A classic, fruity Tiki drink that features a gin base and an out-of-this-world flavor.
In 1967, the Space Race had been going strong for a number of years. Satellite launches and astronauts orbiting the Earth while reaching for the Moon had the world enthralled. People all over the globe became obsessed in their own way. Kids had toy rockets, space helmets and comic books filled with adventures that crossed the cosmos. Grownups had the nightly news, watching the United States and the Soviet Union vie for superiority amongst the stars. That same year the James Bond film You Only Live Twice tapped into those anxieties, showing us the potential darker side to the conquest of space. The adults, like 007, could probably use a cocktail.
Enter J. “Popo” Galsini, a bartender from California originally hailing from the Philippines. After working for years at a number of tropical and Polynesian-themed bars and resorts during the halcyon days of Tiki in Southern California, Galsini was inspired by the bravery of the test pilots who flew dangerous experimental planes in the high desert of the Golden State. He crafted a cocktail that consisted of gin, Falernum, passion fruit, orgeat and lemon juice. Usually, a Tiki drink has a rum base, but Popo chose the path less traveled for a memorable recipe. He originally called his creation the X-15, after the rocket-powered hypersonic jet airplane that could reach the edge of our atmosphere, touching outer space. After one of these aircraft crashed, killing the pilot, Galsini opted for another name to give his potion. This time it would be the massive rockets from the Apollo program that provided the drink’s new name… the Saturn.
With a new moniker for his invention, the California bartender brought it to the 1967 International Bartender’s Association World Championship, and won. The Saturn has since earned a respected place in the annals of Tiki, not just for its tropical taste, but as a reminder of the risks that pioneers throughout history have taken, be they bartenders or star voyagers.
What is Falernum?
Usually made with rum, almonds, ginger, lime and other spices, Falernum is a syrupy liqueur from Barbados (though a nonalcoholic version does exist too). It is primarily used in the mixing of various Tiki drinks and even versions of the Rum Collins. Some claim it originated in the 18th century, but the earliest known mentions of the liqueur date back to the 1930s.
What is the Best Gin to Use in a Saturn Cocktail?
I imagine that the gin used for the original version of this recipe was a traditional juniper-forward London Dry, so that’s what I used when making tonight’s drink. I went for an easy-to-find and cost-effective bottle of Tanqueray, a fine and balanced spirit. At a potent 94.6 proof, your Saturn cocktail will definitely have the potential to launch you into orbit.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 ounces gin
- 1/4 ounce orgeat syrup
- 1/4 ounce Falernum
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/2 ounce passion fruit syrup
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Add gin, orgeat syrup, Falernum, lemon juice, and passion fruit syrup into a blender.
- Add about 1 cup of crushed ice.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a Tiki mug or highball glass and garnish with an orange twist.
Nutrition
What kind of glassware and garnish is used?
Grab your favorite Tiki mug along with a little cocktail umbrella, and pour your Saturn in for a fun way to imbibe this delicious treat. If you don’t have a Tiki mug, any highball glass will do. For a little extra-galactic flair, take a lemon wheel, remove the insides and stab a cocktail cherry through the rind so that it sits in the center, like a fruity planet surrounded by a citrus ring. Place on top.
Does the Saturn have to be served frozen or blended?
You can shake the ingredients over ice and serve it on the rocks, and the cocktail tastes just as delectable. I did this accidentally before realizing it’s usually served blended.
Similar Cocktails to the Saturn
Living in Southern California gives me access to some legendary and famous Tiki bars. The Tonga Hut, Tiki Ti and Broken Compass Tiki are some of my favorite places. There’s nothing I love more than putting on one of my Aloha shirts, linen pants and a pair of espadrilles, then going out for some strong Tiki drinks and dreaming of faraway beaches. Twist & Toast can help bring these experiences to you in your home, no matter where you are on this little blue planet called Earth. Check these recipes out, and raise a glass to all pioneers.
- Dirty Monkey – Go on an adventure of the boozy kind with this smooth and strong beverage.
- Tia Mia – Mezcal and Jamaican rum come together in this potent riff on the Mai Tai.
- Planter’s Punch – This fruity beverage is a refreshing Tiki favorite.
- Papa Doble – Not quite a Tiki drink, but Hemingway’s favorite style of Daiquiri. He loved them so much he drank two at a time, hence the name.
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