Tropical Shots

"Lilikoi Lifeline"
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It's hot in the tropics and people get thirsty. That usually means cooling off with a cool drink, but sometimes it means a tropical alcoholic drink. When you think of that type of beverage you think of colorful fruity drinks with umbrellas and a slice of pineapple hanging off the side usually called Tiki Drinks. I like to keep it simple when I get thirsty, I like tropical shots. By tropical shots, I mean tropical cocktails that come in a shot glass. Short little shooters that knock you in the head, but taste like the tropics going down. There are literally thousands of tropical shots, and if you've floated down this road you probably have your favorites. One of mine is my "Lilikoi Lifeline", frozen Tito's vodka (my favorite brand from Texas), with fresh Hawaiian lilikoi pulp. 

July and August host the most beautiful lilikoi (passion fruit) on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. They hang off of vines waiting for locals to pick them and make all kinds of tropical goodies, like jellies, cakes, pies, ice cream and desserts of all kinds. If you haven't seen or tasted lilikoi, you've really missed something. They are shiny and yellow when ripe, about the size of a lime. You simply cut them in half and scoop out the pulp and eat it, seeds and all. They taste sweet and sour at the same time. The next time you're on Moloka'i, give my "Lilikoi Lifeline" a shot, or one of my other favorites below.

Tropical Shot Recipes:
Lilikoi Lifeline
Ingredients:

1 ounce Tito's Vodka, frozen
1 ounce of lilikoi pulp

Procedure:
Cut a lilikoi in half and spoon half of the pulp into a shot glass, seeds and all. Pour frozen vodka on top and give the lilikoi pulp a little stir with a chopstick. Very easy!

Ahi Poke Punch

Ingredients:

1 lime wedge
1 or 2 cubes of raw, sushi grade ahi tuna, chilled
1 pinch of minced green onion
1 dash sesame oil
1 dash soy sauce
1 ounce Tito's vodka, frozen
1 pinch of wasabi fumi furikake rice seasoning

Procedure:
Squeeze the lime juice into a shot glass. Slide a square or two of ahi tuna into glass. Add the remaining ingredients and top off with frozen vodka and a pinch of Japanese rice seasoning. Repeat as needed.

Sake Oyster Shooter

Ingredients:

1/2 tablespoon Japanese cucumber, minced

1 small oyster, shucked, save liquor in the shell

1 tablespoon top quality, chilled sake

1 lime, zested

Procedure:

Fill shot glass with 1/2 tablespoon cucumber. Top with oyster and oyster liquor. Top that with 1 tablespoon chilled sake and garnish with lime zest. Serve in a bed of crushed ice.

Lychee Sweetie
Ingredients:

1/2 oz SOHO Lychee Liqueur, chilled
1/2 oz 100% blue agave silver tequila, chilled
1 can of lychee, chilled

Procedure:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Put one lychee into a shot glass and pour over lychee and serve immediately.