Iron Ranger

Story

One of the creators of tiki cocktail culture back in the 1930’s was Victor Bergeron, aka Trader Vic.  The other was Donn Beach (born Ernest Raymond Gantt), whose “Don the Beachcomber” bars were the original establishments from which Trader Vic shamelessly borrowed ideas.  Unlike Vic, who published a dozen recipe books, Beach was famously secretive about his recipes.  He only wrote them down in coded form, meaning they had to be reconstructed through meticulous research by a hero named Jeff Berry.  Berry published the first of his famous recipe books in 1998, helping to inspire the tiki renaissance in the early 21^st century.  The Iron Ranger is a combination of a traditional Beachcomber framework with a whiskey base, which was a favorite trick of Trader Vic’s.  The result is deliciously juicy and drinkable like a classic tiki cocktail, but just when you expect the rum to make an appearance, you get the smoothness of bourbon.  The tartness of the citrus and falernum keep the cocktail from being overly sweet.  I enjoy the aroma of freshly grated cinnamon as a garnish, but you’ll be fine if you omit it.  Cheers!  

Recipe

2 oz bourbon
1 oz pineapple juice
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.5 oz John D Taylor’s velvet falernum
0.5 oz simple syrup
2 dashes angostura bitters

-Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with a handful of pebble or crushed ice.  Shake until it’s mostly melted.
-Dump everything into a pint glass or tiki mug.  Fill the remainder of the glass with additional pebble or crushed ice.
-Optional garnishes: freshly grated cinnamon, mint bouquet, cinnamon stick. Serve with a straw.