opaka raka

1 1/2 Junipero Gin (sub Tanqueray)
1 1/2 oz Don's Spices #2 Mix (*)
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
1 dash Tiki Bitters (sub Fee's Aromatic)

Shake with ice and strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
(*) Note: the recipe in Remixed is allegedly wrong and it should be Don's Mix instead. My tasting notes are using Don's Spices #2 which is equal parts vanilla syrup and allspice dram, and not Don's Mix.

Two Saturdays ago, we began the cocktail hour with the Opaka Raka from Beach Bum Berry's Remixed. The drink was created by Death & Company's Brian Miller who was influenced by Don the Beachcomber's Donga Punch. Instead of Don's Mix and rhum in the classic, Brian used Don's Spices #2 and gin (see the above note that the recipe in Remixed might be wrong, and both recipes use Don's Mix).
The Opaka Raka offered up a lime and allspice aroma at first; as the drink's level dropped, the vanilla on the edge of the glass from the Don's Spices #2 began to play a prominent role in the bouquet. On the tongue, a lime sip led into a vanilla, allspice, and gin swallow. With the potent allspice liqueur, perhaps 2 parts of vanilla syrup to 1 part of dram might have worked better than equal parts in this recipe.