Debut of Autumn Specials at Forbidden Island

Autumn has arrived, and we have a beautiful little menu of custom created treats for your imbibing pleasure. Come and enjoy these lovely cocktails created by me and my excellent staff:

Tempranillo Sling (award winning cocktail by James Eggett)

In tribute to the alchemy of historic cocktails, we join Hornitos Anejo tequila with the tangy flavors of ginger, lime and grapefruit and the well-balanced sweetness of our housemade Tempranillo agave cordial.

The Old Fig and the Sea

Our delicious tribute to the last work Hemmingway published during his lifetime, this cocktail features a house-made fig and spice reduction,bright citrus, Mt. Gay Eclipse rum and fresh thyme.

Autumnesque

Autumn swirls with the gracefulness of a dancer en pointe, in this enchanting cocktail, featuring 209 gin, fresh lime, Lillet Blanc and our house-made lemon thyme champagne reduction.

Maltwine Honey

The whisky-like triple grain distillate of Bols Genever, that the Dutch call maltwine, is partnered with the wonderfully mellow taste of Maker's Mark bourbon and a house made syrup that steeps mint, green mate, star anise, clove, pineapple in honey made right here in Alameda, CA!

Pineapple Fizz

Fresh delicious pineapple is paired with honey and peaches for a perfect fizzy autumn treat.

Biscotti Silver Flip (Pictured)

El Dorado Demerara Rum, Faretti Biscotti Liqueur and fresh nutmeg come together in a luxurious cocktail that will keep you warm through the coldest autumn nights.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

National Rum Punch Day!

Join us today, September 20, as we celebrate National Rum Punch Day at Forbidden Island with delicious punches all night long! Our Barbados Rum Punch featuring Mt. Gay Eclipse will be discounted all evening, and enjoy two more rarely served punches, the Gallant-Yard, a liberating and delicious blend of fresh grapefruit, lime, silver rum and exotic far away spices, and the Queen's Tea Punch, with a mixture of teas, vanilla and rich rums. Both will be served in bowls for two at only $10 all evening... a fitting way to kick off your San Francisco Cocktail Week experience! Splice the Main Brace and join us tonight at 5pm!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

Indian Summer with Black Orchid Sessions at Forbidden Island!

The weather is warm and breezy, the sun is shining, and yet the shadows are just a little bit longer and leaves blow across the lanai... yes, the golden season of California has arrived. It is our wonderful Indian Summer. In Black Orchid sessions tonight I have some fresh flavors in tribute, and am featuring a refreshing and tantalizing new cocktail, Maize, which is made with the light flavors of organic white California corn and heirloom tomatoes, and a red wine chipotle reduction paring beautifully with the Hangar One Chipoltle Vodka. Flavorful, yet surprisingly not overly spicy, this new cocktail will seduce you in the warm evening. Come and try one! Taste the fresh heirloom tomato and corn waters, and the stunning richness of the new syrup, and let's create a brand new cocktail just for you tonight!

Sessions is waiting for you! And, as always, enjoy Happy Hour all night long on Mondays!

I'll see YOU, TONIGHT, at the Island!

-- Suzanne

A photo interlude... Tiki Oasis 2011

Tiki Oasis was, as usual, a complete blast. Forbidden Island hosted two back to back suite parties which were both packed for three straight hours... and we had a ball. I wanted to share some of the photos. Dig it! My first cocktail of the weekend, being poured into the approved container: A Mr. Bali Hai at the Bali Hai

Loading in a teensy bit of the rum for the weekend!

Line outside the Forbidden Island suite for Friday evening's party:

View from the balcony - floors and floors of parties at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei:

It felt like New Year's Eve! Marissa of Rock-a-Hula, Michael, owner of Forbidden Island and myself right before opening the doors of Saturday night's gala, One Night in Havana:

The Havana cocktail, with fresh mint, champagne,and Mt. Gay Eclipse:

The invaluable and utterly handsome Marty, running the roulette table for the evening:

The party in full swing. We couldn't have done it without our wonderful and generous sponsor, Mt. Gay:

Not to mention the overwhelming generosity of Cruzan, who sponsored Friday night's Fun in Acapulco party:

And Appleton, who sponsored us in the Sip 'n' Shop on Friday afternoon, where I served the "So Danco Samba," made with a flambeed Appleton rum cordial, Punt e Mes, Ramazzotti Amaro, vanilla and fresh lime juice:

Some of the usual characters were present, and a few unusual ones too. Here's a mysterious masked man, who is apparently a little bit ticklish:

Behind the bar with Patrick, who looked like a million dollars and was a darling and so very helpful all evening:

With The Mayor of Exotica (Tim Mayer of the Waitiki 7, and guest soloist with Don Tiki for the weekend), and Patrick:

After hours in the suite, Tim and Alika Lyman jammed straight ahead for us:

And then, there was Sunday. The judges came around to let us know our Saturday night Havana party was the best of the weekend! Here we are with our winning plaque:

And then... DON TIKI! I have to say that this was one of the best concerts I've seen in years. Solid, awesome exotica and latin jazz. The crowd hung on every note and was just waiting for the chance to jump up for a standing ovation. Seeing them on the mainland was an amazing treat. I hope I don't have to wait another ten years!

I love this shot - they were on stage, but the lighting makes it look like Lopaka was playing on the beach at sunset:

Just because we love good rum at Forbidden Island, we got up early on Monday morning and flew back to the Bay Area, just in time for the Brugal 1888 rum launch! Make sure to come by and try this wonderful new treat!

I'll see YOU at the Island! --Suzanne

(Photos by Suzanne Long, Michael Thanos, and the Ohana of the Tiki community. Mahalo!)