Phoenix July 2023 - Hula's Modern Tiki: The Cocktails

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Dale and I stopped at Hula's Modern Tiki today and we made it in time for happy hour! Tiki cocktails were only 7 bucks (down from 12) and all appetizers were 7 bucks as well. 

Our bartender was great. I acknowledged to her my awareness that most tiki drinks have an element of sweetness but I'm not fond of drinks which are overly so. I asked if she could recommend one that had a little sharpness to balance out the sweet. Before she could say anything I asked about the Pink Bikini Martini because I thought it sounded interesting and that the color pink is quite IN because of the Barbie movie. She matter-of-factly told me that that's about the sweetest drink on the menu and that it basically tastes like a watermelon Jolly Rancher. I appreciated her honesty. She recommended the Zombie which is what I went with. She was spot on about it not being over sweet. I've had Zombies before and have found them to be less sweet but you never know how individual establishments make them. According to their drink menu their Zombie has "Bacardi light rum, dark rum, overproof rum, passion fruit, pineapple and lime juices." It was awesome. Dale had a beer. 

For my next drink she recommended the Hawaii 5-0. According to the menu it consists of "Bacardi light rum, spiced rum,pineapple, passion fruit, orange and cranberry juices." I liked this one even better than the Zombie. I also liked that it had a slight fizzy element to it. Dale had a beer. 

For my third (and final drink) our bartender recommended the Blood Orange Martini. The menu listed the ingredients as "vodka, blood orange liqueur, orange, lime and cranberry juices." She said she found it to be very refreshing. Agreed. Again, a winner. Dale had a beer. 

Spring Break 2019 Tiki Tour: Hula's Modern Tiki - Good Food and Drink

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Dale and I are in Phoenix for spring break this year. We're staying with Dianne and John along with John's daughter Sarah and her husband Tim. We're also getting to spend lots of time with Brenda and Irv who are now fully settled nearby. 

I'm always up for visiting a tiki bar and Dianne recommended we try a place called Hula's Modern Tiki. Excellent choice. The food and drinks were fantastic. 

Sarah and Tim, Dale and I, neighbors Kirk and Theresa, all accompanied John and Dianne to Hula's Modern Tiki for dinner and drinks tonight. Sarah and Theresa were jazzed to try the Scorpion Bowl which is a shared drink and a tiki cocktail classic. 

I agreed to help out and Dale, not a mixed drink fan, was willing to give it a try.

John was eager to try it too but needed a little help as the straw wasn't quite long enough to reach him.

I think he liked it. 

I also tried out Hula's version of the Zombie. Quite good. 

UnderTow - Phoenix Arizona

As far as posting this is concerned, I'm behind. Back on April 4th, during spring break, I had the chance to visit UnderTow in Phoenix, Arizona. 

UnderTow is the stuff that tiki bar dreams are made of.  Located beneath Sip coffee bar, UnderTow is supposed to be located in a ship of which the bar is in the hold complete with portholes that depict leaving port, sunset, moonrise, and even passing ships that fire cannons at UnderTow as it passes. 

I made reservations (recommended, especially if later in the evening and on the weekends) and my party (John, Dianne, Dale, Peter, and I arrived as the bar opened at 4 p.m. Our friendly hostess, wearing a muu muu, greeted us and sat us at the corner table they had waiting for us. Good thing we made a reservation. Although it was early and the bar wasn't completely full, all other tables were for only two people. This was the only table that could accommodate more. 

The two bartenders on duty were friendly and attentive and brought John a Zombie. According to Jeff "Beachbum" Berry in his book Sippin' Safari, the likely story of the Zombie's creation is described as follows on the back of a 1941 Beachcomber's menu: "The Zombie didn't just happen. It is the result of a long and expensive process of evolution: In the experiments leading up to the Zombie, three and a half cases of assorted rums were used and found their way down the drain so that you may now enjoy this potent 'mender of broken dreams.'"

Dianne ordered a  Blue Hawaii.

Dale had some Japanese beer and Peter a Smoking Cannon. I got a Three Dots and a Dash.

I went on to consume a Jet Pilot. When I order the Jet Pilot,Dianne asked the bartender what it was like. She told us it was very similar to a Zombie only not as big. I had sampled John's Zombie and liked it so I decided to go for it. Although I had tried a Jet Pilot back at Archipelago in Washington D.C., I couldn't remember very well what it tasted like. This Jet Pilot very much indeed tasted similar to the Zombie. 

After the Jet Pilot  I continued with a Mai Tai. It was spot on and came in a clear glass with 3 different tiki faces embossed on it. Dianne told me she noticed in the menu that the glass was for sale. I double checked for the price and saw it was available for (I thought) a very reasonable $12 dollars. I bought two!

In addition, the art work on the glass was done by Danny "Tiki Diablo" Gallardo, who did the interior design of the bar. How awesome is that?!?

Back patio of Sip coffee bar

Psycho Suzi's Visit

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Meeting at the union hall after work yesterday evening so I made a quick stop at Psycho Suzi's in between. Have never had the Psycho Zombie before so I rectified that. It's a very tangy slush and quite enjoyable. It came with a fun swizzle stick too. 

Round two was a Fu Manchu which I've had many times before. 

Gloomy first day of spring today. My pit stop here helped brighten it up.

By the way I bought the mug the Zombie came in. I'm starting to realize the extent of my tiki mug addiction. When I got home I discovered I already had one. The more the merrier, I guess. 

P.S. The Psycho Suzi's drink menu describes the Psycho Zombie as follows:
"A zombie walks into a bar...that’s it, he just does, cause he’s not too smart. Drink a few rum soaked cherry, cola, & lime slushies and become completely brainless too. Circa 2010"