Colonel Tiki

10/05/2026

(I present) The Green Swizzle (puncheon rum, wormwood bitters, falernum, swizzled w/crushed ice, angostura topper) as a pre-made product named Carypton by Angostura - no doubt to capture the 'green swizzle' money (wormwood bitters came mostly from Barbados, as did/does falernum, as does the Green Swizzle).

Notice that Carypton looks to be for a foreign market (Shake with cracked ice) -- no mention of how/why/what "Swizzling" is -
Tropical mixology *still* suffers from this ignorance, or (more apt) misconception.

Carypton was created in 1908, but stopped being produced around 1920 - World War I would curtail overseas markets. This would go on to help conflate the understanding of Carypton with Falernum.
Want to hear more? You'll have to wait for the next time I give my Seminar.

09/24/2026

CARYPTON! I Told you you'll be hearing all about it!

On this past Friday, at Beachcomber Bash, I premiered my groundbreaking seminar on The Green Swizzle: Falernum, Carypton, and Tiki.

I have revealed that Angostura's 1908 product Carypton may have been the very first bottled 'cocktail.'*

Research that builds on Darcy O'Neil's previous study as well as from that from Richard Seale's sources -

Carypton *is* a Green Swizzle, at least Angostura's bottling - And likely Swizzles have to exist before or at least concurrently with the development of 'cocktails' - Remember, a sour-less punch is a kinda a bittered sling ;)

I have not found anyone else yet on this train, so I'm staking my claim! I'd love to hear from anyone else researching along these lines. I have a bunch more leads and directions (especially regarding falernum) ...

09/22/2026

It's Frodo and Bilbo's Birthday!

Púkel Punch - A Tolkien / Tiki themed cocktail 'kenning' based on a Menhune-like race of peoples who inhabited middle earth since the First Age. They were also called the Drúedain, wildmen, wood-woses.

PÚKEL PUNCH (2019)
½ oz Qwack or other herbal/kräuter liqueur (Jägermeister, Underberg, &c.)
½ oz lime juice
½ oz passion fruit syrup
½ oz aged Jamaica rum (Appleton Extra or older)
1½ oz aged Virgin Islands rum (Cruzan)
dash bitters / 8 drops herbsaint
Flash blend with 6oz crushed ice and garnish with lime twist.

The Púkel-Men or Watchstones:

“At each turn of the road there were great standing stones that had been carved in the likeness of men, huge and clumsy-limbed, squatting cross-legged with their stumpy arms folded on fat bellies. Some in the wearing of the years had lost all features save the dark holes of their eyes that still stared sadly at the passers-by. The Riders hardly glanced at them. The Púkel-men they called them…”

Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien

which were Made by the Drúedain people:

“…they were stumpy (some four foot high) but very broad, with heavy buttocks and short thick legs; their wide faces had deep-set eyes with heavy brows, and flat noses, and grew no hair below their eyebrows, except in a few men (who were proud of the distinction) a small tail of black hair in the midst of the chin. Their features were usually impassive, the most mobile being their wide mouths; and the movement of their wary eyes could not be observed save from close at hand for they were so black that the pupils could not be distinguished, but in anger they glowed red.”

Unfinished Tales, J.R.R. Tolkien

09/22/2026

This past weekend I announced at Beachcomber Bash that I will be launching Colonel Tiki Syrups in 2027!
More information and updates will be pouring out in the next twelve months along with the typical magic you expect from The Colonel.
Mahalo, cheers, and up spirits!

07/24/2026

Aloha wear drip-drying getting ready to be on the rack at the Northwest Tiki Marketplace this Sunday at Wahi Hana in Vancouver.

Alongside aloha wear and accessories, I will be selling bits and pieces of DIY Tiki ingredients to build your own shangri-las and basement caves of wonder. Oh, and a Witco horse fireplace piece (no tools), and a Van Graff drip ship painting, and a three-piece folding room divider/screen, and ...

You'll just have to come out!

06/29/2026

It has been just over 20 years ago since we re-named the Northwest Tiki Crawl's 4th event into "Tiki Kon" (-ference, not -vention). We were at the Jupiter for our first destination hotel 3-day, this is the poster for the Saturday show (which was open to general ticket sales).

It seems like yesterday to me: The time collapses and those decades fade away into clear memories. It's a joy to continue to create, share, and adventure with you all! I'll see you all next at the Northwest Tiki Marketplace

05/05/2026

04/10/2026

It's Colonel Tiki talk time again! This coming Monday night I'll be chatting online all about Oranges: Sweet, Sour, Blossom, Juice, Peel and all.

Become a patron for access - only $5/month and these seminars are only one of the benefits of patronage.