maui nui

2 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth (Noilly Prat)
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/4 oz Curaçao (Pierre Ferrand)
1/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1/4 oz Don's Spices #2 (1/8 oz Vanilla Syrup + 1/8 oz Hamilton's Allspice Dram)
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Whip shake, pour into a Tiki mug, and fill with crushed ice. Garnish with mint sprigs and freshly grated nutmeg.

After the Plank Owner's Punch, I began to focus in its Don's Spices #2, Don the Beachcomber's secret vanilla and allspice cordial that was featured in a few of his drinks. From that collection, I honed in on the Nui Nui and decided to make a lower proof riff. For the Nui Nui's orange juice, I opted for the Paul McGee preference to remove orange juice from drinks and exchange it for curaçao. To name it, I decided upon the Maui Nui which is the prehistoric Hawaiian island formed from a volcano; between its weight and erosion, it ended up divided into four islands.
The Maui Nui erupted with a mint and cinnamon aroma. Next, lime and orange flavors mingled on the sip, and the swallow donated herbal, cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla flavors. Overall, the balance felt a lot lighter in proof, but the change from amber Virgin Island rum (which is generally not all that flavorful) to French vermouth was not an overwhelming change.