Tag Archives: Tiki Mugs

Tiki on TV: “American Restoration” Rumerator for Sammy Hagar

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Tiki on TV and tagged with , , , , ,

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After breaking into the business of booze with Cabo Wabo tequila, rockstar Sammy Hagar set his sights on a new spirit: rum. To help promote his brand, Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, he appeared on an episode of “American Restoration.”

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On this History Channel reality show, Rick Dale and his Las Vegas shop fix up all sorts of vintage items — classic Coke machines, slot machines, neon signs, etc. — to make them look new again. Since I’m a fan of retro stuff (and mindless reality TV) we tune in fairly regularly.

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For “Right Here, Rum Now,” which first aired September 26, 2012, Rick’s project for the former Van Halen rocker was to repurpose an old refrigerator into a custom rum dispenser — a “Rumerator,” as they called it. Since Sammy’s rum is distilled on Maui and made from local sugarcane, he wanted the final product to reflect Hawaii and the brand’s tropical lifestyle image. Rick talked over some ideas with Dave, who seemed to be just the right guy for the job (note the tiki tattoo).

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The Rumerator has some hot rod style to it, with the shiny black top and neon sign. Glasses are placed on a mini surfboard mounted to the front, and the fin cleverly acts as a handle to open the door. A couple nitrogen tanks in the back keep the contents on tap chilled.

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Sammy owns a home on the island, and you can tell he’s also into tikis from browsing his web site, where he can be seen with a tiki surfboard at the end of his holiday message video.

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These five Ku tap handles poured simultaneously with one pull to “get the liquor quicker.” (They brought to mind the Enchanted Tiki Room beer tap handles at Trader Sam’s and the tiki beer tap I spotted at Sea World awhile back.)

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In addition to those taps, there were also two more tikis worked into the design underneath, along with bamboo, sugarcane and a black and white graphic leaf-like pattern echoed from the rum label.

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According to the show, The Rumerator was installed for the opening of Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar & Grill in Roseville, CA, outside of Sacramento. You can catch this episode again on the History Channel on Sunday, January 20, 11:30 p.m./10:30c.

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(Image by Tiki Farm)

Crazy Al and his band Ape performed at a launch party for Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, and this spawned a collaboration on a new tiki mug, “Sam Ku,” which is bright red in honor of Sammy’s nickname “The Red Rocker.” (The tiki is even holding a “Sammy Hagar” special edition Gibson Explorer guitar.) Tiki Farm‘s share of the 250 mugs sold out in minutes. However, Crazy Al is offering 25 custom-glazed mugs on eBay. Sign up for his mailing list to get the scoop on that.

Related Posts:
Tiki on TV: The Simpsons
Tiki on TV: American Dad
Tiki on TV: Archer

Christmas Tiki-Ti Tiki Mug by Derek Yaniger

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Objets de Tiki and tagged with , , , , ,

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I usually would say it’s too early to be thinking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but this is a special case. The Tiki-Ti has just released their second signature tiki mug, a festive little number designed by Derek Yaniger and produced by Tiki Farm. “Kahuna Kalikimaka” has a silver jingle bell on his Santa cap, a red and green gift and “Tiki Ti” embossed on the back. The beard and expression remind me of Kon-Tiki.

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Around 500 of these mugs were produced — they cost $25 each and are only available at the Tiki-Ti (and surely eBay eventually). However the Buhens are about to close up shop for their holiday break, so Saturday night is your last chance to get one until they re-open the bar on December 12.

UPDATE: Kahuna Kalikimaka mugs are now available for shipping. Check out the Tiki-Ti’s Facebook page for details.

Related Posts:
Our First Trip to the Tiki-Ti
Holiday Drinks & Decor at Trader Sam’s
Tiki Wonderland at the Tonga Hut

Psycho Suzi’s Gift Shop & Signature Mugs

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Tiki Sites and Stores and tagged with , , , , , ,

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Well, I hope you’re not sick of Suzi because I’m still not done talking about her yet. A trip to Psycho Suzi’s just wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the gift shop, which is on your left when you enter the lobby.

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They offer brown and yellow signature tank tops, hoodies and beanies, plus six styles of t-shirts, including one for each of the bars in the Shangri-la Cocktail Lounge. I coudn’t resist the ones emblazoned “Where your petty concerns of authenticity are irrelevant” and “Dock your dinghy at Ports of Pleasure.” The latter also has a neat ship drawn on the back.

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In the case they have their first custom Tiki Farm mug (in the middle with the red eyes), along with about a dozen different Dynasty mugs that Psycho Suzi’s has matched up with their drinks. I’m now diggin’ that big volcano mug from Poolside Pineapple.

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They recently debuted their second locale-specific vessel for the Shrunken Head bar. You might have seen it on the cover of Tiki Farm’s Summer 2011 Quarterly, which featured an article describing the process of going from the original artwork to a design interpreted by The Pizz to the manufacturing of the final product. This Shrunken Head mug ($20) can be purchased online or in the gift shop, or ordered with its corresponding cocktail in the Shangri-la lounge.

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There are even more Dynasty mugs, bowls and shots up on the wall. Most were fairly familiar to me, except for that one that looks like an open-mouth bass. How very Minnesotan!

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I thought the Suzi Pint glasses were a great buy at only three bucks each. On one side is the Sailor Jerry hula girl and on the other is Psycho Suzi’s signature tiki.

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On the counter you’ll find impulse purchases like logo-rific patches ($4), pins ($6) and beer cozies ($4). Don’t fret if you’re nowhere near “Nordeast” Minneapolis, though — Psycho Suzi’s has started stocking some of their merch in an online store.