There are many reasons to celebrate during July Fourth weekend, but fans in close proximity of The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale have one of the best. Take-out quarts and gallons of its most popular cocktails are back for another round of holiday parties.
See below: Second outdoor Tiki Marketplace set for July 18
The historic Polynesian restaurant, which has been closed since October for repairs and renovations, is offering four of its most popular tropical drinks along with a signature rum for pick-up on Thursday, July 1 ( from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.), and Friday, July 2 (from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.). The deadline to order – by calling 954-646-8975 – is Wednesday, June 30, at 5 p.m.
Similar to the recent Father’s Day promotion, a merchandise booth will be set up under the restaurant’s porte-cochère for guests to peruse when they pick up their orders. Exclusive new items can be found here first, before they’re released online in The Mai-Kai Trading Post.
When we picked up cocktails earlier this month, we were pleased to find new colors of The Mai-Kai’s signature double old-fashioned glasses. We also grabbed a second color of the “Barney West Tribute” T-shirt, featuring a design by artist Brian Potash of Devilfish Ink that pays tribute to the giant carving that was sadly lost to Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Also exclusively available for pick-up is The Real McCoy 12-year-old Distillers Proof Mai-Kai Blend, a limited-edition 92-proof rum, aged and blended by Richard Seale at Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. Priced at $85.60 for a 750 ML bottle, the rum is equally outstanding when sipped neat or on the rocks, employed in traditional drinks like an Old Fashioned, and used to punch up Mai-Kai cocktails.
Recipes: Mai-Kai cocktails featuring Distillers Proof Mai-Kai Blend
There’s no easier way to enhance any holiday gathering than showing up with pre-batched Mai-Kai cocktails, available in both 32-ounce and 128-ounce plastic jugs. These classic Tiki cocktails are made with fresh-squeezed juices, secret syrups and mixes, plus multiple rums from the Caribbean including Appleton, Hamilton and Lemon Hart.
Don’t let the serving sizes fool you. These drinks are made with the same care and precision as the classic single-serving versions available in The Molokai lounge and the many exotic dining rooms when the restaurant is open. They’re an intrinsic part of The Mai-Kai experience, considered to be just as important as the historic design and decor.
Ratings, reviews, history: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
Three of the available cocktails date back to the 1956 opening, when The Mai-Kai’s famed mixologist Mariano Licudine built a menu of 43 delicious rum drinks for owners Jack and Robert Thornton.
The signature Barrel O’ Rum (gallon $80, quart $25) and high-octane Jet Pilot (gallon $131.50, quart $35) are The Mai-Kai’s take on similar cocktails by Tiki’s founding father, Don the Beachcomber. Licudine worked at Donn Beach’s Hollywood and Chicago locations from 1939 until he joined The Mai-Kai, bringing with him the expertise (and secret recipes) to ensure these ground-breaking creations were enjoyed by guests for generations to come.
The Black Magic (gallon $80, quart $25) is a Licudine creation – a unique blend of coffee with rums, juices and spices in a refreshingly cool combination. He later added his own version of a Mai Tai (gallon $120, quart $35), more complex that the traditional version and packed with smooth rums and exotic flavors. Click on the links above for details on each drink, including guidance on glassware and garnish.
You can also try our ancestor and tribute recipes at home if you’re unable to pick up quarts and gallons to go. While we await news on rumored reopenings, it’s the next best thing to being there.
The Mai-Kai’s second Tiki Marketplace coming in July
Following the success of The Mai-Kai’s first Tiki Marketplace on April 17, a similar event featuring vendors, entertainers, cocktails and more is being planned for Sunday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the restaurant’s spacious parking lot on South Federal Highway.
Expect many of the same artists, craftspeople, collectors and small retailers to return for an encore, according to Pia Dahlquist, The Mai-Kai’s director of public relations and organizer of the event. The first marketplace featured more than two dozen booths featuring exotic art, Tiki-inspired gifts, clothing, glassware and more. The Mai-Kai will also have a large merchandise booth, fully stocked with new and restocked clothing, glassware, collectibles and more.
The Mai-Kai’s cocktails will also be available, of course, along with non-alcoholic options at this family-friendly event. Food trucks will return to complement the drinks.
Dahlquist is still putting together all the details, but she gave us a sneak preview of some of the other key returning features:
* Mai-Kai musicians and performers from the Polynesian Islander Revue will entertain guests. Expect to see the thrilling Samoan fire-knife dance, a signature element of the show that dates back to the early 1960s. It’s still considered to be the longest-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States, including Hawaii.
* There will again be two food trucks, Dahlquist said, along with authentic Hawaiian shave ice. The latter is a welcome addition during our sultry South Florida summer months.
Stay tuned for updates on the marketplace, future events, and reopening news.
Updates: Follow The Mai-Kai on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news. You can also sign up for the e-mail list to get news and announcements on future events, plus cocktails to go.
Past Atomic Grog coverage
The Mai-Kai hosts first Tiki Marketplace featuring vendors, entertainers, cocktails, rum tasting and more
The historic restaurant may be closed for repairs, but a new event took advantage of the large parking lot for a safe and fun-filled day featuring the generous spirit of ‘ohana. A second marketplace is already in the works.
Thousands of fans unite to show support for The Mai-Kai during closing
Previous coverage: More than 10,000 have signed a petition and thousands are flooding social media channels as the historic restaurant plans events, take-home cocktails while potential partners/owners are sought.
The Mai-Kai celebrates 64th anniversary as extent of flooding damage, closing detailed
* Fundraisers, online sales aid The Mai-Kai during closure
* The Mai-Kai celebrates Hulaween 2020 with drive-in movie party
* The Mai-Kai re-releases signature rum, glassware, spirits menu
* Virtual events honor The Hukilau, help those in need
* Cocktail quarts join gallons as The Mai-Kai expands takeout menu
Special feature
Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
Hurricane Hayward reviews and rates the historic restaurant’s current and past tropical drinks, plus reveals a treasure trove of ancestor and exclusive tribute recipes.
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