Flaming volcano facts for kids
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Mixed drink |
| Primary alcohol by volume | |
| Served | Blended with ice (frozen style) |
| Standard garnish | pineapple and/or orange quarter slices, maraschino cherries |
| Standard drinkware | Special: volcano bowl |
| Commonly used ingredients | |
| Preparation | Combine ingredients except overproof rum with 2 scoops of crushed ice in a blender. Pour, and place small amount of overproof rum into volcano and carefully light. |
| Notes | A shared drink served with straws |
The Flaming Volcano is a large, tropical mixed drink. It is usually made with ingredients like rum, brandy, pineapple juice, orange juice, and orgeat syrup. This drink is famous for its exciting presentation. It is often served to a group of people in a special bowl called a volcano bowl. This bowl looks like a volcano with a central cone. A small amount of flammable liquid is put into the "crater" of the cone and carefully lit. This creates a cool, blue flame that looks like a mini volcano erupting!
The Flaming Volcano is a shared drink. It comes with several long straws so everyone in the group can sip from it safely and comfortably. Sometimes, people call it a "scorpion bowl."
The Story Behind the Flaming Volcano
The idea for the Flaming Volcano drink started in Hawaii in the 1950s or 1960s. It combined two popular ideas: single-person "volcano cocktails" that had ice shaped like a volcano, and larger shared drinks served in bowls.
A famous mixologist (someone who creates mixed drinks) named Jeff Berry wrote about early versions of this drink. He mentioned that Don the Beachcomber served a large flaming bowl at his place in St. Paul, Minnesota. There was also a "Lei Lani Volcano" variation from the Polynesian Village Resort in Walt Disney World in the 1970s. You'll usually find this special drink at tiki bars, which are bars with a tropical, Polynesian theme. The Flaming Volcano also has strong connections to an older drink called the scorpion bowl.
How It's Made and Different Kinds
One way to make a Flaming Volcano is by blending all the ingredients with ice. Sometimes, people even add dry ice to create a cool fog effect, making it look even more like a volcano!
The main ingredient is usually some type of rum. Brandy is also often added. However, some recipes might use vodka or even gin. Other versions of the drink can include different juices, like lime juice or grapefruit juice. Some might even use maple syrup, guava nectar, or coconut rum.
This exciting drink was also given new names at some tiki bars. For example, at places like the Kahiki and the Mai Kai, it was sometimes called "the mystery drink."
The special ceramic bowls used for the Flaming Volcano were first made by companies like Orchids of Hawaii and Bamboo of China. Today, artists like Shag have designed new and unique volcano bowls.
Flaming Volcano in Pop Culture
The Flaming Volcano drink even played a part in music history! The famous band The B-52's formed after its members shared a Flaming Volcano. This happened at a Chinese restaurant in Athens, Georgia, in November 1976. The band members didn't have much money, so they decided to share one big drink instead of ordering food.
