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Fassionola? |
cathuna
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Nov 14, 2009
Posts: 67
From: Scotland
|  Posted: 2011-03-17 06:18 am Permalink
No chance of finding Fassionola here in the UK. However I did spot this in a local supermarket:
It's bright red, so the colour fits the bill alright! *ponders whether to buy it anyway*
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Trader Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 06, 2003
Posts: 385
From: Portland, OR
| Posted: 2011-03-18 12:01 pm Permalink
I just got a sample of Fassionola. I don't see much challenge in recreating it using high quality, natural ingredients.
This will, of course, be heavily tested *hic* at the Trader Tiki official science lab and mixotorium.
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jokeiii
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 18, 2010
Posts: 334
From: Miami
| Posted: 2012-02-02 09:48 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2011-03-18 12:01, Trader Tiki wrote:
I just got a sample of Fassionola. I don't see much challenge in recreating it using high quality, natural ingredients.
This will, of course, be heavily tested *hic* at the Trader Tiki official science lab and mixotorium.
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Any progress on this front?
Mahalo in advance,
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4962
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2012-05-03 09:43 am Permalink
Maybe this stuff?
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WestADad
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: Mar 31, 2009
Posts: 745
From: Tornado Alley
| Posted: 2012-05-03 10:48 am Permalink
Yep, same seller on eBay that gave us his only comment ever on TC. Here: http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=5331&forum=10&vpost=472517
And three bottles have been purchased since you posted the link Tim!
[ This Message was edited by: WestADad 2012-05-03 10:51 ]
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Fallenstar
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Nov 01, 2005
Posts: 26
From: Panama City,FL
| Posted: 2012-05-04 12:37 am Permalink
I ordered a bottle last week. Arrived today, will be trying it tomorrow.
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Hurricane Hayward
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Jun 07, 2008
Posts: 504
From: 16 miles from The Mai-Kai
| Posted: 2012-05-15 3:35 pm Permalink
On 2012-05-03 10:48, WestADad wrote:
Quote:
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And three bottles have been purchased since you posted the link Tim!
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One of those bottles landed at The Atomic Grog, where we've incorporated it into our Cobra Kiss tribute:
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2011/11/20/mai-kai-cocktail-review-cobra-kiss-is-an-exotic-taste-explosion-guaranteed-to-strike-your-fancy/
Here's an excerpt:
There’s a huge difference between real fassionola and Pat O’Brien’s mix, which we subsequently dumped down the drain. It’s thicker, richer and has a darker color. It also tastes much less artificial, like a real fruit syrup. The flavor is cherry/raspberry with a hint of orange. If you can find a good fruit syrup that has this same flavor, I would try that. Or use Pat O’Brien’s in a pinch. But I would now recommend using the powdered version and making it twice as strong as suggested on the label.
Or keep checking eBay for Jonathan English's fassionola. It appears to be the real deal.
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WestADad
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Mar 31, 2009
Posts: 745
From: Tornado Alley
| Posted: 2012-05-15 6:23 pm Permalink
I bought a bottle too. I'll try the Atomic Grog recipe this weekend.
I've used it in a few recipes that call for passion fruit syrup, using half passion fruit syrup and half Jonathan English.
I'm tempted to get a bottle of the gold just to see if it's a different flavor than the red.
Cheers!
Chris
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Rawim
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2010
Posts: 117
From: Palmdale, CA
| Posted: 2012-05-15 8:57 pm Permalink
I have purchsed bottles of all three, red, gold and green and while they share a similar profile they are quite distinct.
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Tonga Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 14, 2006
Posts: 147
From: The Tonga Lounge in Safety Harbor, FL
| Posted: 2012-05-17 6:47 pm Permalink
A bottle of red is now coming my way....
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arriano
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1237
From: Dog Patch - San Diego
| Posted: 2012-05-18 09:15 am Permalink
Can someone who's used the fassionola say how the flavor compares to passion fruit syrup? I've been theorizing that fassionola may be to passion fruit syrup as Rose's is to real grenadine.
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Hakalugi
Site Administrator
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 2960
From: Redondo Beach, CA
| Posted: 2012-05-18 09:21 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2012-05-18 09:15, arriano wrote:
Can someone who's used the fassionola say how the flavor compares to passion fruit syrup? I've been theorizing that fassionola may be to passion fruit syrup as Rose's is to real grenadine.
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Check out Mai Tai's first post on page three of this thread.
Quote:
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On 2009-07-14 14:32, Mai Tai wrote:
...
So, to recap, Fassionola is basically a fruit punch concentrate that doesn't have any passion fruit juice in it.
...
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So in a way, yes, Fassionola has no passion fruit in it, just like Rose's has no pomegranate in it. 
Hurricane Hayward, on the Atomic Grog blog says this about Fassionola; "The flavor is cherry/raspberry with a hint of orange."
[ This Message was edited by: Hakalugi 2012-05-18 09:31 ]
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GentleHangman
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Jun 23, 2006
Posts: 432
From: Stuart, Florida
| Posted: 2012-05-22 3:38 pm Permalink
I just received a bottle of the English brand - Yikes! It is extremely concentrated and SWEET.
I made all three of the Atomic Grog recipes using Fassionala and couldn't even finish one drink - they were all just too sweet for my taste. I'm going to have to tinker with the recipes and scale down the "sweetness" and see if I can find a nice balance with the suggested rums. Did I mention SWEET?
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Rawim
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2010
Posts: 117
From: Palmdale, CA
| Posted: 2012-05-22 10:25 pm Permalink
Yes, you really do have to use the stuff sparingly. It is almost a candy syrup.
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Hurricane Hayward
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Jun 07, 2008
Posts: 504
From: 16 miles from The Mai-Kai
| Posted: 2012-05-23 3:39 pm Permalink
Another recipe using Fassionola is posted ... The Mai-Kai's Tahitian Breeze.
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/05/19/mai-kai-cocktail-review-tasty-tahitian-breeze-is-packed-with-tropical-flavors-history/
As pointed out, this is sweet stuff. Makes sense that it's mainly used in very sweet drinks.
I've got a theory that perhaps it was also used as a coloring agent to make drinks look pretty, as opposed to being a crucial flavor ingredient. The color is just as concentrated as the flavor.
That could also explain why it was left out of old recipes that have been recently revived. With many drinks now served in Tiki mugs, it's just not that crucial, unless you're a professional bar that needs very attractive looking drinks. The only one so far that I think really benefits from the flavor is the Cobra Kiss.
Another theory is that The Mai-Kai doesn't use Fassionola straight out of the bottle. My guess is it's combined with a few other things into a proprietary mix. There's something in old recipes called "No. 7" that remains a mystery.
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