When the the Mai-Kai opened on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale in 1956, the Polynesian restaurant quickly set a new standard for Tiki cocktails, earning fame for its reverential and original creations featuring fresh ingredients and perfectly balanced rum blends. This legacy continued for decades, even through a catastrophic back-of-house roof collapse that forced a four-year closing in late 2020.
A $20 million restoration engineered by a new ownership group led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller not only returned the historic property and its cocktails to their high standards, it also gave the Mai-Kai the opportunity to create something most elite bar programs have never done.
To honor the legacy of the Mai-Kai and its cocktails, Fuller and his team sought to create their own heritage rum blend to bring authenticity to the iconic drinks the founders created. Years in the making, the result is Mai-Kai Old Style Special Rum No. 1, created in the Caribbean and bottled exclusively for use (and sale) at the South Florida restaurant. New cocktail recipes below: Daiquiri No. 1 | Hammerhead Bite
The rum was released in November 2025, one year after the grand reopening. The road to the rum’s creation is long and winding, and the story is richly detailed. We’ll save that for a future blog post, but until then we’d like to share all the information you’ll need to appreciate this special spirit. The following FAQ was prepared in cooperation with the Mai-Kai and the company that handled the rum’s branding and package design, Roneros Rum Brand Makers.
Beverage director Cory Starr serves samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during the release party on Nov. 28. A special display was created for the gift shop. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
What is Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, aka Mai-Kai Old Style Special Rum Number 1?
A crafted, authentic blend in a mid-century style used to create the Mai-Kai’s cocktails by Mariano Licudine, master mixologist from 1956 to 1979. Dozens of his secret recipes are still featured at the restaurant today. Previous historic antecedents include the Dagger and Appleton punch rums. For more on those rums, check out this Atomic Grog story (last updated in 2021).
Hurricane Hayward shows off the Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 display in the gift shop, right next to the window into the historic back service bar. (Atomic Grog photo, February 2026)
Where can I buy it?
It’s available exclusively in the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop, which is open daily during restaurant hours. If you’re making a special trip to buy the rum, you can tell the valet. Check MaiKai.com and our related Mai-Kai FAQ for details.
How much does it cost?
You’ll pay $75 for a 1-liter bottle, $400 for a case of six.
Is this a limited release?
No, it will continue to be available for purchase and featured in cocktails at the Mai-Kai.
Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 is equally enjoyable served neat, or in cocktails such as the new Aloha Old Fashioned. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, December 2025)
Is it a “sipping” or “mixing” rum?
Both. While designed as the perfect mixing rum in Mai-Kai cocktails, the complex blend is also accessible as a sipper and should appeal to fans of both.
You could forgive the owners, management and staff of the Mai-Kai for taking a deep breath and resting on their laurels in early 2026 after a spectacular 2025, the first full year back in business after a four-year hiatus and $20 million restoration of the historic South Florida restaurant. Luckily for fans of the 69-year-old Polynesian palace, that’s not the case. Not by a long shot.
More than a year after reopening, the Mai-Kai’s lush landscaping is thriving. The signature cannibal carvings bid guests farewell. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, February 2026)
Business is booming as the Mai-Kai remains laser-focused on improving the cocktails, food and entire guest experience. Last year ended with a bang, culminating with a memorable anniversary celebration featuring more than 20 past on-stage performers from the Mai-Kai Islanders. This came on the heels of an elaborate themed overlay and creative cocktail menu for the Christmas holidays.
• 2025 Mai-Kai recaps: Exclusive ongoing coverage | Bar and cocktail news
The new year brought a new selection of modern tropical drinks, plus some creative takes on old classics. Also in January, the Mai-Kai launched a weekly schedule of themed specials, including In the Biz Mondays, Tiki Tuesdays, Wahine Wednesdays, and Karaoke Night on Thursdays. Live bands continue to entertain Molokai Bar guests on Fridays, and more activities for kids are part of the early Sunday festivities (along with a monthly meet-up for classic car owners.)
Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band perform in the Molokai on Feb. 27. They return to rock the bar on March 20. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
A new food menu was introduced in February, updated with a half-dozen new dishes from chef Justin Sherrer. The Mai-Kai hosted several high-profile events, starting with a Miami Rum Congress pre-party featuring multiple rum brands and special tastings. During the nationally acclaimed South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Sherrer participated in Miami while general manager and beverage director Cory Starr hosted a sold-out Tiki cocktail master class in the Bora Bora Bar.
Bartender Justin Rivera leads guests in creating cocktails during a master class hosted by the Mai-Kai as part of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Feb. 21. Students created their own garnish. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
This story will cover all of the above while also offering a preview of upcoming events, plus more. Stay tuned for stories on other major projects around the Mai-Kai property, including the restoration of a 60-year-old tiki icon and construction of a new event center and back-of-house facilities.
The Mai-Kai is embracing the season to be jolly like never before with a Christmas overlay featuring extensive decor, a limited-edition mug, and a new menu of 12 creative cocktails that celebrate spirits and flavors from around the world. RELATED:Mai-Kai legends return to the stage for 69th anniversary celebration
The Mai-Kai’s holiday lights and theming immerse guests from the beginning to the end of their journey to the Polynesian wonderland. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, December 2025)
The minute you arrive at the historic South Florida restaurant, you’re swept away to a tropical winter wonderland, surrounded by giant wreaths and swaths of palm trees clad in holiday lights. Santa hats adorn the signature cannibal carvings under the banyan trees, and a large wreath hangs from the signature water feature, the bubbling caldera in the center of the vehicle roundabout.
The Bora Bora Bar and main entrance are awash with lights and festive touches, including the outdoor space’s own Christmas tree looming above the bartenders. Presents surround another tree high above the front doors under the restored porte-cochère.
Chelsea and Avery welcome you to the Molokai Mistletoe Lounge, where the servers clad in their holiday sarongs treat guests to the Twelve Drinks of Christmas. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Dec. 7, 2025)
Inside, the Molokai Bar is ground zero for the holiday cheer, nearly every available space covered in lights, ornaments, and lots of mistletoe. It’s over the top but tastefully done. The “Molokai Mistletoe Lounge” servers have joined the fun with their cheery new outfits. Just don’t try to catch one of the sarong-clad servers under a mistletoe … they move fast. More below:Photos, video of the Mai-Kai’s holiday theming
Just as robust as the decorations, the events calendar started Dec. 1 with the launch of the new “Twelve Drinks of Christmas Around the World” menu. The new craft cocktails (plus a Christmas Mystery Bowl), take center stage on the main cocktail menu, available in both bars plus the dining rooms.
The good cheer extends to the late-night hours in both bars, which host special happy hours from 9 to 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday throughout December. Like the regular happy hour, which runs seven days a week from 4 to 7 p.m., most signature cocktails (including the 12 Christmas drinks) are 50 percent off the regular price. There’s also a special late-night food menu. Check the reviews and photos below as we taste our way through the cocktails. Christmas cocktail guide: Analysis, ratings, insights from bar manager Michael DeMahyUPDATED
Mai-Kai fans and collectors received an early Christmas treat on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when a limited Christmas Rum Barrel mug was released at a special event attended by Florida artist John Mulder. His merry holiday version of the Mai-Kai’s signature mug, limited to 250 numbered pieces, sold out by mid-December.
The Mai-Kai’s general manager and beverage director, Cory Starr, introduced Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during a Miami Rum Festival seminar (left) on Nov. 8. The next day, he was joined by Molokai Bar server Hannah Almanzar in serving up samples during the event’s grand tasting. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Look for full coverage of the presentation hosted by ambassador Adrienne Stoner of Maison Ferrand in an upcoming deep dive into the 100-proof blend, which is being produced exclusively for the Mai-Kai. The quick answer to the burning question: Sorry, there is currently no plan for distribution outside of the Mai-Kai Trading Company gift shop.
It’s a unique rum that bypasses normal distribution, sent directly to the restaurant from the Caribbean via a bottling plant in southwest Florida. The blend of rums from historic stills in Barbados and Jamaica was a unanimous hit at the Coral Gables festival, including the main grand tasting event on Sunday, Nov. 9.
This story will offer a quick recap of the festival and look ahead at the upcoming release. But that’s not all. Starr gave us the exclusive inside scoop on many other exciting plans for the Mai-Kai during the 2025 holidays, plus more to come in 2026.
Special menu, early shows welcome Thanksgiving diners
The Mai-Kai will offer a special holiday dinner and show on Thanksgiving Day with two seatings: 2 p.m. (show at 3:30) and 5 p.m. (show at 6:30). The bars open at 1 p.m. with happy hour running from 4 until 7, offering most cocktails priced at 50% off.
A special dinner menu is available, along with the full regular menu. Thanksgiving meals include a choice of three appetizers, entrees and desserts for $75. Main courses are Huli Huli BBQ Turkey, Palm Sugar Salmon, and Kalua Roast Pork. [See the menu online]
If you want to attend the dinner show, it must be booked separately online through the official website. Tables are filling up fast, so make your reservations now.
Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 set for Black Friday release
After shopping yourself ragged in search of holiday gifts, treat yourself (or the special rum lover in your life) to a very special present on Friday, Nov. 28. During the release party that begins at 5 p.m. in both the Molokai and Bora Bora bars, you’ll be among the first to be able to pick up a bottle (or more) of Mai-Kai Old Style Special Rum Number One.
The rum will be priced at $75 for an embossed one-liter bottle in a custom box, both featuring distinctive Mai-Kai imagery. It will also be available by the case (six bottles) for $400, Starr said. The gift shop will also have some special exclusive merch and offers available during the party.
Also look for a special menu of Rum No. 1 cocktails at the event, including a flight of classics.These may include the Mai Tai and Zombie, which were served at the Nov. 6 sneak preview event.
In addition to the cocktail flight, you will be able to buy small samples of the rum at the bar to try it out. A new sipping rum menu is in the works. Starr said he’s been collecting rums since he joined the team as beverage director before the reopening last year. The rum list, which will likely be paired with the after-dinner drinks and desserts on a combined menu, will favor quality over quantity, Starr said. “We’re going to start with around 50, then get to 100 at some point.”
Beverage director Cory Starr pours cocktails and serves samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during a sneak preview event in the Molokai Bar on Nov. 6. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Like other Fridays this month, the 28th will also include live music in the Molokai Bar with Smerks and the Night Mares performing from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Makani Ryel will entertain Bor Bora Bar guests starting at 5 p.m..
The Miami Rum Festival offered guests a unique chance to learn about (and taste) Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 at a Nov. 8 seminar at the Coral Gables Marriott hosted by Adrienne Stoner, an ambassador for Maison Ferrand and all of its brands. The French company also owns the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, where the Mai-Kai rum is blended and shipped to Florida. A portion of the blend also includes rum from historic pot stills at the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica, where Maison Ferrand shares ownership.
Stoner gave us an inside peek at both distilleries and profiled some of the key members of the team who craft the rums. She broke down the historic stills and some of the key components in Rum No. 1, most notably JAWS – a unique, high-ester rum sourced from the historic Vulcan pot still that dates back to the 19th century.
Beverage director Cory Starr (left) and Maison Ferrand ambassador Adrienne Stoner discuss Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 during a seminar at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival on Nov. 8. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
We enjoyed a neat sip along with Starr’s updated version of the Mai-Kai’s Planters Punch as Stoner explained the rum’s creation and distillation process in Barbados. We also tasted a 120-proof sample of the JAWS rum, which is considered to be the first long fermentation, high-ester rum component crafted in Barbados in the past 80 years. You can clearly see how this is the key element in the Mai-Kai blend.
On Nov. 9, the festival hosted dozens of rum brands, including the Mai-Kai, for more than four hours of tastings at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club. Starr was joined by Mai-Kai manager Salomé Sepulveda and Molokai Bar server Hannah Almanzar in greeting guests and serving samples in their colorfully branded booth. They also passed out Starr’s reconfigured version of the Mai-Kai’s classic Bora Bora cocktail featuring the new rum.
Right next door was a booth from Roneros Rum Brand Makers, the firm that developed the Mai-Kai rum’s distinctive branding, packaging and marketing. This includes the new MaiKaiRum.com website, which features the story behind the rum as well as more than a dozen cocktail recipes you can try after you pick up a bottle. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even submit your own.
Bar manager Michael DeMahy makes the Bora Bora and Zombie cocktails using Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 at the Nov. 6 sneak preview event in the Molokai Bar. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Lucky attendees at the Nov. 6 sneak preview in the Molokai Bar got a head start and were able to take a bottle home when Starr released a small batch for purchase. Some 30 or so guests were treated to samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 plus four different Mai-Kai cocktails, shaken up to order in the “poop deck” area of the bar by Starr and bar manager Michael DeMahy. It was a rare chance to see these two master mixologists in action close-up in the Molokai, where drinks are usually made in secret in the back bar.
Two of the cocktails – the Planters Punch and Bora Bora – are reconfigured versions of classics featuring a full serving of the new rum. Both are noticeable improvements that will likely find their way onto the permanent menu in their reimagined form. Those who tasted them raved about both.
The two others we tasted, the Mai Tai and Zombie, were also excellent versions featuring a hefty dose of the new 100-proof rum. These two “No. 1 versions” will likely remain special menu items, Starr said, served in addition to the classic variations that feature blends of multiple rums and are tried-and-true favorites.
This won’t be the case for every cocktail, but Starr promised other off-menu drinks featuring the new rum. Deciding which drinks get which treatment is still a work in progress. Most cocktails that were designed to include a “dark Jamaican” style rum will simply be updated to include the new rum instead of the Mai-Kai’s previous blend that has been in use since the Kohala Bay brand stopped production in 2017.
The rum will be stealthily added, and Starr noted that the intention is that it goes undetected to most guests. “We’ll roll them out, but I don’t know when,” he said. “It’s more like a secret kind of rollout so people don’t really notice it happening. It’s going to be kind of a slow change.”
The Mai-Kai has long sought a proper replacement for Kohala Bay, and now thanks to the new ownership team and managing partner Bill Fuller, it has become a reality.
12 Drinks of Christmas, limited-edition mug highlight jolly holidays
The Mai-Kai has not leaned into the holidays in a big way since 2019, when it introduced its first lineup of Christmas drinks to pair with festive but tasteful decor. In the years since, the thirst for Christmas pop-up bars has grown exponentially.
Last year’s holidays came too quick after the reopening, but Starr and bar manager Michael DeMahy have an ambitious lineup of themed cocktails planned for 2025. Dubbed the “12 Drinks of Christmas,” these limited-time cocktails will be split among menus in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars, plus the showroom. This is even more than we enjoyed during the recent month of Hulaween hijinx.
The Christmas Rum Barrel Mug was created for the Mai-Kai by John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum. (Official photo)
Similar to Halloween, it will be a month-long celebration that Starr said they hope to kick off on Monday, Dec. 1. Be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, Dec. 3, when a special holiday mug will be introduced at an event attended by its creator. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Starr tapped a noted Florida mug designer, John Mulder of Eeekum Bookum in St. Petersburg, to craft and produce a special limited edition Christmas Rum Barrel Mug.
You can buy the mug in the gift shop for $125, but it’s a limited run of 250, so don’t delay. There will be two versions: A very limited 50 green and white barrels, and 200 of a more traditional brown Barrel, Starr said. There is a limit of one mug per person when you shop in the Mai-Kai Trading Post.
Master of ceremonies Lono and members of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue. (Mai-Kai photo, January 2025)
Performers from the past to return for anniversary events
The events will include a reunion of past performers from the Polynesian Islander Revue, which dates back to 1961 and has long been considered the longest running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States. The driving force of the troupe for more than five decades was Mai-Kai matriarch Mireille Thornton, who joined the restaurant’s original show in the early 1960s and went on to become not only its choreographer and spiritual leader, but eventual owner of the restaurant. She married owner Bob Thornton, assuming leadership of the family empire when he passed away in 1989.
Mireille Thornton was a dancer and choreographer of the Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue from the early 1960s through 2020. (Mai-Kai photo)
Two of her children ran the day-to-day operations, but it was “Mrs. T,” as she’s lovingly known, who eventually saved the Mai-Kai when she signed off on the sale to historic preservationist Bill Fuller of Barlington Group in September 2021. [Past coverage] Now in her 80s and retired to north Florida, the native of Tahiti consulted on the revival of the stage show she led for more than 50 years when it returned in November 2024. [See video]
The performances are now being guided by longtime emcee Lono, who has taken over as Polynesian cultural director after the departure of Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin in August. We’re told that Lono, who started with the Mai-Kai in 2009 and spent a decade under Thornton’s wing, is working on plans to bring back some of the classic show elements, though we may not see those changes until 2026.
Many of the show’s original members and backing band were accomplished performers in the South Pacific. Now, more than 60 years later, the Mai-Kai has its own cultural legacy.
Multiple members of the troupe have been there for decades, and several are second and third generation Mai-Kai. Dancer Varua (aka Nicholas Mattei) is the son of longtime manager Kern Mattei. His grandmother was in the show and his mother was a Molokai Girl. [See video] Michael, the AV director and Lono’s assistant, is Mireille Thornton’s grandson.
With this spirit of ‘ohana (or family) in mind, the Mai-Kai is inviting back many past performers for the anniversary weekend. You’ll even be able to see some of them perform on stage during the Saturday dinner shows. The formal anniversary celebration Sunday. Starr teased other additions to the weekend, including bands in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars.
A new event center is being built on the other side of this wall along the back corridor in the Mai-Kai’s outdoor garden. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, May 2025)
New event center will complete Mai-Kai reimagination in 2026
Last but not least, Starr confirmed that preliminary work has begun on a new event center that will occupy back-of-house space adjacent to the kitchen that was formerly used for storage. When asked if it’s moving forward, he replied: “It definitely is.”
This large multi-purpose space will be available for a wide range of special events, from weddings and reunions, to corporate meetings, to music and social events such as The Hukilau. The plans for this addition were approved along with all of the Phase 1 enhancements back in 2022, but this part of the project was put on hold to expedite the November 2024 reopening. Related coverage:The Hukilau returns to the Mai-Kai for five days of Tiki festivities
The Mai-Kai’s new event center will be accessed via a door in the old Chinese oven room, which has been reimagined by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller. The lettering was salvaged from the outside of the building. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward, February-March 2025)
The public will access the event center via a door in the renovated room that used to house the kitchen’s Chinese ovens. This area was redesigned by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller with a lavish Chinese theme to match the building and surrounding area. The outside of the building, which appears dilapidated but is actually a clever feat of themed design, features a new Chinese saying across the top after the old lettering was moved inside. [Previous coverage]
• Spike’s Breezeway:Watch a video tour with Typhoon Tommy
This room is accessible both via the dining rooms and the outdoor garden. The plan also calls for the new corridor in the southwest corner of the garden to feature a door into the event center. This large area can also be used for the events.
The back-of-house area that contained the large storage room and massive 1970s-era kitchen remains without a roof after the October 2020 collapse that precipitated the Mai-Kai’s closing, sale and $20 million restoration. A new, smaller kitchen was built in old offices and other spaces that survived the roof collapse. Additional temporary kitchen structures were added to the open space in order for the restaurant to serve its thousands of loyal guests when it reopened last November.
Plans presented during a city of Oakland Park online meeting in 2022 show the future event center (left) and kitchen highlighted by managing partner Bill Fuller. The area in blue is the current bar and kitchen.
But now, after chef Justin Sherrer took over in March, the Mai-Kai is preparing for a change. The Phase 2 project includes a reconfiguration of the kitchen, as detailed in an earlier report. Some of the temporary buildings will be removed, and it’s possible the old Chinese ovens will return in some form.
The plans have changed slightly since Allsmiller’s original 2022 designs for a large, enclosed A-frame structure. [See 2022 coverage] It will remain a large A-frame, but we’re told it’s probably going to be more of an indoor-outdoor space, not unlike the new Bora Bora Bar under the old entry porte-cochère. [Past coverage]
“It’s not exactly the same, but it’s in the same vein,” Starr said. As for an opening timeframe, he said they’re planning for it to be available in 2026. “It will be done as soon as we can,” he said.
Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 to make a splash during 2025 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival
There will be multiple ways to enjoy the long-awaited signature rum as part of the 16th annual Miami Rum Festival. Enjoy a sneak preview Thursday at the Mai-Kai, learn more at Saturday’s seminar day in Miami, then sip along with hundreds of other spirits at Sunday’s Grand Tasting.
Mai-Kai’s Hulaween party returns from the dead in 2025
The historic restaurant was transformed into a haunted Polynesian island during October, culminating with the 13th Hulaween party on Oct. 31 in the Molokai and Bora Bars.
Mai-Kai October update: Hulaween returns bigger than ever, new food menu debuts
Halloween revelry and artistic decor have engulfed the historic South Florida restaurant all month with multiple special events. Check out the full preview, plus a recap of all the past happenings and a detailed look at the new food menu, plus more.
Halloween cocktails invade the Mai-Kai for October
Featuring fire, smoke and detailed theming, the new drinks capture the spirit of the season. Check out our ratings and reviews of these scary offerings, plus other recent special cocktails.
EXCLUSIVE:Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening Guide
Check out all past news, photos, video and deep details on the refurbishment and resurrection of the Polynesian palace.
It would not be facetious to say that the release of the Mai-Kai’s new signature rum is so close you can taste it. In fact, there will be multiple ways to enjoy the long-awaited Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 in association with the 16th annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival. See below: Social media recaps
You still must wait a little longer before you can take a bottle home, but you can be among the first to see and sample the new 100-proof blend from Barbados and Jamaica since its recent bottling and initial shipment to the historic Fort Lauderdale restaurant. You’ll have three opportunities this week:
You can taste Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 at several upcoming events as part of the 2025 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, August 2025)
Thursday, Nov. 6: Sneak Preview Party at the Mai-Kai from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 will be offered to guests both neat and in cocktails. It won’t be officially available for purchase in the gift shop yet, but beverage director Cory Starr said the Mai-Kai is planning a full-blown launch party in December.
Saturday, Nov. 8: A special presentation on the rum’s development at the Coral Gables Marriott at 2 p.m. as part of the festival’s seminar day. You’ll be able to taste the unique blend and learn about its development in a one-hour session with Adrienne Stoner of Maison Ferrand, which produced the rum sourced from the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica. An $89 ticket gets you into all three of that day’s seminars from noon to 5 p.m. [More info below]
Sunday, Nov. 9: The Grand Tasting event from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club as part of the annual sampling of hundreds of rums from around the world. The Mai-Kai will host a booth featuring the rum along with merchandise, joining the many distilleries, importers, producers, distributors and boutique brands on display. Tickets range from $89 to $109 and include unlimited samples.
Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 was previewed on Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour in July.
Mai-Kai Old Style Special Rum Number One, as it’s officially known, has been eagerly awaited by rum and Tiki cocktail fans who frequent the 68-year-old Polynesian palace. This week’s tastings are the latest to whet our appetites while we await the official release date. The rum received high marks from the crowd at Tiki Oasis in San Diego during a special preview in August. [Photos, full recap]
The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is the perfect platform to once again showcase the Mai-Kai’s first branded spirit. Last year’s event included a presentation with Starr and longtime manager Kern Mattei joining the Atomic Grog for a look at the Mai-Kai’s legendary bar program, plus tastings and cocktail samples featuring Rum No. 1. The rum was also featured during a panel discussion at Miami Rum Congress in February. [Photos, more coverage]
Miami Rum Renaissance attracts hundreds of hobbyists and rum experts from around the world to South Florida for a weekend filled with educational and informative explorations of cane spirits. Founded by rum collectors and enthusiasts Robin and Robert A. Burr in 2009, the event was one of the first of its kind in the United States. It remains a cornerstone on the ever-growing spirts calendar.
In addition to the Thursday event at the Mai-Kai, there will be a Rum Renaissance free kickoff event on Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 at Primo Liquors & Fine Wines in Fort Lauderdale. The Sunrise Boulevard store will host a Planteray Rum pop-up happy hour with Adrienne Stoner, the brand’s national ambassador. [Reserve a spot via Eventbrite] Primo, which has six locations in Broward County, is the festival’s new on-site and online rum sales partner.
Rewind to the summer of 2001: Sven Kirsten’s The Book of Tiki, the influential bible of what would become known as the Polynesian Pop renaissance, was less than a year old. Beachbum Berry’s Grog Log, which lit the fuse of the Tiki cocktail revival, was barely 3. Tiki Central, which would explode into an online gathering place for enthusiasts from around the world, was a year away from leaving Yahoo to become a stand-alone website. The first modern Tiki bar (Taboo Cove in Las Vegas, designed by Bosko Hrnjak) would not open until September.
Official Tiki Oasis artwork by Derek Yaniger: The 2005 event was the last in Palm Springs. This year will mark the event’s 25th anniversary, and 20th year in San Diego.
Into this pubescent scene burst Tiki Oasis, making its debut as the world’s first all-encompassing event dedicated to celebrating the art, architecture, cocktails, fashion, music, history and overarching aesthetics of the forgotten 20th century pop culture craze that took hold in the 1930s, peaked in the 1950s and ’60s, but never really went away. A new generation, led by a loosely knit clan of California bohemians, was fully immersed in creating a new movement that has lasted well into the 21st century. Tiki Oasis became their playground.
It’s still called the Tiki “revival,” but there seems to be no end in sight. The scene remains joined at the hip with Tiki Oasis, begun humbly by Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim in Palm Springs. Otto was instrumental in both documenting the golden days and nurturing the nascent movement in his Tiki News fanzine (1995-2001). He also put together the first big Tiki music event (Exoticon ’95) and the genre’s first major art show (21st Century Tiki, 1996), both in Los Angeles.
He was also long notorious for his wild backyard Tiki parties featuring vintage mugs and cocktails, authentic music, and just a touch of anarchy that came naturally for the generation that grew up on punk and other underground subcultures. After he joined forces in 1996 with the creator of the Baby Doe’s Obsessed website, they set their sights on bigger and better events. She produced the first-ever burlesque convention, Tease-O-Rama, in 2001.
Tiki Oasis began as fundraiser for historic hotel
Baby Doe and Otto von Stroheim visit the Mai-Kai and manager Kern Mattei in January 2025. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The original intent of Tiki Oasis – which made its debut on Aug. 18, 2001 – was altruistic: Raising money and awareness to preserve the vintage Caliente Tropics Resort in Palm Springs. The first year was modest, featuring around 50 guests. But the event grew rapidly over the next four years, selling out the small hotel and precipitating a move to San Diego in 2006. (The hotel has not only survived, it has thrived amid the Tiki revival, serving as the current host venue of the long-running Tiki Caliente and Circa Caliente events.)
The popularity of both Tiki culture and Tiki Oasis exploded during the next 14 years at the Crowne Plaza (formerly the historic Hanalei Hotel), expanding into a five-day event that has defined the concept of “Tiki weekender” for a new generation. The von Stroheims also added new events to their portfolio, including Arizona Tiki Oasis in Scottsdale (2019-present) and Resort-O-Rama in Santa Rosa, Calif. (2023).
• 2014 flashback: 5 questions with Otto von Stroheim
Tiki Oasis spent one year at the expansive Paradise Point Resort during the COVID restrictions of 2020, then moved in 2021 to the Town and Country Resort, where it has remained for five years. The 23-acre property in Mission Valley oozes mid-century style and charm.
The Town and Country Resort provides the perfect setting for a salute to mid-century Tiki culture. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward, August 2023)
The event takes over the entire 600+ rooms and nearly 300,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space. Originally built in 1953 as a roadside lodge, the Town and Country has a rich history that was honored during a major renovation in 2019.
Tiki Oasis will honor its legacy, as well as the early days of the revival, with several symposiums this year. On Friday, Aug. 8, at 9:30 a.m., Sven Kirsten will host The Book of Tiki Turns 25, discussing how photographing and collecting the remnants of the lost mid-century culture led him to understand its unique qualities, and how that convinced him of the importance of documenting and preserving it.
The von Stroheims have lined up an array of guest speakers for 25 Years of Tiki Oasis, hosted by David “Dr. Skipper” Marley at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. They promise “rarely seen photos and untold stories from Tiki Oasis’ past, followed by a lively Q&A.”
History, reimagination of legendary Mai-Kai back bar to be revealed
The Atomic Grog’s seminar for Tiki Oasis 2025, “Sneak Peek into the Historic Mai-Kai’s Secret Bar,” will explore the mysterious space from the early days of mixologist Mariano Licudine through the reimagination by “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and bar program of Cory Starr. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
We’ll reveal details and show exclusive photos of the multimillion-dollar restoration that preceded the November 2024 relaunch after a four-year closing due to extensive damage to the back of house kitchen and bar. Given a clean slate to rebuild, Allsmiller took the former utilitarian space to a new level and made it a showpiece that’s now on the same level as the guest areas, some of which date back to the 1956 opening.
Starr will serve up a reinvigorated classic cocktail from those early days, enhanced by a new rum that’s due to be released in the coming weeks. We’ll also serve samples of Mai-Kai Rum No. 1, a 100-proof blend sourced from historic stills at the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados and the Long Pond Distillery in Jamaica. Event attendees will be among the first to get a taste of the final product. Related: Mai-Kai Rum No. 1 coming soon, symposium and tasting planned for Tiki Oasis
Updated Jan. 3, 2026 We hope this running story, compiled throughout 2025, helps quench your thirst for detailed information, photos and deep dives into the cocktails served at the Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida, est. 1956. Below you’ll find reports by journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward along with news and official updates passed along by beverage director Cory Starr as he resurrected the storied bar program, originally developed by legendary mixologist Mariano Licudine. This page served as a supplement to our Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide as we enjoyed the the Mai-Kai’s grand reopening. In 2026, get ready for all new reviews and recipes at the link above, or MaiKaiCocktailGuide.com. If you’re looking for more on the restaurant’s restoration and reopening in 2024-2025, along with anything beyond the cocktails and bar program, check out this related story. • Jump straight to the news archive below
Zula #1 (left) and Last Rites, two classic cocktails from the Mai-Kai’s 1956 menu served at the 69th anniversary event on Dec. 28. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)
Vintage cocktails return for 69th anniversary, more news
Posted Jan. 3
The icing on the cake at the 69th anniversary celebration was a special menu of three historic cocktails, available in both the Bora Bora and Molokai bars. They were priced at $19.56 in honor of the Mai-Kai’s original opening date, but happy hour prices were in effect from 4 to 7 p.m., and we made sure to try all three. Photos, video:Mai-Kai legends return to the stage for 69th anniversary celebration
Two of the drinks date back to the original 1956 menu. One of them, Zula #1, was only recently retired when the Mai-Kai reopened in November 2024. It was one of two classics dropped from the reopening day menu.
Don’s Own Grog, a rare cocktail available at the Mai-Kai’s 69th anniversary event on Dec. 28. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The other was Last Rites, another Mai-Kai classic that can be traced back to one of the groundbreaking tropical drinks created by Don the Beachcomber in the 1930s and ’40s. This is a personal favorite of beverage director Cory Starr, who brought it back at several special events over the past year. We last tried it at The Hukilau finale at the Mai-Kai in June.
Last Rites was our favorite, better than the previous versions made with premium rums. Rum No. 1 seems to bring perfect balance to this classic that agricole rums don’t. Not far behind was Don’s Own Grog, another great spotlight for the rum featuring bold cinnamon (perhaps Angostura bitters), lime and blackberry notes. Zula was very solid, but it veered a bit from the original with an overly boozy profile that obscured the distinctive pineapple and anise flavors. Starr told us later that he and bar manager Michael DeMahy had a challenge getting the rum blend correct, but I’m sure they’ll figure it out in time for its next appearance.
Mai-Kai beverage director Cory Starr (left) and bar manager Michael DeMahy host a special event featuring Spiribam products in the Bora Bora Bar on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
Starr and DeMahy have lots of plans for the cocktail program in 2026, including a new menu for the Molokai Bar with more of a craft cocktail focus. But unlike the Bora Bora Bar, which has featured more modern-style cocktails, the older bar will take more of a classic Mai-Kai approach in keeping with its vintage theming.
DeMahy said they want to take “the classic Mariano, Trader Vic, Don the Beachcomber style cocktails and re-envision them as if they were alive today.” He said it will be “more of a modern twist, but paying homage to the history and the style.”
“You have to reset your mind and say, ‘I’m paying homage to these classics,’ but how would they think if they lived here today with the products that are now available versus what was available back then,” DeMahy added. “I’m very excited to start working on it.” The menu is still in the very early stages of development, however, with tentative plans for a release no earlier than the third quarter of the year.
Updated Jan. 14, 2026 This blog post features full coverage of the restoration and reopening of the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida 2024 reopening and throughout 2025. It includes in-depth coverage and photos from journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward, along with information gathered from other reliable sources. As the project enters Phase 2 in 2026, look for less detailed but still frequent reports featured on the main Mai-Kai restoration page. We’ll also ramping up a new version of our Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide. • Jump straight to the news archive below
The 16 most iconic photo spots at the Mai-Kai
Learn how to get those classic shots on your next trip to the historic South Florida restaurant. We take you on an adventure via new and historic photos, plus video from Spike’s Breezeway to document the top locations inside and outside the historic Tiki temple. SEE THE TOP 16:Jump straight to the tour, tips and tricks
Mai-Kai legends return for 69th anniversary celebration
Posted Jan. 4
The Mai-Kai welcomed back dozens of alumni from throughout its 69-year history for a first-of-its-kind anniversary celebration and a weekend full of incendiary performances of the Polynesian Islander Revue. The national historic landmark opened its doors Dec. 28, 1956, adding an authentic dinner show in the early 1960s.
The Dec. 27-28 event marked the first time in history that Mai-Kai performers from eight different decades – from the 1950s through today – all shared the stage on the same weekend. The dinner show combines music (by the Mai-Kai Serenaders) and dance (by the Mai-Kai Islanders) into a flamboyant but culturally accurate tribute to the islands of the South Pacific, running up to three shows a night, seven days a week for the past six decades. After a four-year interruption when the Mai-Kai was closed for a $20 million restoration and reimagination, the revue remains the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
The current Polynesian Islander Revue during the Mai-Kai’s 69th anniversary celebration included second and third-generation performers. Elijah (left) is the grandson and son of fire knife dancers, both named Stellio. Nai’a (right) is the daughter of former Polynesian dancer Glenda Florez. (Photos by Marina Anderson)
Many of the alumni gathered at the Mai-Kai on Friday, Dec. 26, for what became an emotional reunion for many. “Feeling so welcome and seeing so many familiar faces really fills the heart with joy,” wrote Malia on her Instagram page, where she posted a reel of the happy reunion. You many know the former dancer and Mystery Girl (2000-2003) today as MeduSirena (aka Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid).
The list of returning Polynesian dancers, fire knife dancers and musician spanned the 1950s through the 2000s. [Click here to see the full list] Among the VIPs were Kainoa Lauritzen (1971-2001), considered the most recognized Polynesian dancer in Mai-Kai history; and Nani Maka, a legendary Hawaiian hula dancer who worked at the Mai-Kai in the 1950s and ’60s. Kainoa performed on stage Saturday and Nani Maka on Sunday.
Former Polynesian dancers (from left) Kainoa Lauritzen, Malia (MeduSirena) and Glenda Florez meet guests and sign autographs during the Mai-Kai’s 69th anniversary event. (Photo provided by Marina Anderson)
Saturday’s events included alumni shows at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. From 7 to 8 p.m., Malia and Kainoa were joined by fellow Polynesian dancer Glenda Florez (1999-2007) for a meet-and-greet and autograph signing in the old Chinese oven room next to the Mai-Kai’s giant Christmas tree. Florez’ daughter, Nai’a, is a current Polynesian dancer and the first female fire knife dancer ever at the Mai-Kai.
Both the Bora Bora and Molokai bars were crowded with guests on the busy Saturday night as Big Harvest performed outside the main entrance. With the addition of the extensive Christmas lights, decor and cocktails for 2025, the annual anniversary event took on an even more festive air.
The Mai-Kai’s 69th anniversary alumni show included Polynesian dancers from past decades. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / Dec. 27, 2025)
We attended the first alumni show at 5:30, and it proved to be spectacular. I counted dozens of alumni on stage throughout the performance. It started with a 30-minute all-alumni set and Kainoa doing a solo dance to the classic Bali Hai to open the show. She was followed by three former Polynesian dancers doing the hula as the band performed Lovely Hula Hands.
In rapid succession were were treated to many short performances featuring both men and women, including the traditional Samoan slap dance. An announcement was made thanking the founding Thornton brothers for bringing the Mai-Kai to life, along with the current management for keeping their spirit alive. The show was also dedicated to all of the past alumni who are no longer with us.
The pre-show wrapped up with a performance by two male-female duos, then another Polynesian dance by four female alumni (see photo above). The opening set reached a thunderous climax when the theatrical drum troupe Samkoma took the stage. The four-piece group included MeduSirena and current Mai-Kai lead musician Conrad Teheiura Itchener (aka Kabuki).
The Mai-Kai’s Polynesian cultural director and longtime emcee, Lono Hanohano, then invited all the performers on stage for a final dance and standing ovation. But more was yet to come as Lono handed off emcee duties for the 45-minutte regular show to Varua, a third-generation Mai-Kai employee and son of longtime manager Kern Mattei.
As someone who grew up at the Mai-Kai, Varua was perfect to lead the current group through their performance that also included more alumni guests featured throughout. After the traditional audience participation dance, two alumni took the stage for Ke Kali Nei Au (The Hawaiian Wedding Song).
Next came an old favorite, the drum dance of Tahiti, featuring the spectacular rhythmic hips of both current and alumni female dancers. Not to be out-done, the male dancers had a secret weapon as they prepared for the show’s fiery finale, the signature Samoan fire knife dance. Originating from ancient warrior traditions, the performers spin a machete-like knife with towels wrapped on the ends, then lit on fire.
Performing on the Mai-Kai stage for the first time since the 1990s, three-time world champion fire knife dancer VJ wowed the audience and fellow performers alike with his incredible dexterity with the knife, spinning it effortlessly at high speed, tossing it high in the air, behind his back and between his legs. [WATCH VIDEO]
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.
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)
“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)
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.
You know the summer event season is underway when The Hukilau blows through South Florida in early June, serving up a whirlwind weekend of live music, expert symposiums, pool parties, vendors, and cocktails crafted by notable bartenders from around the world. As a bonus this year, hundreds of Hukilau passholders were invited to attend an event inside freshly renovated spaces of the historic Mai-Kai restaurant for the first time in five years. RELATED:The Hukilau 2024 live coverage, photos and video from social media
A power trio of authors at The Hukilau 2024 (from left): Matt Pietrek, David Wondrich and Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / June 8, 2024)
The Hukilau 2024 – June 6-9 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach. Featuring live music (Messer Chups, Surfer Joe, L’Exotighost, Slowey and the Boats, Lords of Atlantis, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, The Mermers, Skinny Jimmy Stingray), symposiums and classes (Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Ian “Rum Ambassador” Burrell, David Wondrich, Matt Pietrek, Daniele Dalla Pola, Spike Marble, Marie King, Lucky Munro), 20+ guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
The location is also hard to beat. While South Florida’s heat and humidity can be stifling at this time of year, the location of a boutique hotel directly on the Atlantic Ocean with its gentle breezes and beachfront access makes up for that. The Hukilau takes over the entire 140-room Beachcomber Resort for three nights and parts of four days, meaning the immersion in a tropical paradise is complete. Attendees spill over into other beachfront hotels, and classes were also held this year in a nearby event space.
After more than 20 years (this was the 21st live event in South Florida and 22nd overall), event attendees (known as “villagers”) know what to expect with the weather. Sporadic showers are welcome to cool things off, but this year was even hotter than usual, averaging around 90 in the day and 78 in the evening. Many activities are held outdoors, which can be a challenge.
The Hukilau’s Saturday’s pool party at the Beachcomber Resort. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / June 8, 2024)
But the resort’s pools and shaded areas, not to mention all the cool beverages, gave guests ample ways to beat the heat. Other than an early Saturday storm, the event was free of rain and nobody seemed to mind the challenges Mother Nature presented. Like Tiki itself, the event was the perfect escape from the daily grind.
As detailed in our full preview in March, the lineup of bands performing this year had an unprecedented global flair. Surf and exotica groups dominated, and musicians hailing from Russia, Spain, Italy and around the United States made the trek to perform on the main poolside stage as well as several other spots around the Beachcomber property.
The performances lived up to the hype and anticipation with all the bands delivering top-notch sets, from the Mermers on Thursday night to the Saturday night headlining hijinx of The Disasternauts. Saturday’s early afternoon rain slowed the momentum but couldn’t stop the party. Slowey and the Boats shifted to an evening set under the courtyard tent, where they also played Friday night to give the bungalow parties a perfect laid-back soundtrack. They also performed poolside on Friday afternoon.
Russia’s Messer Chups enjoy their debut set at The Hukilau on Friday night. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / June 7, 2024)
Messer Chups, L’Exotighost and Lords of Atlantis all played The Hukilau for the first time, while Surfer Joe made his second appearance. They peformed on the main stage both Friday and Saturday, allowing villagers more opportunity to catch these rare treats. Hukilau stalwarts The Intoxicators also played twice, headlining Thursday night under the South Tiki Hut and returning for a blistering afternoon set poolside on Saturday. And don’t forget local guitar slinger Skinny Jimmy Stingray, who kicked off Saturday’s party on the main stage.
Below you’ll find photos of all the bands presented in chronological order. We also captured six of the nine bands on video. You can watch the full song clips below, or click here and bookmark our Hukilau 2024 playlist on YouTube for future enjoyment.
Returning to The Hukilau seven years after their 2017 debut, The Mermers bought tons of talent and creativity to their set of instrumental alternative surf and exotica. The foursome from Gainesville, Fla., has two albums to its credit and performs extensively across the region.
The Mermers open The Hukilau’s Thursday night festivities under the South Tiki Hut. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / June 6, 2024)
Hailing from Madrid, Spain, L’Exotighost brought a new spin on classic exotica to The Hukilau with a distinctive style that employed guitar, drums and bass ukulele, plus vibraphone, theremin and other exotic sounds. The four-piece band’s poolside sets Friday and Saturday featured songs from its latest album, Kamongo (2022), available on Hi-Tide Recordings.
L’Exotighost performs Friday afternoon on The Hukilau’s main stage. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / June 7, 2024)
