Saturn

A rediscovered Space Age tiki classic with gin, passion fruit, falernum, orgeat, and lemon.

The Saturn was created by J. "Popo" Galsini at the Kona Kai Resort in Southern California in 1967, during the Space Race era when celestial-themed cocktails were popular. Galsini won the International Bartender's Association World Championship with this recipe, helping the Americans win the team event for the first time. Originally named the X-15 after the experimental rocket plane, Galsini renamed it Saturn following a fatal X-15 crash, choosing instead to honor NASA's Saturn rocket program. The drink subsequently faded into obscurity for decades until Jeff "Beachbum" Berry rediscovered it, finding Popo's original recipe printed on a commemorative glass in a thrift shop. Berry republished the recipe in his book Beachbum Berry Remixed, introducing it to a new generation. The Saturn stands out among tiki drinks for using gin rather than rum, creating a unique flavor profile where juniper interacts with passion fruit and orgeat. Today it's celebrated as one of the great lost tiki recipes.