Category: Cocktails

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SNEAK PREVIEW: All the Mai-Kai cocktails rated; reviews and updated recipes coming soon

SNEAK PREVIEW: All the Mai-Kai cocktails rated; reviews and updated recipes coming soon

I first discovered the depth and breadth of the cocktails at South Florida’s beloved Mai-Kai restaurant during my early years at The Hukilau, learning the history from authors Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and Tim “Swanky” Glazner as I made my way through the entire menu. The result was the first Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide, launched in June 2011 just after the creation of this blog.
QUICK LINK: Jump directly to the new ratings

Guests can now watch Mai-Kai bartenders hard at work in the main service bar (aka the Okole Maluna Bar) via a new window in the gift shop. The large photo behind the bar features original owners Bob and Jack Thornton flanking mixologist Mariano Licudine in the 1960s. (Photo by Jim Neumayer / Jan. 7, 2025)
Guests can now watch Mai-Kai bartenders hard at work in the main service bar (aka the Okole Maluna Bar) via a new window in the gift shop. The large photo behind the bar features original owners Bob and Jack Thornton flanking mixologist Mariano Licudine in the 1960s. (Photo by Jim Neumayer / Jan. 7, 2025)

Dubbed the Okole Maluna Society, this detailed guide explores the back stories, historic recipes and my own tributes with pages dedicated to all 50+ drinks on the current menu, plus many that had been retired over the years. Over the years, this section became easily the most popular feature of the blog.

It inspired home and professional bartenders to create fantastic versions of their own, and it paved the way for the return of some of those lost classics. And started me on another journey, presenting my research in symposiums at special events starting with The Hukilau 2017. I reminisce more about these days in a story honoring the blog’s 10th anniversary in 2021.

MAI-KAI COCKTAIL COVERAGE
• Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights
• Okole Maluna Society – The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide

HUKILAU 2025

NEW: Look for more photos and video recaps on our social media pages: Facebook | Instagram

When the pandemic arrived and a roof collapse caused the Mai-Kai to close in October 2020 for what turned out to be 5 years, we gathered online to share our passion for rum and cocktails. The Mai-Kai soldiered on, filling the void during those years with takeout quarts and gallons, plus special event appearances. Since it was not possible to visit the Mai-Kai and sample all the drinks on the menu, I decided to put the Okole Maluna Society on hold, freezing all the ratings as they were before the closing.

To everyone’s delight, the Mai-Kai returned spectacularly in November 2024, documented in great detail elsewhere on this blog. Along with the reimagination that paid tribute to the past, the Mai-Kai also brought in a new beverage director who is dedicated to honoring the storied bar program while also pushing it forward.

The Mystery Drink (serves four) is an iconic cocktail at the Mai-Kai, which now features male dancers performing the ceremonial service in addition to the classic Mystery Girl. (Official photo)
The Mystery Drink (serves four) is an iconic cocktail at the Mai-Kai, which now features male dancers performing the ceremonial service in addition to the classic Mystery Girl. (Official photo)

Cory Starr is the perfect man for the job considering his history as a leader and key member of top bar teams across the country, including Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, Texas) and Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago). Starr revived the classic menu and added some new twists of his own, which we documented in a story in December.

Since then, we’ve worked our way through the entire menu and put every cocktail to the test. We’re now getting ready for the launch of the Okole Maluna Society 2.0, which will come soon after the introduction of the the long-awaited Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, currently on its way from Barbados after being blended by master distiller Don Benn at the West Indies Rum Distillery. This potent 100-proof rum (also featuring rum from the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica) will be featured in classic recipes that were created by the Mai-Kai’s legendary mixologist Mariano Licudine using such iconic blends as Dagger Punch and Appleton Punch. [More on the rums of the Mai-Kai]

MORE ON THE MAI-KAI
• Exclusive ongoing coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive

Starr is just the fifth head mixologist since Licudine retired in 1979, and we’re confident he’ll put the new rum to good use in the dozens of recipes that call for it, elevating those cocktails to heights not seen since those golden days. When that happens, expect us to roll out a full cocktail guide featuring all new reviews, many revised and new recipes, and maybe a few surprises. We’ll also tackle all of the new drinks created by Starr and his head bartender, Michael DeMahy. We hear they have many new drinks waiting in the wings for a new Bora Bora Bar menu, plus ambitious plans for the Molokai Bar.

Continue reading “SNEAK PREVIEW: All the Mai-Kai cocktails rated; reviews and updated recipes coming soon”

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UPDATES: Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights

Mai-Kai bars welcome special guests, live music, new cocktails

Updated June 13, 2025
Let us quench your thirst for the most detailed information, photos and deep dives into the cocktails served at the Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida, est. 1956. This page will include reports by journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward along with news and official updates passed along by beverage director Cory Starr as he resurrects the storied bar program, originally developed by legendary mixologist Mariano Licudine. This blog post will serve as a supplement to our Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide, which will soon be updated with new reviews and recipes. If you’re looking for updates on the restaurant’s restoration and reopening, along with anything beyond the cocktails and bar program, be sure to follow this story:
• Exclusive ongoing coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening

LATEST NEWS BELOW: Mai-Kai bars welcome special guests, live music, new cocktails

SNEAK PREVIEW: All the Mai-Kai cocktails rated; reviews and updated recipes coming soon
NEW: Okole Maluna Society 2.0: All the Mai-Kai cocktails ranked
Check out the sneak preview of our updated ratings, and stay tuned for new reviews and recipes, coming soon.
SEE THE RANKINGS: Updated rundown of 50+ Mai-Kai cocktails

More Atomic Grog coverage
• Okole Maluna Society – The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
See also: Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive

Official sites and social media
• MaiKai.com | Facebook page | Instagram
Facebook group: Join more than 23,000 Friends of the Mai-Kai
• Instagram: Classics of the Mai-Kai
The Atomic Grog: AtomicGrog.com | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

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UPCOMING EVENTS

RECENT EVENTS

NEW: Look for more photos and video recaps on our social media pages: Facebook | Instagram

Hukilau 2025 update: Symposiums and schedule announced for 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida
Hukilau 2025 update: Symposiums and schedule for 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida
Tikiphiles and fans of retro culture flocked to South Florida from around the world June 5-8 for unique classes and symposiums, distinctive merchandise, dozens of guest bartenders, plus multiple days and nights at the Mai-Kai.

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Jump to more news below
• Cocktails at events near and far, new menus coming soon
• Mai-Kai joins spirits festival, welcomes brands for cocktail and rum tasting events
• New Bora Bora Bar menu just a taste things to come
• Beverage director Cory Starr interviewed on Shift Drink Podcast
• Photos & video: Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
• Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist

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In May, the Mai-Kai updated its bar food menu and introduced live bands with Skinny Jimmy Stingray performing in the Molokai lounge. Click for larger image. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
In May, the Mai-Kai updated its bar food menu and introduced live bands with Skinny Jimmy Stingray performing in the Molokai lounge. Click for larger image. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)

Mai-Kai bars welcome special guests, live music, new cocktails

Posted May 26, 2025

Mai-Kai beverage director Cory Starr and his team are on the cusp of expanding the cocktail and entertainment offerings in their signature bars, while also hosting and attending a full schedule of special guests and events.

The month of May started with Starr traveling to Italy, where he participated in the inaugural Tikitaly in Livorno on May 2-5. An updated food menu was rolled out in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars on May 16, featuring more appetizers and small plates.

Beverage director Cory Starr spread the word about the Mai-Kai at the first Tikitaly on May 4, 2025. Bar manager Michael DeMahy and Hurricane Hayward greeted Black Tot Rum global ambassador Mitch Wilson at the Bora Bora Bar on May 22. (Tikitaly and Atomic Grog photos)
Beverage director Cory Starr spread the word about the Mai-Kai at the first Tikitaly on May 4, 2025. Bar manager Michael DeMahy and Hurricane Hayward greeted Black Tot Rum global ambassador Mitch Wilson at the Bora Bora Bar on May 22. (Tikitaly and Atomic Grog photos)

On May 22, Starr and the Mai-Kai welcomed Mitch Wilson, the global ambassador of Black Tot Rum, for a special tasting event followed by cocktails featuring the brand’s blended Caribbean rums. After happy hour, the Molokai Bar hosted its first live local band since the November reopening with Skinny Jimmy Stingray rocking the house.

The evening served as a perfect preview of what’s to come. Some of those drinks are destined for an expanded Bora Bora Bar menu, while the live music will continue on select Thursdays. The Hukilau is right around the corner, featuring special events and guests, plus live bands on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (June 4, 6 and 8).

Following is a recap of all the activity, plus a look ahead.

Continue reading “UPDATES: Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights”

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Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair

Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair

Updated June 2025

This is part 1 in a series exploring the new cocktail and food menus at the historic Mai-Kai in South Florida, est. 1956. The restaurant reopened in November 2024 after four years and a $20 million restoration project that’s still ongoing. First, we’ll take a look at the menu design and esthetics. In future stories, we’ll examine the drinks and the food in depth.

Jump to more below
• The cocktail menu: Welcome back to paradise, 1950s style
• The food menus: A modern take with traditions intact
• The cannibal trio: Mai-Kai’s signature iconography

LATEST MENU UPDATES
May 2025: Bar menu updated, more appetizers added
May 2025: Mai-Kai dinner menu upgraded with more than 20 new dishes
April 2025: Mai-Kai gives food menus a major facelift with all new bar, dining room dishes
February 2025e: Bora Bora Bar menu just a taste things to come
January 2025: Tiki gardens and new dining options open as Mai-Kai menus get a refresh

The Mai-Kai's Tonga dining room offers not only a prime view of the showroom stage and the Polynesian Islander Revue, but also a display case containing traditional cannibal carvings that have been used to promote the restaurant since its 1956 opening. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward / Nov. 22, 2024)
The Mai-Kai’s Tonga dining room offers not only a prime view of the showroom stage and the Polynesian Islander Revue, but also a display case containing traditional cannibal carvings that have been used to promote the restaurant since its 1956 opening. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward / Nov. 22, 2024)

Since the Mai-Kai celebrated its grand reopening in mid-November, fans flocking back to 3599 N. Federal Highway in Oakland Park have been dazzled by the renovation and reimagination of the 67-year-old Tiki temple. This includes a painstaking rehabilitation of the Molokai Bar, the massive showroom under the vintage 40-foot A-frame, as well as all the surrounding dining rooms and other guest areas.

Much of the interior looks as good as it has since a 1970 expansion project that marked the last major design overhaul. For this, we can thank creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and his team of artists, including Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, Tom Fowner, and Conrad Teheiura Itchener.
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive

But there are a few new additions to this throwback experience that may have escaped notice, right under the noses of many guests. The food and drink menus now boast a retro look and feel that dates all the way back to the early days of the Mai-Kai. Let’s take a closer look at menus, their links to the past, and some news on what’s coming next.

More Atomic Grog coverage
• Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights
• Latest news and exclusive coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the Mai-Kai
• Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history

The cocktail menu: Welcome back to paradise, 1950s style

The Mai-Kai's updated menu features 54 cocktails, including 38 classic rum drinks and 12 new creations by head mixologist Cory Starr. Click for larger view. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, November 2024)
The Mai-Kai’s updated menu features 54 cocktails, including 38 classic rum drinks and 12 new creations by head mixologist Cory Starr. Click for larger view. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, November 2024)

It’s easy to be swept away to paradise when you open the Mai-Kai’s new cocktail menu and gaze upon more than 50 tropical drinks, many of them classics that have been frozen in time since 1956. But after you place your order for one of those delicious drinks crafted by beverage director Cory Starr and his expansive team of bartenders, take a gander at the menu’s design and artwork.

The cover art and tri-fold format is nearly identical the original 1956-57 menu, which included 43 cocktails ranging in price from 90 cents for Oh So Deadly to $2 for the signature Barrel O’ Rum. Both of those drinks are still on the menu, along with 28 others from that initial grand opening. The prices many have changed, but the recipes remain nearly identical, one of the unique features of the legendary bar.

The Mai-Kai replicated the menu design in great detail, from the distinctive logo to the familiar artwork of three cannibal tiki carvings. The wood grain and folding panels are meant to simulate the Mai-Kai’s original front doors. We don’t have a copy of the original menu, but images posted online during an eBay sale show virtually the same cover and inside layout from 1957:

The Mai-Kai's new 2024 cocktail menu was designed to look very much like this original menu from 1956-57, including the same cover and vintage-style images.
The Mai-Kai’s new 2024 cocktail menu was designed to look very much like this original menu from 1956-57, including the same cover and vintage-style images.

The old tri-fold menu style was gone by the end of the 1970s, replaced by a bi-fold menu that remained in place (in varying sizes) until the 2020 closing. [See the 2018-2019 menu] Another classic feature is back on the new menu with a return to having the individual cocktails depicted by representational artwork.

The original artwork was replaced by photos in a 2014 menu overhaul. This was a major change from the original style used during the first 57 years of menus. But the old look is back, thanks to California artist Eric October.

Mai-Kai managing partner Bill Fuller reached out to October after seeing his botanical cocktail prints for sale online. The longtime Mai-Kai fan was hired to create the custom images using watercolor in the same style used on the original mid-century menus. Some of the cocktails have also been turned into T-shirts featuring the same artwork.

Mai-Kai manager Kern Mattei meets Eric October at Tiki Oasis in San Diego, where the artist was selling his distinctive botanical cocktail prints. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, August 2023)
Mai-Kai manager Kern Mattei (right) meets Eric October at Tiki Oasis in San Diego, where the artist was selling his distinctive botanical cocktail prints. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, August 2023)

These images include more than just the signature mild, medium and strong rum drinks – plus the four non-alcoholic options. October also depicted the 12 new creations by Starr that fill out he 54-drink menu and offer alternatives for fans of other spirits (bourbon, tequila, et al.).

Continue reading “Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair”

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The Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening

The Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening

Updated May 26, 2025

The revered cocktail program at the Mai-Kai is in experienced and enthusiastic hands as the historic restaurant prepares for its grand reopening in November. The new beverage director and head bartender is Cory Starr, most recently general manager and beverage director at the acclaimed Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, and before that a key member of the team at Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago.

Cory Starr, the Mai-Kai's new beverage director and head bartender, in the restored Molokai Bar in October 2024. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
Cory Starr, the Mai-Kai’s new beverage director and head bartender, in the restored Molokai Bar in October 2024. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

Jump to more below
• Take 5: Q&A with Cory Starr
• Bonus cocktail recipe: One Way Ticket

While Starr is used to creating unique offerings at his previous gigs, he’s equally excited about the challenge that lies ahead. “I feel a great responsibility for maintaining the standards of the past,” he said in an interview with The Atomic Grog just after his arrival.

Starr worked at Tiki Tatsu-Ya from 2019 until September 2023, creating the cocktail program from the ground-up before the spectacularly immersive restaurant opened in September 2021. Prior to that, he bartended at the Spirited Award-winning Three Dots and a Dash from 2015 to 2019, often joining beverage director Kevin Beary at events across the country.

The Arizona native cut his teeth as a tropical bartender at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Hawaii’s Kona Coast from 2011 to 2015. Starr was also invited to compete twice (2018 and 2019) in the prestigious Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival at the Royal Kona Resort (finishing second and third). His time in Hawaii cemented is love for Tiki culture and launched him on a trajectory that has taken him to one of the most legendary Polynesian restaurants of the mid-20th century.

Cory Starr behind the bar at Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, September 2023. (Photo: RaeAnn Serra / Starchefs.com)
Cory Starr behind the bar at Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin, September 2023. (Photo: RaeAnn Serra / Starchefs.com)

More Atomic Grog coverage
UPDATES: Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights
• Mai-Kai timeline, 1956-2024: Iconic restaurant marks 68 years of Polynesian Pop history
• Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
• Mai-Kai grand reopening 2024: Answers to frequently asked questions
NEWS: Latest news and exclusive coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening
Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive

At 40, Starr brings to the Mai-Kai a youthful energy, but also vast experience with high-level and high-volume cocktail programs. This will all serve him well in re-establishing the storied bar program begun by Don the Beachcomber alum Mariano Licudine in 1956. Most of the restaurant’s historic cocktails remain the same as they were when the “Houdini of the Liquids” retired in 1979.

“Stepping into this role is unlike anything I have done before,” Starr said. “While Tiki cocktails have so much history tied to them already, the Mai Kai drinks are legendary and my job here is more preserving history and bridging the gap from the Mai Kai that we all adore to the new era of the Mai Kai.”

Continue reading “The Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist in advance of grand reopening”

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UPDATE: 15th Miami Rum Renaissance Festival features tastings of elite brands, Mai-Kai seminar, plus more

15th Miami Rum Renaissance Festival features tastings of elite brands, Mai-Kai seminar, plus more

Updated Nov. 18, 2024

As November approaches and most of the country starts to buckle down for the winter, South Florida’s thoughts turn to … RUM, of course. More specifically, the Miami Rum Festival in Coral Gables, which celebrates the world’s most diverse spirit with three days of seminars and tasting events that target everyone from newbies to high-end enthusiasts, to industry professionals.

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival

Nov. 9-11 – Miami Rum Renaissance Festival at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club and Marriott Courtyard Coral Gables. Educational seminars on Saturday, grand tasting on Sunday, trade day on Monday.
See below: Seminars | Grand tastings | Tickets, venue info
• After party at Tiki speakeasy
NEW: Social media recaps
2023 recap: Photos and highlights of last year’s event
Upcoming: Rum events calendar

It’s not surprising that with its year-round tropical weather and proximity to the Caribbean, the Sunshine State is the fastest growing premium rum market in the United States. The Florida Rum Society is one of the largest and most active social groups dedicated to cane spirits. In 2024, we have been blessed with a plethora of events, from Miami Beach to Key West to Tampa.

But the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is the grand daddy of them all in the hottest of the rum hotbeds, launched in 2009 by longtime rum collectors and enthusiasts Robin and Robert Burr, author of Rob’s Rum Guide. This year’s gathering will be fifth at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club and the 15th overall.

Rum giant Bacardi, which has its American headquarters in Miami, regularly sends representatives to the Miami Rum Festival. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Nov. 12, 2023)
Rum giant Bacardi, which has its American headquarters in Miami, regularly sends representatives to the Miami Rum Festival. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Nov. 12, 2023)

“South Florida is the number one rum market in the world and its only fitting that we present Miami Rum Fest as the best rum tasting program in the United States once a year in this location,” Robert Burr is quoted as saying. “Its also a chance for the international rum community to come together, from the islands of the Caribbean and the Americas to Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and beyond.”

The participating brands are carefully curated by the Burrs, reflecting both their interests in the global variety but also boutique and local producers who may not yet be major players. The website lists 68 different brands, and you can expect most to bring multiple expressions of their rum to the grand tasting, set for 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. If you buy a VIP ticket, you get early entry at 12:30.

If you want to dive deeper into the history and techniques used to create today’s finest rums, be sure to check out the seminars on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Marriott. One ticket allows you access to all three, including Tiki Evolution: The Historic Rums and Iconic Cocktails of The Mai-Kai, which I’ll have the pleasure of presenting along with Kern Mattei and Cory Starr, the longtime manager and new beverage director at the Fort Lauderdale restaurant (est. 1956).

While I’ve attended and covered the festival for the blog nearly every year (see links below), this will be The Atomic Grog’s first seminar and our first time participating since the memorable Zombie Jamboree cocktail competition hosted by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry in 2011. We hope to see you there!

Robert and Robin Burr (center) with their staff at the 2019 Rum Renaissance Festival. (Photo by Miles Maximillian Vrahimis)
Robert and Robin Burr (center) with their staff at the 2019 Rum Renaissance Festival. (Photo by Miles Maximillian Vrahimis)

Following is a rundown on what you can expect at the 2024 festival.

Saturday’s seminars

The Miami Rum Festival has always offered a wide array of seminars and expert master classes for its participants. In recent years, these educational opportunities have been held on the event’s first day at the Marriott Courtyard Coral Gables, less than a mile from the tasting venue at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club.

That’s not to say the seminars don’t involve tasting rums. To the contrary, many of the intimate events have featured numerous samples of rare and exclusive spirits. The all-inclusive ticket ($79) also includes food and refreshments served during the breaks between seminars. Seating is limited, so advance reservations are encouraged. Get your seminar ticket now.

Continue reading “UPDATE: 15th Miami Rum Renaissance Festival features tastings of elite brands, Mai-Kai seminar, plus more”

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REVIEW: El Dorado’s new High Ester Blend could be a mixologist’s secret weapon

El Dorado's new High Ester Blend could be a mixologist's secret weapon

I’m honored to have been chosen as a “rum influencer” of high enough stature to receive an unsolicited bottle of El Dorado’s new High Ester Blend (LBI / DHE). For non-geeks, those acronyms stand for “La Bonne Intention / Diamond High Ester,” signifying that this is a blend of never-before-released “high ester” marques from two unique stills at Guyana’s Diamond Distillery.

Specifically, we’re taking about high-ester distillate from the John Dore Double Retort Copper Pot Still and the La Bonne Intention marque from the four-column metal French Savalle Still. The former still dates back to the 1950s and is the only one of its kind at the historic distillery. The latter is much older, inherited from another distillery in Guyana that operated as far back as the 1800s.

El Dorado High Ester Blend includes rums from two unique stills at Guyana's Diamond Distillery.
El Dorado High Ester Blend includes rums from two unique stills at Guyana’s Diamond Distillery.

A side note here that the Diamond distillery and El Dorado share ownership (Demerara Distillers Ltd., aka DDL), so this release can be seen as El Dorado throwing its hat into the ring that independent bottlers have long dominated but has just recently gained at lot of traction in rum enthusiast circles: High-proof, high-ester, uncompromising rums with a pedigree. Rums from Jamaica, known for its “high-ester funk bombs,” have been most notable in this category.

This rum clocks in at a cask strength 57% ABV (114 proof), well above El Dorado’s normal (and industry standard) 40%, which I heartily applaud. It’s a different animal than El Dorado’s flagship aged rums (the 8-, 12- and 15-year-old blends) as well as the dark but lightly aged 151-proof rums (from Diamond, Hamilton, Lemon Hart, et al.) that are essential bottles in our Tiki arsenal. Just not as far removed as you might think. More on that shortly.

The bottle says it was distilled in 2012, which means it likely spent around 12 years in ex-Bourbon casks in Diamond’s aging warehouse. Indeed, the color as very similar to El Dorado 12. The nose, however, is another matter. The flavors are much deeper, with heady aromas of vanilla, toffee and honey most noticeable to my admittedly unsophisticated olfactory senses. There were some subtle cinnamon and fruit aromas as well.

At first sip, I immediately noticed the orange peel and spices prevalent in the blend, as advertised. Sweet vanilla is present, along with slight hints of chocolate and caramel. The spicy finish starts strong before fading slowly, perhaps the best feature of a neat sip.

Continue reading “REVIEW: El Dorado’s new High Ester Blend could be a mixologist’s secret weapon”

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NEW RECIPES: A frightening flight of deadly cocktails for Halloween 2023

NEW RECIPES: A frightening flight of deadly cocktails for Halloween 2023

Updated Nov. 3

The pursuit of dangerous Zombies and other potent libations served in ominous mugs is a year-round pursuit for many of us. But the Halloween season is prime time for mixologists to conjure up creative new potions for the not-so-faint of heart.

To meet that challenge, we offer up a flight of three deadly drinks with a dark and foreboding flair. And, of course, more than a touch of Tiki.

Go directly to the recipes
Round 1: The Black Magic Cocktail
Round 2: Shrunken Pumpkin Head
Round 3: Return of the Zombie Dolphin NEW

Hulaween on hiatus: Relive 12 years of madness at The Mai-Kai
Hulaween on hiatus: Relive the madness at The Mai-Kai
With the Tiki temple closed for refurbishment, take a look back at 12 years of Halloween events in The Molokai bar.

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First, let’s warm up with a new twist on the ever-popular classic from The Mai-Kai Polynesian restaurant …

The Black Magic Cocktail
(A tribute to The Atomic Grog’s tribute to The Mai-Kai’s Black Magic)

The Black Magic Cocktail at The Atomic Grog, October 2023. The Mai-Kai Shrunken Head mug by Tiki Tony and Eekum Bookum for The Hukilau 2017. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The Black Magic Cocktail at The Atomic Grog, October 2023. The Mai-Kai Shrunken Head mug by Tiki Tony and Eekum Bookum for The Hukilau 2017. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

• 1/4 ounce fresh orange juice
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/2 ounce rich honey mix
• 3/4 ounces freshly brewed and chilled coffee
• 1 ounce dark Jamaican rum (Mai-Kai blend or substitute)
• 1 ounce gold (lightly aged) Spanish-style rum
• 1/2 ounces dark rum
• 1/4 ounce Mariano’s Mix #7
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice dram
• 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters

Pulse blend with 1 cup of crushed ice for 5 seconds. Strain into a chilled 6-ounce cocktail glass.

There’s a symphony of flavors packed into this small sipper. It’s rich and heavy on the spice and coffee, even more so than its big brother. Without the ice in the glass, it stays robust to the last drop. The bitters and allspice balance the sweet and sour notes, leaving the rums to form a solid but not overwhelming backbone.

Continue reading “NEW RECIPES: A frightening flight of deadly cocktails for Halloween 2023”

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The Mai-Kai’s deadly Halloween quarts and gallons, plus more great moments in Zombie cocktail history

The Mai-Kai's deadly Halloween quarts and gallons, plus more great moments in Zombie cocktail history

We’re sorely missing The Mai-Kai’s beloved Hulaween party for the second year in a row, but luckily fans of potent Tiki cocktails will be able to drown their sorrows with a distinctive drink that hasn’t been served since the historic restaurant closed for refurbishments in October 2020.

See below: How to pour a Mai-Kai Zombie at home (VIDEO)
* 5 greatest moments in Zombie history

Halloween 2022 cocktails from The Mai-Kai

The Zombie, which traces its roots all the way back to tropical drink pioneer Don the Beachcomber, is available for a limited time as part of The Mai-Kai’s periodic takeout cocktail program. You can order the deadly classic by the quart and gallon, the perfect addition to weekend Halloween gatherings.

Pickup dates are Friday, Oct. 28 (4-6 p.m.) and Saturday, Oct. 29 (10 a.m.-noon). Call public relations director Pia Dahlquist 954-646-8975 to place your order.

Consume with caution, however, since this is one of the strongest cocktails ever created. Donn Beach’s original 1934 recipe included 4 ounces of three different rums, including overproof, and he famously limited guests to two drinks per visit.

Halloween 2022 cocktail menu from The Mai-Kai

The Mai-Kai’s version, created by former Beachcomber bartender Mariano Licudine for the restaurant’s 1956 opening, is more balanced and accessible yet still packs a potent punch (and a healthy dose of 151 rum). It replaced the equally strong Jet Pilot on the “Gallons To Go” menu for Halloween and is priced accordingly (gallon $156, quart $44).

Also on the menu are three other popular standbys: Barrel O’ Rum (gallon $95, quart $30), Black Magic (gallon $95, quart $30), and Mai Tai (gallon $142, quart $40). Click on the links for our comprehensive reviews and recipes for all the cocktails.

All are among the most acclaimed libations in our Mai-Kai cocktail guide, but the top-rated Zombie is a rare treat. It’s complex and a little difficult to execute in large batches, so it hasn’t been offered as part of the popular to-go initiative, which launched early in the pandemic and has continued during the closing.

The Mai-Kai's Zombie back from the dead for Halloween

It also requires some care for guests to pull off the perfect Zombie at home. Luckily, manager Kern Mattei and former Molokai bar server Claudia Marmolejo showed us how to mix up the perfect Halloween treat in a recent Facebook video:

Continue reading “The Mai-Kai’s deadly Halloween quarts and gallons, plus more great moments in Zombie cocktail history”

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UPDATE: Cool off this summer with takeout cocktails from The Mai-Kai

The Mai-Kai's takeout cocktails returning in May and June 2022

Updated Sept. 21, 2022

UPDATED: The Mai-Kai continues takeout cocktails through end of 2022
The Mai-Kai cocktails to go
While we await the completion of renovations and the grand reopening, The Mai-Kai’s famous tropical drinks are available for pick-up on multiple dates through the end of 2022.
>>> Info on all the dates and how to order

Latest news on The Mai-Kai renovations and reopening in 2022
UPDATES: Latest news on The Mai-Kai renovations and reopening in 2022
A special guest dropped by to see the renovations as roofs were readied for new thatching and work continued on restoring the vintage interior.

Aug. 21 update

There’s no better way to beat the South Florida heat during the dog days of summer than with gallons and quarts of tropical drinks from the historic Mai-Kai restaurant. After relaunching in May and continuing through August, the takeout menu returns again for Labor Day weekend with four classic Tiki cocktails available for pick-up on Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 1-3.

Cool off this summer with takeout cocktails from The Mai-Kai

You can’t go wrong with any of these longtime favorites: Barrel O’ Rum (gallon $95, quart $30), Black Magic (gallon $95, quart $30), Jet Pilot (gallon $156, quart $44), and Mai Tai (gallon $142, quart $40).

Also still available is The Mai-Kai’s signature 12-year-old Barbados rum from The Real McCoy. The Distillers Proof Mai-Kai Blend (46% ABV) was released during the pandemic and thought to be sold out. But a secret stash was recently discovered, so don’t miss your chance to grab a bottle of this rare rum ($85.60) before it’s gone.

Quantities of the cocktails are also limited, so get your order in ASAP by calling The Mai-Kai’s Pia Dahlquist at (954) 646-8975. Scheduled pick-up dates and times are Sept. 1 (4-6 p.m.), Sept. 2 (4-6 p.m.), and Sept. 3 (10 a.m.-noon). Special arrangements can be made for other times.

Check out the previous updates below for more info on the drinks, the “Gallons To Go” program and The Mai-Kai.

Continue reading “UPDATE: Cool off this summer with takeout cocktails from The Mai-Kai”

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The Mai-Kai offers Fourth of July cocktails, plans next Tiki marketplace

The Mai-Kai offers Fourth of July cocktails, plans next Tiki marketplace

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

New versions of The Mai-Kai's signature glasses were released earlier this month during take-home cocktail events. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
New versions of The Mai-Kai’s signature glasses were released earlier this month during take-home cocktail events. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

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.

Quarts of two of The Mai-Kai's signature cocktails. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, June 2021)
Quarts of two of The Mai-Kai’s signature cocktails. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, June 2021)

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

Guests line up for cocktails at the entrance to The Mai-Kai during the Tiki Marketplace in April 2021. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
Guests line up for cocktails at the entrance to The Mai-Kai during the Tiki Marketplace in April 2021. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

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.

Continue reading “The Mai-Kai offers Fourth of July cocktails, plans next Tiki marketplace”