5 (More) Cocktails with Interesting Names in Honolulu

Inspired by movies, personal anecdotes, puns and more.

October 5, 2018

James Charisma,

Bevy's Holy Matchamony

Photos: James Charisma

In April, we visited a variety of bars across the island in search of the most unusually named local cocktails. Five of our favorites later, it turns out we didn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to the sheer breadth of how many local restaurants, bars and clubs are offering interestingly named drinks.

So here are five more, from five other O‘ahu spots, all of which taste as awesome as the stories behind their names:

1. What’s Up Tigerlilly?

Mahina & Sun’s

Many of the cocktails on the menu at Mahina & Sun’s take inspiration from movies, from the mezcal Dusk till Dawn to Rosemary, Baby! with organic gin. We love What’s Up Tigerlilly? inspired by the princess with the same name from J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. Made from Riazul tequila, liliko‘i, cinnamon and lime, this cool cocktail begins with the taste of spice that ultimately gives way to a sweet and sour citrus. The bartender at Mahina explained that the natural ingredients were likely among those one might actually find in the forests of Neverland.

$14, 412 Lewers St., (808) 924-5810, mahinaandsuns.com

2. Holy Matchamony

Bevy

A punny play on “matrimony,” this sophisticated cocktail made with Absolut Elyx, matcha, labne (Lebanese strained yogurt), honey and honeydew is a marriage of flavors you have to try to love. The umami matcha is offset and matched perfectly to the tangy labne, and both are tempered by the sweetness of honeydew and melon. Like a cross between green tea and lemonade, this Holy Matchamony at Bevy leaves a tingly sensation on the tongue, named with a pun that’s almost as good as the beverage.

$13, 675 Auahi St., (808) 594-7445, bevyhawaii.com

3. La Chaula

Hideout

At the Hideout deck bar at The Laylow, Autograph Collection in Waikīkī, bartender Justin Kipapa explains the story behind the mysteriously named La Chaula: One of the managers, Chadley Taylor, was helping develop new cocktails when they needed a name for a drink featuring smoky El Silencio mezcal, galangal, lemongrass, lime oil and topped with a slice of ginger. Taylor’s boyfriend, who has a strong Colombian accent, sometimes sounds as if he’s mispronouncing her name. So as a way to poke gentle fun at the couple, Kipapa and the other members of the bar staff named this cocktail “La Chaula,” after a possible mispronunciation of “Chadley.” We love this story—and the handmade ceramic Easter Island-esque mugs that this tasty gingery margarita is served in.

$15, 2299 Kūhiō Ave., (808) 628-3060, hideoutwaikiki.com

4. The Truffle Shuffle

Livestock Tavern

Like at Mahina & Suns, the seasonal cocktails currently on the menu at Livestock Tavern in downtown Honolulu are inspired by movies. Specifically 1985’s The Goonies, where characters like Chester Copperpot and One-Eyed Willy and quotes like “Kids suck” and “Hey you guys!” have been translated into drinks. The full-bodied “Truffle Shuffle” features Old Overholt rye whiskey, green chartreuse, Frangelico, truffle oil, a whole egg and fresh lemon juice. Livestock Tavern bartender Joey Joyce likens the drink to a light and chilled eggnog made herbaceous from the chartreuse and with umami traces of truffle oil; strong without being overpowering.

$14, 49 N. Hotel St., (808) 537-2577, livestocktavern.com

5. Tactical Nuke

Nocturna Lounge

With a radioactive name as intimidating as the ingredients itself, Nocturna’s Tactical Nuke is created from a mix of Naked Turtle white rum, Gordon’s gin, Svedka vodka, Blue Curacao, fresh lemon sour and an inverted can of Red Bull. Similar to the heavily liquored AMF, this cocktail is exactly the sort of high-powered weapon you might call for in multiplayer video games, like the ones set up on game consoles mounted on the pillars and walls of Nocturna Lounge. At the very least, enjoy a couple of these and it’ll give you the courage to attempt singing karaoke on the big screen for the entire bar. Bombs away!

$13, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., 5D, (808) 521-1555, nocturnalounge.com