After you have a general idea of the ones you prefer, start to do some comparison pricing. A high quality hand carved tiki bar can run in the thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you have some free time available and are patient enough to follow a step by step guide for a few hours, you could greatly discount this price.  Are you willing to accept this challenge?

There is a great competition among the tiki bar manufactures, the quality, models and design keep improving. The kits for sale now are not of inferior quality. You can purchase the floor plans alone if you know how to find good deals in materials. You can find them in a package as a complete kit. The tiki bar is the perfect touch for the perfect memory. Spend some of that money you will be saving and have a gathering of your family and friends over for drinks, good food and fellowship…and a Tiki kit building party!

A few Magnum, P.I. trivia tidbits, courtesy of Wikipedia:

• Tom Selleck won an Emmy for his Magnum role in 1984
• His commitment to the show forced Selleck to pass on the Indiana Jones role in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
• A Magnum, P.I. movie is rumored to be in the works, with Matthew McConaughey in the starring role
• On My Name is Earl, Earl Hickey dresses up as Magnum for Halloween one year.

Anyway, this is a really cool tribute to an 80′s classic.

Open and close a bar
I’m not talking about stopping in for a cheery morning pint before work and then stopping back by for a night cap. I’m talking about being the first person to belly-up in the morning and being the last one the bartender asks to leave. This is the kind of thing that really tests a drinker’s mettle and it’s all about pacing yourself. A seat at the end of the bar is key so that you can pass day watching your fellow patrons go by.

I’ve actually done this one.  Several times, mostly in the early 2000′s.  In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve also done four others from this list.  However, opening and closing a bar really requires some dedication and is an “admirable” goal.

All that said, please allow me to submit my own drinking goal for 2009:

Complete the 7-inning Challenge

I’ve attempted this one several times, but never made it out of the fifth.  A beer (12 oz) every inning for seven innings – until the cutoff point during the 7th inning stretch – during a major league game.  This has been my elusive challenge since college and I am determined to make it a reality in 2009.

Best wishes to everyone as you celebrate the Christmas holiday.  May you be surrounded by family and close friends these next couple of weeks.

If you are looking for a couple of selected cocktails to keep everyone warm, check out the English Bishop or Feuerzangenbowle from the Christmas Cocktail Project.  We’re looking forward to trying out the English Bishop.

Mele Kalikimaka!

For those who grew up with Shrinky Dinks, here is an unusual Christmas gift – the Shrinky Dinks Tiki Island Party Pack!  It is designed for you and seven of your guests (or, your kid’s guests) to re-live the fun of Shrinky Dinks.   Those of us who grew up with these are now blessed with an opportunity to share the experience with our children.

By the way, my hunch is that these probably aren’t nearly as fun as I remember, but I am looking forward to finding out.

The name “Tiki” is actually the name of the first man in Maori mythology, which originated off the coast of New Zealand. Within that tradition, the first human was actually a woman named Tane, who was the god of the forest. Depending on location in the South Pacific, Tane is said to have created the first man, Tiki – and yet in other traditions, Tiki is actually the penis of Tane. In the Cook Islands, which are another set of islands in the South Pacific, Tiki is the guardian to the entrance to the underworld and gifts were given to him on behalf of the dead.

Tiki mythology spans several islands throughout the South Pacific and in the more popular mythological system, there are 4 different gods. These gods are said to control nature and have power over good and bad. The four gods are Kane, Lono, Ku and Kanaloa.

Kane, the first of the gods within South Pacific mythology is said to have created the universe. Because of this association with creation, Kane is often associated with life and is also said to have given all the other gods their responsibilities.

Lono is most closely associated with plants and rain and is identified as the god of fertility. Beyond these duties, Lono is also said to be the deity for peace and also music. Each year a festival, called the Makahki festival was held in Lono’s honor Lono is also said to have the ability to transform into a man.

The third deity within Tiki mythology is Ku, which actually means “to stand” or “to strike”. It’s no surprise that with names like this, Ku is the god of war. No other god commands such respect and fear among Tiki mythology as Ku does. Many years ago, human sacrifices were made to Ku and locals still fear his name.

The last deity in Tiki mythology is Kanaloa, who is said to be the god of the sea. During ancient times natives feared the power of the sea. To counter his fierce characteristics, Kanaloa is often paired with Kane as a means of balancing out fear with the peace that Kane represents.

Throughout the South Pacific, these myths have been intertwined so that certain islands may have one god, but not another. It’s apparent that they all have very similar origins, but all are differentiated by different names for their deities and slightly different story lines compared to what might be believed on other islands in the same region.

Of course today we recognize Tiki mythology by the statues and totem poles that were carved from wood. Usually these were carved in the form of a god or a number of gods and often were said to have special powers. These sacred pieces may not have the same significance in North American culture today, but for many in the South Pacific islands, these artifacts still represent a culture that had been in existence for many, many years.

In case that Tropical Blizzard recipe snuck by you, it was

• 1 oz Blue Curacao
• 1 oz Coconut Rum
• 1/2 oz Apple Juice
• 1 1/2 oz Orange Juice

Let it snow!

They have pictures of the cruise on the website – looks like a fantastic experience.

The Hukilau

1) Copy this list into your blog, with instructions.
2) Bold all the drinks you’ve imbibed.
3) Cross out any items that you won’t touch
4) Post a comment here and link to your results.

OR

If you don’t have a blog, just count the ones you’ve tried and post the number in the comments section.

List of Drinks You Must Try Before You Expire

1. Manhattan Cocktail
2. Kopi Luwak (Weasle Coffee)
3. French / Swiss Absinthe
4. Rootbeer
5. Gin Martini
6. Sauternes
7. Whole Milk
8. Tequila (100% Agave)
9. XO Cognac
10. Espresso
11. Spring Water (directly from the spring)
12. Gin & Tonic
13. Mead
14. Westvleteren 12 (Yellow Cap) Trappist Ale
15. Chateau d’Yquem
16. Budwieser
17. Maraschino Liqueur
18. Mojito
19. Orgeat
20. Grand Marnier
21. Mai Tai (original)
22. Ice Wine (Canadian)
23. Red Bull
24. Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
25. Bubble Tea
26. Tokaj
27. Chicory
28. Islay Scotch
29. Pusser’s Navy Rum
30. Fernet Branca
31. Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
32. Bourbon
33. Australian Shiraz
34. Buckley’s Cough Syrup
35. Orange Bitters
36. Margarita (classic recipe)
37. Molasses & Milk
38. Chimay Blue
39. Wine of Pines
40. Green Tea
41. Daiginjo Sake
42. Chai Tea
43. Vodka (chilled, straight)
44. Coca-Cola
45. Zombie (Beachcomber recipe)
46. Barley Wine
47. Brewed Choclate (Xocolatl)
48. Pisco Sour
49. Lemonade
50. Speyside Single Malt
51. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
52. Champagne (Vintage)
53. Rosé (French)
54. Bellini
55. Caipirinha
56. White Zinfandel (Blush)
57. Coconut Water
58. Cerveza
59. Cafe au Lait
60. Iced Tea
61. Pedro Ximenez Sherry
62. Vintage Port
63. Hot Chocolate
64. German Riesling
65. Piña Colada
66. El Dorado 15 Year Rum
67. Chartreuse
68. Greek Wine
69. Negroni
70. Jägermeister
71. Chicha
72. Guinness
73. Rhum Agricole
74. Palm Wine
75. Soju
76. Ceylon Tea (High Grown)
77. Belgian Lambic
78. Mongolian Airag
79. Doogh, Lassi or Ayran
80. Sugarcane Juice
81. Ramos Gin Fizz
82. Singapore Sling
83. Mint Julep
84. Old Fashioned
85. Perique
86. Jenever (Holland Gin)
87. Chocolate Milkshake
88. Traditional Italian Barolo
89. Pulque
90. Natural Sparkling Water
91. Cuban Rum
92. Asti Spumante
93. Irish Whiskey
94. Château Margaux
95. Two Buck Chuck
96. Screech
97. Akvavit
98. Rye Whisky
99. German Weissbier
100. Daiquiri (classic)
52 out of 100. Not bad, but I clearly have some wood to chop! There are several on the list that I’m a little surprised I’ve never gotten around to trying, a few more that I think I’ve enjoyed in a blur, and others that I’ve never even heard of.