the more I actually liked the tiny coconut cream flavor on the swallow. But overall, the flavors (lemon aside) were just a little too well-balanced to make this recipe very memorable.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐
“As Alex noted, we tried the book’s version of this cocktail that calls for an entire ounce of lemon. At that ratio, citrus was all I could really taste with a hint of coconut coming through as I swallowed. Judging from my visible puckering as I first sipped this one, I’m with Alex on dialing back the sourness from the lemon if we make it again. I don’t know that we will though; after one tasting, I’d say this one’s near the bottom of tiki recipes I’ve liked.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Easy Tiki: A Modern Revival with 60 Recipes by Chloe Frechette.
Add rum, rye, coconut cream, lemon juice, apricot liqueur, passion fruit syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a highball or tiki glass over fresh crushed ice.
Garnish with lemon slice and mint sprig.
Ingredients
Directions
Add rum, rye, coconut cream, lemon juice, apricot liqueur, passion fruit syrup, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into a highball or tiki glass over fresh crushed ice.
Garnish with lemon slice and mint sprig.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Caleño Non-Alcoholic Dark & Spicy Tropical Spirit in place of the dark rum, The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey, and Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative and Monin Premium Stone Fruit Syrup in place of the apricot liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Tiki Cocktails
If you like this tiki-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Caribe Daiquiri: A rum cocktail made with pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and a lime slice
Junior Colada: A pineapple rum cocktail made with coconut liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, coconut soda, and pineapple fronds
Tia Mia: A mezcal and rum cocktail made with lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, a lime wheel, a mint sprig, and an orchid blossom
Wishful Thinking: A sloe gin and rhum agricole cocktail made with ginger syrup, lime juice, absinthe, Angostura aromatic bitters, and a mint sprig
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