Coco Loco

Another classic tiki drink, but this one has the extra challenge of making it in a fresh coconut and using the milk that you find inside when you open it. This is no small feat. Coconut shells are really hard and you risk losing the milk if you go about opening it too quickly.

Coco Loco is mostly a tequila drink, or at least that's the dominant spirit, as the name suggests. But you get this great natural coconut water flavor and scent that is nothing like the coconut rums out there that taste like coconut scented sunscreen smells. This is more earthy and vegetal. Try these steps to open the coconut. Once you accomplish this, go about making the drink.  

 1. Use a handsaw to score a circular groove around the top end of the coconut (the skinny side with the three dimples. This will make a sort of lid. The groove should be at least 1/8 inch deep or more. If the coconut does not naturally rest with this side up, you may want to level it by shaving off a flat spot on the bottom for it to stand on.

2. Using a hammer and chisel (or regular screwdriver) tap the grove until you puncture the shell in several places along the grove line. You should be able to pry off the lid without spilling the milk inside.

3. Combine these ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into the coconut, which you should pack with crushed ice.

• 2 oz. silver tequila
• 1 oz. gin
• 1 oz. light rum
• 1/2 oz. sugar syrup
• juice of 1/2 lime

4. Decorate coconut with tiki trappings like straws, swizzles, umbrellas, etc. This amazingly affects the enjoyment of the drink. I chose a pirate's chest theme for my Coco Loco.