This is definitely my favorite tiki mug ever, so for design I give it a five star rating, but the execution is a bit lacking on my specific unit. Website photos show a more fully developed shading on the skull cracks and deeper surface areas, and mine certainly lacks this level of detail, especially in the eye sockets. Someone took a lot of time with the demo/photo model, but that time wasn't taken on production units. The photos also seem to have been edited a little to "warm" them up, adding a little more orange than the actual unit has. The skull is whiter than the aged look in the website photos. I asked Tikiland if there was a safe option for adding a lacquer-like surface to the mug; they do not recommend changing it at all, and it would certainly be a shame to ruin this beautiful mug with a finish that eventually starts fading, chipping or discoloring oddly. Best to leave it as-is.
As to the review mentioning cleaning issues; it's a small issue if you clean it immediately after using (not necessarily after every drink, as long as it's filled again quickly between drinks, but after done for the evening) by filling with hot soapy water immediately, then brushing out the insides with a smallish dish mop (as those made for washing the inside of glasses) etc, then rinsing with hot water. It's not a simple process, but it's easy enough. Washing after letting residue dry inside, however, will be a job!
The hole at the top should have been higher so it was more level, and would allow a bigger drink, but the capacity is adequate for a good sized cocktail, and design-wise, the hole in the skull looks better where it is, so minor personal preference issue on my part...
Holding the mug is a bit awkward because of its shape and its weight (it's heavy... but in a good way), but if you didn't expect that when you looked at it, that's on you, and it looks so cool, either in your hand or on a table, that it just ends up not mattering; it is a conversation piece!
Overall, I'd give it a 4.5 star rating if I could. Controlling production on something like this would be extremely tough if not impossible, so slight issues such as the surface decorating can easily slip by. The heftiness of it is impressive, very thick and sturdy, but if you drop it or knock it over and chip it in any visible area it will lose all its amazing appeal, so be careful with it so it pleases you and amazes others for many years.
The photos here show the mug with a full-sized Sidewinder's Fang with ice (recipe below) for an idea of just how much this mug will hold:
1½ oz fresh lime juice
1½ oz orange juice
1½ oz passion fruit syrup
1 oz dark jamaican rum
1 oz demerara rum
3 oz club soda
I highly recommend this mug. I waited a year to get it after ordering, but when finally in hand, it was worth the wait. If you buy from remaining stock you should get it pretty quickly; I preordered when first offered for sale.
