My Lords and Ladies, allow me to present what may be one of the first tropical cocktails ever dedicated to, and served at, Pennsic War. And NO the stupid-ass party punches you get around the lake do not count as tropicals! *ahem*
Pennsic PassionBase proportions per serving:
1 oz. Coconut rum (Malibu)
1/2 oz. Passion fruit liqueur (Passona)
2.5 to 3 oz. Lychee juice
1/8 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice (or splash to taste)
- Assemble ingredients in thermos and take along to intimate drinking party with friends at war. Upon arrival, decant into shaker full of ice. Shake and pour into Indian brass/nickel wine glass or martini glass (show off the pink color of the drink). Garnish with lychee nuts on a toothpick or with a lime wedge.
Notes: This recipe is designed to be scalable and easy to prepare, even somewhat in advance of leaving for war (combine boozes at home, but leave juice in the can and get a lime from the produce vendor on site). This is why I do not call for a specific rum plus cream-of-coconut combo -- too messy and coconut rum is an easy known quantity; even a liquor store in New Castle should have it. Passona is a bit harder to find, but should be available in any area with a decent Hispanic population (and bless them for demanding it from my local store!) The mix works equally well with real lychee juice or lychee "juice drink" which sometimes is what you find. A lemon squeeze is also not bad if you can't get lime.
My big mistake in serving this this year was that I did not actually bring a shaker or ice to the party. Poor planning on my part, but then, I wasn't even sure I would be doing this anyway. I mean, I sorta kinda pretended it was quasi-Period Indian flavors, but bringing a shaker to someone's camp whom you don't know well yet is a bit too much for me! Next year, I'll bring a full mini-bar system. Having done further testing at home, I can tell you the ice shake is most desirable. If you want extra points from your hot and exhausted Pennsic guests, chill the brass goblets in your cooler beforehand as well.
For the impatient...a 50/50 of the coconut rum and passioa makes a great shot.
Special thanks to Magdalena for her help, taste testing and timely loan of her thermos and lime.
Mahalo and aloha!