Recaps and photos – Updated June 16, 2012
* ‘Mai-Kai Mixer’ shakes up South Florida with rockin’ retro cocktail party
* Cocktail flights soar at Mai-Kai Mixer, reveal revolutionary use of rums
Event preview:
Join The Atomic Grog on Saturday, June 9, for a special party featuring exclusive flights of Mai-Kai cocktails, live surf music, and a DJ spinning retro tunes all night long. The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. in The Molokai bar.
This first “Atomic Grog Mai-Kai Mixer” will mark the completion of 52 weeks of cocktail reviews, covering the entire menu of renowned tropical drinks at the legendary Polynesian palace in Fort Lauderdale. The flights, featuring three sample versions of these classic cocktails, will spotlight the recently reintroduced Lemon Hart Demerara rum. Click here for the full story.
But that’s not all. There’s a full evening of entertainment on tap. The party gets into high gear after happy hour with DJ Mike “Jetsetter” Jones and two sets of live surf music from South Florida’s Skinny Jimmy & The Stingrays. If you caught this authentic instrumental surf band opening recently for Dick Dale in West Palm Beach and Miami, you’ll know you’re in for a treat. And the Jetsetter will mix things up with his eclectic blend of surf, lounge, exotica, reggae, ska, classic punk and more.
Admission is free. The three-drink flights will be priced around $15 each. The early Saturday happy hour featuring half-priced drinks and appetizers runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Cocktail flights will begin around 6, and will be limited to the first 30 people to sign up, so get there early. Mai-Kai manager Kern Mattei will join us to explain the history and trivia behind the drinks. It will be a “blind tasting,” so it should be fun to try to figure out which classic cocktails you’re being served. There will be prizes for those who guess right. One clarification: The Mai-Kai will have one 3-drink flight offered for the special price that evening, not three as previously stated.
We’ll have giveaways all night long, plus a raffle for a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted, limited edition, boxed T-shirt from artist Nik Satterfield. Lots of other giveaways will be provided by The Mai-Kai, The Hukilau, the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, and B.G. Reynolds’ Hand-Crafted Syrups.
In addition, you can quaff a strong grog for half price all night long: The Yeoman’s Grog, an ancestor of the iconic Navy Grog. There may be other surprises, such as giveaways, so check back for updates.
The dance music kicks in around 7 with DJ Jetsetter. Skinny Jimmy will start cranking out the tunes around 8. The party should last until 11 or later, so don’t hesitate to show up fashionably late for the retroactive, hip-shaking tunes, drink special, and cool South Seas vibe in the iconic Molokai lounge.
The Mai-Kai is at 3599 N. Federal Highway, on the west side between Commercial and Oakland Park boulevards. Valet and paid self-parking. For more info, call (954) 563-3272.
Okole maluna!
Click here or on the image below for the Facebook event.
More on The Atomic Grog
* Rums of The Mai-Kai: Legendary Lemon Hart returns to the promised land
* Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide | Exclusive tour of The Mai-Kai’s bars and kitchen
* Discover a fruitful and delicious tropical drink family tree
The Mai-Kai
* Official site | Facebook page
Hello Jim,
I believe it was one of your posts on the Ministry of Rum website that mentioned finding Kohala Bay rum at a retailer in Miami. Would you please let me know which retailer that is, as I am visiting family in Deerfield for the next week and would like to pick some up.
Thank you,
Tom
Tom, I’ll send you an e-mail with that info. The good news is that we’re getting reports of other retailers in the state stocking Kohala Bay, so it appears that its days of obscurity may be over.