The Jet Pilot is a classic cocktail that originated in 1958 at the Luau in Beverly Hills, co-owned by actor Steve Crane. This midcentury cocktail features a vibrant mix of Jamaican, demerara, and gold rums combined with grapefruit juice, lime juice, falernum, and cinnamon syrup, all enhanced with dashes of absinthe and bitters.

This cocktail draws inspiration from the tropical cocktail scene led by Don the Beachcomber, who was pivotal in creating drinks like the Fog Cutter, Cobra’s Fang, and Zombie. The Jet Pilot shares a close resemblance to another of Beach’s creations, the Test Pilot, but its ingredient list and build are notably similar to the popular Zombie cocktail.

Despite its complex and lengthy ingredient list, the Jet Pilot manages to deliver a well-balanced, refreshing drink. The combination of rums, lime juice, and sweeteners aligns with the traditional sour cocktail formula, reminiscent of a simple Daiquiri. The addition of multiple rums and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice enhances the depth of flavor, while the cinnamon syrup and falernum add sweetness and spice. A touch of Angostura bitters and absinthe introduces notes of baking spices and anise, rounding out the cocktail perfectly.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce overproof Jamaican rum
• 3/4 ounce overproof demerara rum
• 3/4 ounce gold rum
• 1/2 ounce grapefruit juice
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce cinnamon syrup
• 1/2 ounce falernum
• 1 dash absinthe
• 1 dash bitters
• Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Directions

1. Blend all liquid ingredients with 1 cup of crushed ice for 5 seconds.
2. Pour the mixture into a double Old-Fashioned glass and top with more crushed ice.
3. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

The Jet Pilot exemplifies the best of the tropical cocktail genre, bringing a piece of midcentury bar culture into the modern era.

What connection does a rum from a remote French island in the Indian Ocean have with the legendary tiki cocktail, the Mai Tai? Surprisingly, a lot.

The quintessential Mai Tai, particularly celebrated for its association with Trader Vic’s, represents an evolution that adapts to the unavailability of ingredients over time. The original Mai Tai was concocted in 1944 by Victor Bergeron, known as Trader Vic, for some Tahitian friends. Today, many enthusiasts crave the authentic taste of that original creation, famously crafted with the now highly coveted J. Wray & Nephew 17 Year Old Jamaican rum. However, acquiring this rum is akin to finding gold, often exceeding $1,000 on the secondary market.

Following the formula, Trader Vic’s Mai Tai evolved as supplies of the original rum dwindled. Bergeron replaced it first with a 15-year rum and later with a blend featuring various Jamaican rums, adapting to ensure quality and taste.

Additionally, Vic sought to maintain the unique flavors reminiscent of the original Mai Tai. In a 1970 treatise, he mentioned that while his blends were excellent, they didn’t quite match the distinct taste of the original 17-year rum. He introduced Martinique rum, known as rhum, into the mix—though at the time it was made from molasses, not the cane juice version favored today.

In recent times, sourcing ingredients to replicate the original Mai Tai has become easier, thanks to producers like Holmes Cay, which has released a Réunion Island Rum Traditionnel. This rum, aged for three years in ex-cognac casks, mirrors flavors that evoke the classic Mai Tai.

To create a modern interpretation of the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai, one might blend the Réunion rum with Appleton Estate rums to replicate the original’s complexity. The full recipe involves various components, including fresh lime juice, curaçao, orgeat syrup, and rock candy syrup, all blended to create that signature flavor combination.

The technique is straightforward: shake all ingredients with ice, then serve over crushed ice, garnished with mint and the spent lime shell—a nod to the classic preparation.

While any Mai Tai today may diverge from the exact recipe crafted in 1944, each iteration remains a delicious homage to the original tiki cocktail, entwined with the rich history of rum and the artistry of mixology.

Authorities in the United States have issued a warning regarding the Celsius energy drink after some cans were mistakenly filled with vodka. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) has particularly highlighted the Astro Vibe Blue Razz edition of the drink, urging consumers to check for the affected cans.

This unusual mix-up occurred when a packaging supplier shipped empty Celsius cans to the vodka seltzer brand High Noon, which then filled the cans with alcohol. As a result, High Noon is conducting a recall of its Beach Variety packs. Fortunately, there have been no reports of illnesses or adverse effects related to these products.

The recall specifically affects two production lots, details of which have been shared on the USFDA’s website. The contaminated products were shipped to retailers in regions including Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin, between July 21 and July 23.

The recalled High Noon packs can be identified with the retail code UPC 085000040065 and the following lot codes:

• L CCC 17JL25 14:00 to L CCC 17JL25 23:59
• L CCC 18JL25 00:00 to L CCC 18JL25 03:00

For the Celsius cans, the retail code is UPC 8 89392 00134 1, with lot codes:

• L CCB 02JL25 2:55 to L CCB 02JL25 3:11

The USFDA advises consumers to dispose of the Celsius Astro Vibe energy drink cans with these lot codes and not to consume the contents. It has reassured consumers that High Noon Beach Variety packs with different lot codes are safe to drink.

For further details, refer to the USFDA’s announcement on the recall here.

Recently, a mix-up caused some vodka seltzers to be mistakenly packaged as energy drinks, creating a stir in the beverage industry. The confusion arose between High Noon, a popular vodka seltzer brand, and Celsius, known for its energy drinks. This incident has led to significant concerns regarding product labeling and consumer safety.

The situation came to light when a number of consumers reported that they had purchased what they believed were energy drinks, only to find that the cans contained vodka instead. This incident sparked a debate over how such a mix-up could happen, especially given the rigorous safety standards that manufacturers are expected to adhere to.

As the story unfolds, experts are weighing in on the implications of this mix-up, discussing how it highlights the importance of clear labeling in the food and beverage industry. They stress that consumers need to be able to trust that the products they purchase match the descriptions on the packaging.

In light of this event, both brands and regulatory bodies are being urged to review their processes to prevent similar incidents in the future. Observers hope that this will lead to stronger regulations surrounding product packaging and consumer safety, ensuring that all beverages are clearly labeled to prevent confusion.

High Noon is issuing a recall for certain 12-packs of its vodka seltzers due to a labeling error that has caused some cans to be misidentified as Celsius energy drinks. This mix-up stems from issues with their shared packaging supplier.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that the affected products were distributed in Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin from July 21 to July 23. In these packs, some cans were filled with High Noon vodka seltzer, but were labeled as CELSIUS® ASTRO VIBE™ Energy Drink in Sparkling Blue Razz flavor.

This situation has the potential to confuse consumers who might expect to be consuming a non-alcoholic energy drink, only to discover they have inadvertently purchased a spiked beverage. High Noon hard seltzers contain an alcohol content of 4.5% ABV.

The issue arose because Celsius and High Noon, while manufactured by different companies, use a shared third-party packaging supplier. In a statement, Celsius explained that the supplier mistakenly sent empty cans of the energy drink to High Noon’s production facility, which filled them with vodka seltzer and packaged them for distribution.

No illnesses or adverse reactions have yet been reported, and both companies are cooperating with the FDA on a response to ensure consumer safety. Celsius is urging customers to check lot numbers and can lid colors on their drinks, even if they did not purchase them as part of a variety pack.

Consumers who accidentally purchase the affected products are advised not to consume them and to reach out to High Noon Consumer Relations for guidance on refunds and next steps.

For more information on the recall, visit the FDA’s announcement here.