I wanted to experiment today, so I am trying a refreshing “new to me” tiki drink. It has been on my list for a while, but I keep going with things I like rather than exploring new territory, but not today. Today we chase the horizon, so join me as we stand and make, the classic Dr. Funk. 

This one has been around forever, it is a Trader Vic’s original. If the stories are to be believed there was an actual Dr. Funk, allegedly. He was Robert Louis Stephenson’s personal physician, allegedly. He was also a doctor in Tahiti, allegedly. Trader Vic often attributed recipes to the good doctor, well Dr. Fong, who was an allegory for Dr. Funk, also allegedly. It’s all mixed up and like most good origin stories, it is most likely entirely fabricated. Man, I really wanted to lean in to the lore and spin a new yarn, but honestly, who even pays attention to this stuff in the middle. So let’s make the drink. 

Grab your tins and pop in 2 1/4 ounces of a good pot still black rum, I went with Hamilton, 1/2 an ounce of lemon juice, 1/2 an ounce of lime juice, 1/2 an ounce demerara syrup, 1/4 ounce of absinthe, I went with St George’s; and 1/4 ounce of grenadine. Give it a good shake and strain into a suitable receptacle, an awesome tiki mug, for example. But first you are going to want to pack that mug with crushed ice. How are you going to get that ice? Get one of those cool Lewis bags and a big wooden hammer and smash it yourself. Laura and the boy got me one for Father’s Day, along with this glass and it’s the virgin voyage for both. I’ve got to say, if anyone needs any crushed ice I’ll be glad to help you out. Beating the hell out of ice in a bag with a wooden mallet is, ummm, therapeutic, and I want more of that. Anyway, strain your drink into the mug and top with club soda, about 1 ounce will do it. Garnish with too much mint and maybe give him some lemon strip bangs, forget to add an umbrella, pop in a straw and serve. 

It’s good, not my favorite. The absinthe definitely pushes to the front and I have a hate/tolerate relationship with absinthe, so that’s tough. I mean we’ve been getting along better in the last year or so, but I think we are just fundamentally incompatible. We keep trying though, for the kids. It is nice and refreshing, you will like it, probably. If you go in for that sort of thing. Just don’t let Old Gregg know you’ve got it, he gets peculiar about the funk. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.