How it tastes
Pineapple and rum first, then a warm, grassy pandan note that most tropical drinks don't have, then coconut on the long finish. The pandan is the part that distinguishes it from any generic piña colada or tiki pour. Lime keeps the sweetness in check. Aged rum gives more depth than white, but white reads cleaner. We use whichever the bartender thinks goes better with the day.
Why we built it
Most "Asian" tropical cocktails just substitute lemongrass for mint or kaffir lime leaf for citrus zest. Useful, but rarely transformative. Pandan does something different: it reads as Malaysian on its own, and it pairs naturally with the things tropical cocktails are usually built around (pineapple, coconut, rum). The drink became one of our most-ordered without us advertising it. More on pandan extraction methods here.
Where to drink it
On request at Soluble Solids in SS2 Petaling Jaya. Pandan is on the bar most days. Reserve a table for the easiest seat. Walk-ins welcome.
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Local Tropic served in?
A tall glass over fresh crushed ice. A Collins glass or a tiki vessel both work. The pandan leaf knot tucks down the inside of the glass and a pineapple frond sits up top. The crushed ice keeps the drink cold and lets you sip it long across 25 minutes.
Can I substitute the pandan?
Pandan is the structural aromatic and not really substitutable. It's the leaf of Pandanus amaryllifolius, used across Southeast Asia, with a grassy-vanilla character that nothing else replicates. Vanilla syrup is the closest western emergency stand-in. Fresh pandan leaves are easy to find in Malaysian wet markets and supermarkets at RM 3 a bunch. Make the syrup; the drink is built around it.
How strong is the Local Tropic?
Around 14 to 17 percent ABV in the glass after shaking and the crushed-ice melt. Long-format, low-strength for a rum cocktail. The pineapple, coconut, lime, and pandan syrup all lengthen the drink. Built to be sipped slow on a warm afternoon, not slammed.
Where can I order a Local Tropic in PJ or KL?
At Soluble Solids in SS2, Petaling Jaya (50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed to Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651) is where this drink is poured at its home version, with fresh pandan syrup made weekly. Also on request at Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya (43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue to Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607). Both bars are in Tatler Asia Top 20 Bars 2025/26.
What food pairs with the Local Tropic?
Nasi lemak with sambal udang. Ayam goreng berempah. Satay with peanut sauce. Anything pandan-and-coconut on the table reads as part of the same flavour family. Char kway teow with prawns also works. For lighter pairings, fresh fruit (mangosteen, ciku, longan) or a kuih platter. The drink is built to belong on a Malaysian table, so anything Malaysian and tropical pairs naturally.