Recipes & Food Styling

Think: “Frozen hot, buttered rum!”

For our Tiki Christmas this year, we made Hawaiian cocktails like Pearl Divers and Mai Tais! It was such a fun treat to break away from the usual flavors of one of my favorite holidays of the year!

Pearl Divers are like a frozen hot buttered rum! The key ingredient in the slushy drink, (other than rum, of course!) is  Gardenia Mix. Gardenia Mix is made with honey, butter, cinammon, all spice and vanilla.

Pearl Divers were invented in the 1930s by the man who created the first tiki bar- Don The Beachcomber. America was in the midst of the crippling years of The Great Depression, and new recipes often got names that inspired hope – like the Pearl Diver Cocktail.

There was even a specific style for pitchers and glasses for the Pearl Diver Cocktail. The set in these photos is a clear glass version, with pretty etching along the edges. I adore it! The classic Pearl Diver glass has a wide, round stem with ridges up and down.

Pearl Diver Cocktail

Makes 1 serving

1 ounce juice from one fresh lime

1 ounce juice from one fresh orange

1 ounce *Gardenia Mix

1 ounce dark rum

2 ounces light rum

1 cup ice

Garnish: Maraschino cherry and slice of pineapple on half of a pineapple leaf   

Using a blender, blend all of the ingredients until mixed thoroughly. Pour into glass and add garnish. Serve with a straw.

Gardenia Mix

1 ounce honey

1 ounce butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon all spice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients; mix together until well blended.