You know? You should start a blog!
And with that, Jay Cocorullo became Trader Jay and started blogging! Jay is based out of sunny Florida and grew up on a steady diet of Walt Disney World and The Enchanted Tiki Room. When Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto opened, things were taken to a new level with Jay. Here is his story …
What is the tiki scene like where you live?
Jay- Being in the land of Themed EVERYTHING, it can be hard to compete. Tiki here in Orlando is really dominated by Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Most evenings, even in the off season, will have a line to get in at opening following by waits that can easily be 2 hours. While the drinks are decent, the space is the true STAR! You can find plenty of “Tiki” throughout, but also a healthy amount of Disneyana (with nods to Walt, the Jungle Cruise, the Enchanted Tiki Room and even the long gone 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction). Along with the décor, and my personal favorite, is the automation that is triggered by ordering certain drinks. I’m not sure if I’ve “won” at parenting or belong in the “horrible Dad” hall of fame, but my young sons know when they hear the two gunshots to yell “Two Shots of Rum”.
There is one other tiki bar in Downtown Orlando called Aku Aku. It is truly a hole in the wall. I will admit that I’ve only been once and had an extremely awful experience, but I have heard others have experienced the opposite (my bartender told me he couldn’t recommend anything because he doesn’t like rum).
Coming soon east of Orlando (in Sanford) will be Suffering Bastard and I look forward to checking that out when it opens.
What brought you into the ‘Tiki lifestyle” and how long has it been part of your life?
Jay– Growing up in South Florida I was fortunate that my family visited Walt Disney World multiple times a year and the Enchanted Tiki Room had always been a family favorite so, I think the technical answer to the question is “my entire life” … However, I really became an ingrained deep about 4 years ago. We moved into a new house in 2015 and my wife always said that if I bought her enough rooms then I could have one to do whatever I wanted with. I guess I provided just enough rooms because I was allotted one to do with as I pleased.
This move aligned with two other events:
1) The opening of Trader Sam’s at Walt Disney World
2) A business trip to San Francisco where I had the opportunity to visit Smuggler’s Cove
Everything about both those locations blew me away and then I was told about the recently released Smuggler’s Cove book. Once I had my “Tiki Bible” things really took off and Trader Jay’s was born.
Can you give a little history of how you started blogging?
Jay– About a year into my home tiki build I was having lunch with a work colleague. I mentioned my tiki love and she asked me if I ever thought about blogging about it. I never really had but she said my story sounded interesting and thought others might like to read about it too. I never really started with a goal of growing a following, I just thought I could put it out there and if someone wanted to read it then they would.
What is your favorite Tiki drink? Why?
Jay– It is 100% cliché but it is the Mai-Tai. (And, to be clear, a CORRECTLY made Mai-Tai!) I love everything about it… from the story of Trader Vic first creating it to the perfect balance of sweet, sour and strong. My wife would say that I might care TOO MUCH about it because it drives me crazy when a restaurant/bar has a Mai-Tai on the menu and the description is “rum and juices”. Take the time to do it right and your clients will thank you. Fresh squeezed lime juice and a quality rum (or two if you subscribe to the mix of Jamaican and Martinique rums from one early Vic recipe). I prefer Appleton Estate Rare 12 year myself. In my head, it is semi/kind of/almost close to what J. Wray 17 year Jamaican might have been like.
What is your favorite Tiki bar?
Jay– This a hard one because I’ve had the opportunity to experience a number of fantastic Tiki Bars. I don’t know if I can pick just one but I can narrow it down to two by distinct categories…
In the US – Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago)
Outside the US – Laki Kane (London)
Neither of these are completely over-the-top themed like Trader Sam’s nor are they classic and historical like the Mai Kai or even perfect “new” tiki like Smuggler’s Cove (all bars that round out my top 5) but what is so memorable about Three Dots and Laki Kane was the over the top hospitality I’ve received from them and the drinks… the quality and inventive drinks are 100% the stars! I invite Ray’s readers to take a few minutes to read my reviews of Three Dots and Laki Kane and DEFINITELY visit them if you’re able to.
What does the future hold for you and your tiki blog?
Jay– I guess I don’t really know… I know I’d like to keep building and adding to my tiki bar as well as continuing to travel to different tiki locations. The “job” of tiki is never done and I am happy it isn’t!
Anything else you would like to add?
Jay– My latest blog post highlights the current state of Trader Jay’s Home Tiki Bar. Give it a read here. And, always feel free to give me a shout out or a follow (Twitter and Instagram: @Trader_Jays)
