Polynesian Pearl Diver

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Mixology

                         Polynesian Pearl Diver

The name alone brings visions of endless sunshine, crystal blue waters, and divers finding pink pearls in giant oyster shells.  If you are reading this in a cold climate location (this is a December article, after all) this may be something you are dreaming about anyway!

The Polynesian Pearl Diver is one of the many spectacular drinks that originated at the famous Los Angeles Don The Beachcomber tiki bar. It was created in the 1930’s and I absolutely love this cocktail because it incorporates all of the typical ingredients you think about with tiki drinks: two types of rum, lime and orange juices, Angostura bitters, and crushed ice…with one unique addition. The super secret ingredient is what sets this recipe apart from all the others, and Don Beach called it his “Gardenia Mix”. Gardenia mix is essentially a butter/honey syrup flavored with vanilla and baking spices- not unlike the items you would use in a traditional Hot Buttered Rum.  Don’s incredibly creative and pioneering manner gave us many of the tiki classics we know today and this drink is no exception.  Fun Fact: Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in the movie Django Unchained orders a Polynesian Pearl Diver (“don’t spare the rum!”).  What makes this interesting as well as impossible, is that the movie is set in the 1850’s.  I have included both the recipe for the Gardenia Mix AND the cocktail itself.  Have fun with this one, play around with different rums too.  Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 in New Orleans does a similar cocktail called “Pontchartrain Pearl Diver”, using Jamaican rum and passionfruit in it.  

POLYNESIAN PEARL DIVER

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz. Aged Puerto Rican Rum
  • .5 oz. Demerara Rum
  • .5 oz. Lime Juice
  • .5 oz. Orange Juice
  • .5 oz. Gardenia Mix (see recipe below)
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Directions:

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend on high for 20 seconds.  Pour over crushed ice, and garnish as you wish.  

DON’S GARDENIA MIX

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz. Honey
  • 1 oz. Unsalted softened butter
  • 1 tsp. Cinnamon simple syrup
  • ½ tsp. Vanilla simple syrup
  • ½ tsp. Allspice Dram

Directions:

Using a spatula or a hand mixer, whip until creamy. Refrigerate this for up to one week.

Pro tip:  You can also freeze this mix, so feel free to make a larger batch.