The crater liquor is carefully ignited when serving, creating a mild volcanic ambiance with its central blue flame.

to have been started in Hawaii in the 1950s or 1960s as a cross between flammable one person ice formed "volcano cockails" and larger communal bowl cocktails.

He also lists a Lei Lani Volcano variation from the Polyneisan Village Resort (Walt Disney World) from the 1970s.

The base liquor is usually some form of rum, with brandy commonly added, but vodka and even gin appear in some recipes.

As noted in the book The B-52's Universe by Mats Sexton, the band The B-52's formed after its members shared a flaming volcano at a Chinese Restaurant in Athens, Georgia in November 1976.