The tiki master has landed. In town from May 4 to 7, Daniele Dalla Pola will be hosting a series of events at Bob’s Bar at Capella Singapore to introduce us to the fascinating world of tiki cocktails.

He’ll also bring the fun beach vibes through the Havana Nights. Picture this: Live Polynesian music as you munch on Caribbean bites and barbecued meats paired with tiki cocktails. The merriment continues until the weekend with an iconic Sunday Brunch at Capella Singapore, where you’ll also see him sharing his secrets on making the perfect tipple.

We chat with him on signature drinks you should try and the best bars he has ever been to.

The first drink you have in the morning:
Danielle Dalla Polla I like to begin my day with a double espresso. 

Tell us more about your tiki cocktails:
DDP My cocktails are unique; like vacations in a glass. Each one tells a distinctive story and is inspired by the special characteristics of destinations I’ve visited or things I’ve encountered.

Are these what you’ll be serving at Bob’s Bar?
DDP I will be serving six of my best selling tiki cocktails from Nu Lounge Bar, my bar in Bologna Italy. They are very tropical, with exciting names such as Sexy Colada, El Tikilero, Kama’aina, Smog Cutter, Nu Mai Tai and Vicious Virgin #7.

 

Favourite ingredient to work with:
DDP Coconuts and pineapples.

Any least favourites?
DDP Whisky and berries.

Name one spirit you can’t live without:
DDP Rum! It’s the base of all my cocktails and depending on each one’s flavour profile, I’ll choose a different rum to bring out the best character.

Most unforgettable drink you’ve ever had:

DDP Instead of a particular drink, the specific moment I was in makes it unforgettable.

That said, the most unforgettable drink I had was a Pina Colada in a Hawaiian airport; it tasted even better than its country of origin, Puerto Rico. Of course being in an amazing mood perfected the tasting experience as well. 

Who do you look up to in the drinks scene?
DDP Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, a tiki expert and author of several cocktail guides. He played a pivotal role in the revival of these cocktails.

Best bars you’ve visited recently:
DDP One is Zuma in Dubai, an ultimate dream bar for all bartenders. I love its fantastic variety of toys for experimentation. Another place is Mai-Kai, a tiki-themed Polynesian restaurant in South Florida.

If you could have one cocktail for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
DDP It would be the Planters Punch as it serves as the basis of tropical cocktails, with countless of variations offered around the world. Its memorable and well-known recipe is summed up by the following jingle: “One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak, and a touch of spice to make it nice.”

Who would you drink it with?
DDP I’d like to have it with my partner Anastasia, in a tree house in Hawaii.