Ernest Raymond Gantt, better known as Donn Beach, was the visionary founder of Don the Beachcomber, the world’s first tiki bar, and is widely recognized as the “founding father” of tiki culture.
Born in 1907, this American adventurer, businessman, and World War II veteran revolutionized the cocktail world with his exotic rum-based creations and immersive tropical bar concept. His innovative approach to mixology and bar design earned him the status of a legend in the spirits industry, with his influence extending far beyond his lifetime (he passed away in 1989).
As the original “Beachcomber,” Donn’s creative genius led to the development of some of the most iconic tropical cocktails ever created, many of which remain staples in bars worldwide today.
Background & Journey
Born as Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt in 1907, with sources citing either New Orleans, Louisiana or Texas as his birthplace, Donn developed a passion for travel and adventure at a young age.
In the 1920s, he embarked on a globetrotting journey, visiting various tropical destinations in the Caribbean and South Pacific, immersing himself in their cultures. These travels would prove instrumental in shaping his future career and the entire tiki movement.
When Prohibition ended in 1933, Gantt seized the opportunity to bring his tropical experiences to the American public. He opened a small bar in Hollywood called “Don’s Beachcomber” at 1722 N. McCadden Place. As the establishment grew in popularity, he legally changed his name to Donn Beach and expanded the venue into a full restaurant in 1937, renaming it “Don the Beachcomber.”
During World War II, Beach served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945. He was awarded a Purple Heart after being injured during a U-boat attack and received the Bronze Star for establishing rest camps for exhausted airmen of the 12th and 15th Air Forces. While he was serving, his then-wife Sunny Sund managed and expanded the Don the Beachcomber operations.
Signature Style & Philosophy
Donn Beach’s philosophy was remarkably simple and appealing: “If you can’t get to paradise, I’ll bring it to you.” This ethos guided his approach to creating immersive tropical experiences for patrons seeking escape from everyday life. His bars were meticulously designed to transport guests to exotic locales, complete with bamboo furniture, thatched roofs, tropical artifacts, and ambient sounds that created a multisensory experience.
Beach fabricated his own beachcomber persona, complete with pith hat, safari suits, and floral leis, fully embodying the tropical fantasy he was selling. He hollowed out pineapples and coconuts to serve his “rhum rhapsodies” (his term for his high-octane tropical cocktails), essentially pioneering the concept of the fantasy bar—a space where drinkers could temporarily escape reality for the fictionalized world of a far-off land.
As a mixologist, Beach was revolutionary in his approach. His most significant innovations included using fresh and local fruit, crafting cocktails with split bases (multiple spirits), incorporating multiple sweeteners and citrus elements, and keeping his recipes closely guarded secrets. He stored over 120 brands and types of rum from different countries in his establishments, showcasing his dedication to the spirit that would become synonymous with tiki culture.
Signature Cocktails
Donn Beach created dozens of iconic cocktails during his career, many of which defined the tiki genre and continue to influence bartenders today:
- The Zombie – Perhaps his most famous creation, the Zombie was so potent that Beach limited customers to two per visit. The Zombie gained the reputation of being “often imitated but never duplicated,” and would put someone into a “blackout drunk automaton state.” Few realize that the Zombie – not the Mai Tai – is the drink that kicked off the tropical drink craze. Created in the 1930s, the Zombie remains Beach’s masterpiece, showcasing his mad scientist approach to combining multiple rums, juices, syrups, and spices.
- Navy Grog – Another classic Beach creation, this potent rum cocktail became a favorite among his celebrity clientele. The Navy Grog remains a staple in tiki bars worldwide and has inspired numerous variations over the decades.
- Mai Tai Controversy – Beach claimed that Victor J. Bergeron’s (Trader Vic’s) Mai Tai was a knock-off of his Q.B. Cooler. According to Phoebe Beach, Donn’s widow, Beach had invented a drink called the Mai Tai in 1933, though it bears little resemblance to Trader Vic’s version that became famous. Beach’s version calls for both Jamaican and Cuban rums, falernum, Cointreau, lime, grapefruit, Angostura bitters, and Pernod.
- Three Dots and a Dash – This popular Don the Beachcomber cocktail was rediscovered by cocktail historian Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, who unearthed many of Beach’s lost recipes through meticulous research.
- Missionary’s Downfall – Another Beach classic that was nearly lost to time until Berry published it in his 1998 book, Grog Log, marking the first time many of Beach’s recipes appeared in print.
Industry Contributions
Donn Beach was a true pioneer in the world of mixology and tiki culture. His exotic way of life helped to create a unique and enduring subculture that continues to captivate people today. His contributions to the cocktail world and hospitality industry were numerous and groundbreaking:
He gave rise to the fantasy bar concept, creating immersive environments that transported guests to exotic locales—a practice that continues to influence bar design today.
Beach is generally credited with establishing the entire tiki drink genre, creating dozens of recipes such as the Cobra’s Fang, Tahitian Rum Punch, Three Dots and a Dash, Navy Grog, and many others. His drink menus featured up to 60 different cocktails.
Beyond drinks, Beach also innovated in food service. The first pu pu platter was probably served at Don the Beachcomber, as was Rumaki. While guests thought they were enjoying exotic cuisines, they were mostly standard Cantonese dishes served with flair that he called “South Seas Island food.”
Beach was also an ambassador of rum, always featuring it in his establishments and including rum in all of his cocktails. He stored over 120 brands and types of rum from different countries, which were all available for people to try.
Related Industry Figures
Victor J. Bergeron, better known as Trader Vic, was Beach’s primary rival in the tiki business. Bergeron opened a competing version called Trader Vic’s in the late 1930s in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the two men were (sometimes) amicable rivals for many years. Their biggest conflict came over the creation of the Mai Tai, which each claimed to have invented.
Jeff “Beachbum” Berry has been instrumental in preserving Beach’s legacy. As a cocktail sleuth, historian, and author, Berry rescued the Zombie and many other tiki classics from bad bartending and half-assed attempts to re-create the originals. Through meticulous research, Berry was able to decode many of Beach’s secret recipes, including the precise makeup of his mysterious “mixes,” unlocking a host of his most coveted recipes.
Sunny Sund (birth name Cora Irene Sund), Beach’s first wife, played a crucial role in the Don the Beachcomber business. She was a waitress and aspiring entrepreneur from Minnesota who became his business partner and manager, enlarging and professionalizing the restaurant. During Beach’s service in World War II, Sund ran and expanded the operation, turning it into one of the nation’s first chains of themed restaurants, with 16 locations at its height.
Social Media & Contact
While Donn Beach passed away in 1989, his legacy lives on through various modern incarnations of the Don the Beachcomber brand:
- Official Website: Don the Beachcomber
- The Beachbum Berry Connection: For more information about Donn Beach’s recipes and history, visit Jeff “Beachbum” Berry’s website at Beachbum Berry
Donn Beach’s contributions to cocktail culture and the hospitality industry have stood the test of time. As Jeff “Beachbum” Berry eloquently stated, “In bars around the world, the Tiki revival is in full swing. But without Donn Beach, there’d be nothing to revive. In 1934 he single-handedly created the Tiki bar, and the Tiki drink.”
Today’s renewed interest in craft cocktails, immersive bar experiences, and tiki culture all owe a debt to the visionary who first brought paradise to Americans’ doorsteps.
