Mr. Bali Hai

Difford's Guide
Discerning Drinkers (77 ratings)

Serve in a

Tiki mug or collins

Photographed in a

Libbey Tiki 13.5oz

Garnish:

Pineapple wedge, mint sprigs bouquet & 3 coffee beans

How to make:

SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain into glass/mug filled with crushed ice.

1 1/2 fl oz Jamaican aged blended rum with funk
1 fl oz Light white rum (charcoal-filtered 1-4 years old)
3/4 fl oz Galliano Espresso Coffee liqueur
1 1/2 fl oz Pineapple juice
1 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1/3 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water, 65.0°Brix)
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Read about cocktail measures and measuring.

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Review:

Full-flavoured rum and pineapple with delicate coffee and a refreshing zing of lemon citrus.

History:

This cocktail takes its name from, and was originally served in a mug modelled after, the carved wooden statue that still stands (restored in 2010) proudly at the entrance to the Bali Hai Restaurant in Shelter Island, San Diego, USA.

Meaning "Your own special island" and perhaps named after the song titled Bali Ha'i from the 1949 musical, South Pacific, Bali Hai opened in 1955 after Tom Ham, an accountant, took on the task of saving the last outpost of The Hut restaurant franchise. This remains the restaurant's signature cocktail.

To quote Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's 2010 Remixed, "Since the Bali Hai opened in 1955, this drink has gone through several incarnations." The recipe above, like so many other adaptations, is based on one from Jeff's book.

A more recent tribute to the original is by Kevin Beary at Chicago's Three Dots and a Dash:

Mr. Bali Hai
Serve in: Tiki mug/Collins glass
Garnish: Pineapple wedge, mint sprigs bouquet & 3 coffee beans
Method: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain into glass/mug filled with crushed ice.
25 ml Black Strap rum
25 ml Madeira Malmsey
25 ml Coffee liqueur
7.5 ml Spiced rum
7.5 ml Dark Jamaican rum
7.5 ml Falernum
25 ml Pineapple juice
25 ml Lemon juice
2 dashes Tiki bitters

Nutrition:

One serving of Mr. Bali Hai contains 276 calories.

Alcohol content:

  • 1.9 standard drinks
  • 14.81% alc./vol. (29.62° proof)
  • 27 grams of pure alcohol
Difford's Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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It's International Vodka Day image

It's International Vodka Day

Our friends across the pond have given us a reason to celebrate. In America, the 4th of October is National Vodka Day, so by extension, for the rest of

World Calvados Day image

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Our friends at Avallen Calvados launched World Calvados Day in 2020 to celebrate the French apple brandy. Hoorah!

International Gin and Tonic Day image

International Gin and Tonic Day

Founded in 2010 (according to Wikipedia) and celebrated annually worldwide on the 19th October, International Gin & Tonic Day is just as it sounds –

National Mezcal Day image

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Perhaps this page should read 'International Mezcal Day', as although this 'National Day' is an all American creation there are a great many of us around

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