Post #153066 by Swanky on Fri, Apr 15, 2005 11:54 AM

On 2005-02-11 19:08, Kono wrote:

On 2005-02-07 19:37, Slacks Ferret wrote:
I just wanted to know who else has had the Golden Wave from Intoxica?Opinions?

Mine: It's a friggin good drink!
Have 2...they're small!

I keep a little Wordpad log of my impressions as I work my way through these books. It's mostly a bunch of gibberish for my eyes only but for the Golden Wave I have written down: "Good, not great, but pretty damn good!"

I've come to accept that drinks, like music, will have different levels of appeal to different people. I've read several people (esp Pablus) rave about the Test Pilot and so I made my first (with Velvet Falernum) with great expectations and I truly hated it. On the other had, many people here don't care for Pernod but I really do like it. It's just a matter of taste. Then there's the damn lime. It's so exasperating to go through these recipes and (for me) have all this nice top shelf rum overpowered and destroyed by the lime juice. I know some folks here by routine cut the amount of lime juice in half but I am forcing myself to try each and every recipe as it is written if it is possible. Once I've finished the list then I will likely go back and try reducing the lime (and lemon) juice amounts to taste.

I know theories have been tossed about here as to why these recipes seem far too overwhelmed by lime to many of us. Were limes less sour back in the 50s and 60s? Things like that. I was wondering the other day about the diets of those who frequented the tiki bars in those classic days. They were more likely to smoke back then. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes. They may have consumed more coffee (at least the cheap black stuff). Martinis for lunch. Food was greasier and saltier. Maybe their taste buds were shot to hell! Maybe that's why these toxic levels of lime juice tasted good to them.

You ever watch Fear Factor? When the contestant has to eat something especially disgusting, like a live spider or beetle, they sometimes start tearing up or actually crying before they chomp down on it. I just made my first Demerera Dry Float and that was just how I felt. I finally got a bottle of Maraschino liqueur and thought "Now I finally get to try a Demerera Dry Float!" Then I look at the recipe...2.5oz of lime juice! :( But I must stay faithful to the recipe. I'm crying as I'm making it, "This is gonna suck, waste of good demerera rum, goddamn old recipes..." Well, not really crying but bitching and moaning for sure. Actually the drink is not as bad as I expected, but it is a bit too tart for me. The passionfruit syrup took the edge of the lime fairly well. By the looks of it I think I will like the Gone the Beachcomber better though. I will know soon enough!

I tried this for a while myself. But I got to the point I was unable to finish drinks that were so sour. I was literally pouring them down the drain. And that's me and the Ms. So I quit that. I'd rather use a little sense on it and cut the lime down and try it and then I can add more if I think it fits. Some recipes I just don't bother with. I know I will hate them regardless. Lime is the main ingredient!

The thing is, these recipes were put together by Jeff Barry. So, he must love sour drinks. He didn't just copy old recipes into his book, but reworked them. So, it's not 1950's tastes to blame, but Mr. Berry.

Tikiwahine, take that lime shell and put 151 in it and set to "sea" aflame!