Chief Lapu Lapu - How to Make the Tiki Drink inspired by a Filipino Hero & the Sidewinder's Fang

Here's how to make the mid-century Tiki cocktail built to serve two, the Chief Lapu Lapu, which is made with Light Cuban Rum, Dark Jamaican Rum, Passion Fruit Syrup, Simple Syrup, Lemon Juice, Orange Juice and, optionally, Cinnamon Sticks for garnish. It’s similar to the tiki classics, the Cobra’s Fang and the Sidewinder’s Fang. This was more or less the touchstone version from the Golden Age of Tiki, the 1950’s.

Tiki was created by Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt (aka Donn Beach) and he set the tone for Tiki culture. The exotic drinks on the menu at Don the Beachcomber were mostly Donn’s original creations and he worked hard to kept the recipes closely guarded secrets, particularly since his drinks were such a key component of his bar’s popularity.

Donn staffed a tight knit crew of Filipino bartenders. So, when competitors were opening their tiki bars and wanted to get ahold of Donn’s famous drinks, they would poach his staff. When they got hired at rival bars, Donn’s ex-bartenders would bring their expertise and Donn’s recipes with them.

It’s not clear who invented this drink, but it started popping up in various forms in the 1950’s. The drink made the rounds and most likely came from a Don the Beachcomber alum who knew his way around an exotic drink and was familiar with the legend of Chief Lapu Lapu. In the 1500’s, on his famous trip around the world, the explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, ran into Lapu Lapu, who refused to bend the knee to the Spanish and in the ensuing fight, Magellan and several of his crew were killed. Lapu Lapu became legendary.

By the 20th century, the Philippines had been under colonial rule for nearly 400 years and there was a long standing Filipino tradition of fighting back against imperial masters. Lapu Lapu served as an inspiration. So it’s fitting that a drink made in an industry with a lot of Filipino influence would be named after a Filipino hero.

Beachbum Berry talks about several versions of Lapu Lapu’s in his book, Beachbum Berry's Remixed. However, this version was the most common in the heyday of Tiki. It has a fairly simple build, as far as tiki drinks go. The ingredients are fairly common and the measurements are all pretty standard (as opposed to six drops of this or a quarter teaspoon of that). The drink is built to serve two and is an extremely easy sipper.

The dry, Light Cuban-style Rum and the funky, Dark Jamaican Rum make for a great, complex balance of complimentary flavors, but if you don’t have both rums on hand, a good, funky blend will also work.

The garnish Beachbum Berry recommends is a big strip of lemon peel. He also suggests to serve it in a brandy snifter, perhaps because the build of the drink is reminiscent of a Cobra’s Fang or, even closer, a Sidewinder’s Fang. One of the Fangs probably served as an inspiration.

However, I like to garnish this one with cinnamon sticks, as a reminder of the spices Magellan died looking for and I like to serve it in a tiki mug with enough room for this larger than average-sized drink. This mug comes from Pie Eye Tikis, a husband and wife team of ceramicists and tiki culture junkies from central Florida. They make everything from traditional tikis to bowls to non-traditional or spins on traditional tiki mug archetypes (link to their site below). Check them out. You’re going to love their stuff. Okole Maluna!


Recipe:
1.5 oz (45ml) Light Rum
1.5 oz (45ml) Dark Jamaican Rum
1 oz (30ml) Passion Fruit Syrup
1 oz (30ml) Simple Syrup
2 oz (60ml) Lemon Juice
3 oz (90ml) Orange Juice
garnish Cinnamon Sticks (optional)

Shake with 12 oz (350ml) of crushed ice and 3-4 ice cubes. Pour unstrained into Tiki Mug or Snifter Glass. Garnish with Cinnamon Sticks. Serve with straw and stir stick. (Serves two).


Music:
Eleganza 1 by Martin Landh
via Epidemic Sound


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Featured in this Episode:

Caña Brava 3 Year Rum
http://bit.ly/2rHr8tQ

Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum
http://bit.ly/2nEaBl0

Passion Fruit Syrup
https://amzn.to/2qABaKA

Marquesan Mug by Pie Eyed Tikis
https://etsy.me/2qxPhkG

The Voyage Stainless Steel Swizzle by VanTiki
http://bit.ly/2uU45wr

Beachbum Berry’s Sippin’ Safari by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry
http://amzn.to/2xYZSa4

Beachbum Berry’s Sippin’ Safari 10th Anniversary Edition by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry
http://bit.ly/2H1zhgJ


Bar Tools:

Snifter Glass
https://amzn.to/2HCcqJX

Leopold Jigger
https://amzn.to/2EOniBv

Usagi Cobbler Shaker
https://amzn.to/2JNC27h

Citrus Juicer (Orange)
http://amzn.to/2sgBZYQ

Citrus Juicer (Lemon)
http://amzn.to/2m2NC2V

Lewis Bag & Ice Mallet
http://amzn.to/2nz12CK