A Sweet Escape

GET A TASTE OF THE TROPICS.

BY BERRICK WAHBY · PHOTO BY L.G. PATTERSON

We knew from the start that frozen drinks had to be a part of the bar program at Irene’s. Austin, Texas, was a huge inspiration for us and anyone who has been there knows that the frozen cocktail reigns just as high as tattoos, tech startups and barbecue.

But for me, this stemmed from one simple question: “Where in town can you get a good piña colada?” Seriously, it’s one of the most famous cocktails ever (thanks to vacations and Rupert Holmes), yet unavailable for us good folks of mid-Missouri.

That is, until now! We’re real proud of it.

Although not in the name, the most important part of a piña colada is rum. At Irene’s, we couldn’t really settle on one rum. Or two. Or even three. We actually use four rums:

• Plantation light rum (which we infuse with leftover pineapple cores that the kitchen would usually throw away);

• Plantation aged rum (which adds those delicious barrel notes of vanilla and caramel);

• Plantation pineapple rum (which is infused with pineapples before it is distilled and aged — this stuff is awesome); and

• Uruapan Charanda Blanco rum. (Made in Michoacán, Mexico from cane sugar juice and molasses, this ingredient adds a delicious funk with powerful tropical aromas and flavor. Bonus: it’s also very affordable.)

To get that pineapple taste to come through, we use Giffard Caribbean Pineapple Liqueur and Fruitful Pineapple Liqueur, which add the sweetened ripeness of fresh pineapple.

All these spirits are added into a blender with ice and our housemade “piña colada mix cubes.” These cubes are made by blending sugar, pineapple and coconut cream, then freezing into an ice mold. This way the blended drink can stay cold and frozen without adding too much ice.

Now, I understand this is a lot to get to for one cocktail, so the accompanying recipe is a simplified version better suited to an evening at home.

Berrick Wahby is the general manager and bar director at Irene’s.

Hands Free Driving

Texting and driving will no longer be legal in Missouri for those over the age of 21 once Gov. Mike Parson signs House Bill 398. If signed into law, the bill, which would go into effect Aug. 28, would require hands-free phone use while driving and make texting while driving a secondary offense in Missouri, meaning officers could not cite drivers without pulling them over for a different offense first. Currently, Missouri is one of only two states without the ban. What do you think of the bill — long overdue or totally unnecessary?