The WAITIKI 7: New Sounds of Exotica

The Root Canal: a tiki-style scotch cocktail. Concocted by Sam Treadway of DRINK for Randy Wong of The WAITIKI 7

When WAITIKI 7 music director Randy Wong found himself with a nasty toothache last week, it seemed there was only one cure—a root canal. Following an intense two-part procedure lasting over four hours, the pain finally subsided, and just in time for Wong to meet up with fellow WAITIKI 7 bandmate and Adventures In Paradise co-producer Tim Mayer for a drink at Drink (348 Congress St., Boston).

While Mayer and Wong each consumed a Natatorium, Wong shared the toils of his root canal pain. Fortunately, Drink bartender Sam Treadway was conducting a ‘procedure’ of his own, the result of which is a delicious tiki-style scotch cocktail called The Root Canal.

Though not dentists ourselves, we would informally prescribe Treadway’s Root Canal to anyone seeking successful and painless post-endodontic recovery!

Recipe for a Root Canal

1 oz Ardberg
3/4 oz Cognac
3/4 oz Famous Grouse
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon
1/2 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit
1/2 oz honey syrup
1/2 oz grenadine
1/2 oz yellow Chartreuse

Shake over crushed ice. Float Chartreuse.

The Natatorium — A '34 Zombie Variant, Conceived by Scott Marshall

Yes, we know it: we post so frequently about tiki cocktails, one might wonder if this website is really about a band! But trust us, the recipes we share with you here are high-quality and intensely worthy of your attention. Besides, we have to give you something to enjoy while awaiting our debut album. (Hey, by the time the album comes out, you’ll be more than ready to throw a tiki cocktail party of your own!)

So, in honor of Memorial Day Weekend, we headed to our favorite watering hole (Drink, 348 Congress Street, in Boston’s Fort Point district), where bar chef Scott Marshall concocted a smooth and sultry variant of Donn Beach’s famed Zombie Punch of 1934.

The Natatorium Recipe

3/4 oz. each of:

151 Demerara rum
Myer’s
Barbancourt
Rhum J.M.

1/2 oz. each of:

fresh squeezed lime juice
fresh squeezed grapefruit
R&W Orchard Apricot Liqueur

Then add…

3/4 oz. orgeat
1/4 oz. cinnamon syrup
1/4 oz. grenadine
Dashes of ‘Elemakule Tiki Bitters by Bittermens’ Bitters

Named The Natatorium after the World War I memorial that overlooks Waikiki’s Sans Souci Beach, this modified Zombie sports subtle tones of cinnamon, apricot, and almond. Drink’s house-made orgeat helps each sip to a perfect finish—its light almond aftertaste will surely bring a smile to your face.

Her Majesty's Pearl: A rum-based tiki cocktail by Misty Kalkofen of Drink, Boston. Concocted for The WAITIKI 7.

One of the tunes on the upcoming album is an original ballad called “Her Majesty’s Pearl.” Penned by Randy Wong, “Her Majesty’s Pearl” features a simple, yet elegant melody evocative of sweetly nostalgic Hawaiian melodies like “Akaka Falls”, “Ke Kali Nei Au”, and “‘Imi Au ‘Ia Oe.” Its melody is gently passed between vibraphone and piano, with a brief violin interlude. In line with the belief that the popularity of French Impressionism foreshadowed the success of Les Baxter, Martin Denny, and other exotica composers, the arrangement is bookended by passages Wong lightly quoted from Claude Debussy’s Nuages.

The recording also features Lopaka Colon, who voices lower-register birds and pond animals like frogs, crickets—creatures that one might encounter while hiking on O’ahu’s Windward side, perhaps up to Maunawili Falls or through the Ko’olau mountains.

Listen to a clip of “Her Majesty’s Pearl”

Our friend Misty Kalkofen (the famed bar chef of Green Street Grille and now, Drink Fort Point) graciously conceived this cocktail to complement Wong’s ballad. One sip, and the link between this tiki drink and its music becomes clear.

Recipe for Her Majesty’s Pearl

1.5 oz Rhum Agricole
0.5 oz Pierre Ferand Ambre
0.5 oz St. Germaine
0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice
0.25 oz Simple syrup
7 drops rose water

If you’re ever in Boston, stop by Drink (348 Congress Street, Boston) and experience Her Majesty’s Pearl for yourself.