Polynesian Sour

Though there's no traditional spirit from Hawaii or the Polynesian islands, La Grande Passion is probably the the closest a liqueur has come to being Hawaiian. It is, however, French and it is also out of production. I made my own version with armagnac and passion fruit. Now we have the most tropical of Sours ready for consumption on Waikiki Beach or just in your own backyard (or mine.) 

There's a lot going on here: sour lemon and orange juice backed by passionfruit's acidic bitterness, and soft, round armagnac and sweet sugar cane from rum. I'm using the Vitae Platinum rum again with it's light flavor and smooth body. Altogether, you get the impression of something very familiar--because it is just a sweet Sour--and something wholly exotic you've never experienced before.

• 1 1/2 oz. light rum (Vitae Platinum used)
• 1/2 oz. La Grande Passion (homemade recipe used)
• 1 oz. orange juice
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• 1 oz. pineapple juice
• 1/2 tsp. sugar syrup (or rock candy syrup made thicker with a rich sugar)
• pineapple slice

Combine all ingredients except pineapple slice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled Sour glass and garnish with the pineapple slice.