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 vintage 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 rum’s marketing company, Roneros Rum Brand Makers.
More on The Atomic Grog
• Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening Guide
MAI-KAI RUM NO. 1: Frequently asked questions
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).
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.
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.
What does it taste like?