{"id":28918,"date":"2023-07-31T14:22:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T18:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=28918"},"modified":"2025-07-31T00:16:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T04:16:13","slug":"tiki-oasis-here-we-come-the-mai-kai-team-joins-the-atomic-grog-for-two-special-presentations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2023\/07\/31\/tiki-oasis-here-we-come-the-mai-kai-team-joins-the-atomic-grog-for-two-special-presentations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mai-Kai team joins The Atomic Grog for two special presentations at Tiki Oasis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated July 31, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n

The Mai-Kai and The Atomic Grog are headed to Tiki Oasis<\/a>! We’re honored to be joined by manager Kern Mattei and creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller at the world’s original and largest Tiki weekender Aug. 2-6 in San Diego.<\/p>\n

NEW:<\/B><\/FONT> Flashback & photos: Tiki Oasis 2023<\/a>
\nJUMP BELOW:<\/b> Social media coverage, photos<\/a>
\n• Sneak preview of The Mai-Kai seminars<\/a>
\n• Full event preview and daily highlights<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Tiki<\/a><\/p>\n

The 23rd annual event at the Town and Country Resort<\/a> features live entertainment (Man or Astroman, The Tikiyaki Orchestra, Messer Chups, The New Les Baxter Orchestra, Shorty’s Swingin’ Coconuts, King Kukulele, Medusirena), seminars (Sven Kirsten, Charles Phoenix, Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Ian Burrell), artists, vendors, and much more.<\/p>\n

Tiki Oasis guests will enjoy five nights and four days of poolside lounging, fashion shows, room parties, live bands and DJs, a curated art exhibit, a gigantic Tiki marketplace, tropical cocktails curated by top mixologists, plus much more.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for event tickets, ranging from $40 for Wednesday to $499 for a deluxe Wednesday-Sunday pass. If you have kids in tow, don’t fret. Tickets cost just $35 for ages 6 to 17. Children 5 under are free.<\/p>\n

Click below for tickets to the seminars, which must be purchased separately. <\/a><\/p>\n

**************************************************<\/strong><\/div>\n

THE MAI-KAI AT TIKI OASIS<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\"Jim<\/a>
Jim “Hurricane” Hayward (left) is participating in Tiki Oasis 2023 with two key members of The Mai-Kai team: manager Kern Mattei and creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller. (Mai-Kai photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the first time in event history, South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai will be on hand for not one, but two official presentations. Last year, designer and artist Allsmiller<\/a> taught a sold-out, two-day shelf-building class shortly after diving into his work restoring The Mai-Kai<\/a>. This year, he’ll be featuring one of his restored vintage lamps from The Mai-Kai in a lamp show that runs all weekend.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Hayward and Mattei will present a seminar on one of The Mai-Kai’s most iconic cocktails, the Derby Daiquiri<\/a>. On Saturday, they will be joined by Allsmiller for a presentation jam-packed with the latest information on the restoration and reopening.<\/p>\n

Here are are more details on the events:<\/p>\n

The Derby Daiquiri and Beyond: How to Create Your Own Classic<\/em><\/strong>
\nHosted by Kern Mattei and Jim “Hurricane” Hayward
\n2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, $45 [BUY TICKETS]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"In<\/a>
In 1958, Mariano Licudine created the Derby Daiquiri, one of the most celebrated drinks of the mid-century tropical cocktail boom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Mai-Kai’s Derby Daiquiri was one of the most celebrated cocktails of the mid-century, a simple riff on the Cuban classic by master mixologist Mariano Licudine<\/a>. Six decades later, it remains one of the most popular drinks on the historic restaurant’s menu.<\/a> It also provides a case study on how a vintage recipe can be enhanced by just a few simple tweaks, creating something new and exciting. Join The Mai-Kai’s longtime manager, Kern Mattei, and cocktail blogger Jim “Hurricane” Hayward<\/a> for an examination of Licudine’s genius as they guide you toward creating your own signature classic.<\/p>\n

About Kern and Jim<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kern Mattei<\/a> was born into The Mai-Kai family and has worked there since his youth, from barback and bartender to the past three decades as manager. His father was the GM before him, and his mother performed in the stage show. His unique position makes him intimately familiar with the restaurant’s famous cocktails, their history and the secret recipes. During the current refurbishment, he runs the takeout cocktail program, providing quarts and gallons of classics like the Barrel O’ Rum<\/a> and Black Magic<\/a> to thirsty locals. Blogger and journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward<\/a> has covered The Mai-Kai for more than a decade, documenting and recreating the cocktail recipes in exacting detail. As we approach a late 2023 reopening, The Atomic Grog has become a key source of information on The Mai-Kai restoration project.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Mariano<\/a>
Mariano Licudine serves the Derby Daiquiri in Puerto Rico in 1959. The seminar will reveal The Mai-Kai’s relationship with the Rums of Puerto Rico trade group. (From Potions of the Caribbean, courtesy of The Mai-Kai)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seminar sneak preview<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect during the first-ever official Mai-Kai cocktail seminar at Tiki Oasis:<\/p>\n

• Three different Daiquiris will be served by the Tiki Oasis cocktail crew, including the Derby, as we reveal and dissect each recipe.<\/p>\n

• Rare and never-before-seen images from the archives will be shown, including Mattei family photos.<\/p>\n

• We’ll take the most detailed look yet at the creation and explosive popularity of the Derby Daiquiri, known as “the $100,000 Drink.”<\/p>\n

• The seminar will conclude with the premiere of a new recipe created especially for Tiki Oasis and San Diego.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
\nThe Derby Daiquiri: The Mai-Kai’s \u2018$100,000 drink’ is worth its weight in gold<\/a><\/strong>
\nA deep dive into the fascinating history of the cocktail that made The Mai-Kai and its head mixologist famous.
\n>>> UPDATED HISTORY, REVIEW AND MORE<\/a><\/strong>
\nTribute recipe<\/a> | The Derby Daiquiri on Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Lost<\/a>
\nLost Cocktails of The Mai-Kai: Classic Daiquiri lost favor when Cuba fell, but influence endures<\/a><\/strong>
\nRevisit The Mai-Kai’s version of a classic, including a recently unveiled recipe that links back to Don the Beachcomber.
\n>>> UPDATED HISTORY & REVIEW<\/a> | AUTHENTIC RECIPE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

More on The Atomic Grog<\/strong>
\n• Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide<\/a>
\n• More on the Daiquiri, plus 18 other recipes in the A-Z cocktail guide<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The
The Mai-Kai is in the midst of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar restoration and renovation project. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ July 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tiki History Reimagined: The Restoration and Reopening of The Mai-Kai<\/em><\/strong>
\nJim “Hurricane” Hayward with “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and Kern Mattei
\n2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, $20 [BUY TICKETS]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Mai-Kai is a miraculous survivor. The South Florida historic landmark endured a near-catastrophic roof collapse in late 2020 but found new owners with deep pockets and an ambitious vision to preserve it for generations to come. When the restoration of the 66-year-old Polynesian palace is complete, it will be meticulously returned to its former glory and also include millions of dollars in enhancements that respect the past and charge boldly into the future. In this multimedia presentation, embedded journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward of The Atomic Grog blog will take you behind the scenes at The Mai-Kai. He’ll be joined by two key members of The Mai-Kai team: Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller will offer unique insights into the painstaking restoration efforts, while longtime manager Kern Mattei will provide up-to-the-minute news on the renovation project, along with his unique perspective on Mai-Kai history.<\/p>\n

\"Creative
Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller (right) has been joined by fellow Florida artist and craftsman Scott “Flounder” Scheidly for the ambitious job of restoring the interior of The Mai-Kai, including more than 100 vintage lamps. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ July 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

About The Mai-Kai team<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jim “Hurricane” Hayward is a veteran journalist and blogger, best known for The Atomic Grog blog – covering Tiki events, music, art cocktails and culture since 2011. Along with its popular Mai-Kai cocktail guide, the blog has become the go-to source of information on the landmark restaurant’s closing, sale, restoration, and reopening. Typhoon Tommy is a multiple Thea Award-winning scenic artist with 13 years of experience in the theme park industry. After turning his talents full-time to creating magical escapes in the world of Tiki, he became creative director and designer for The Mai-Kai renovation project in 2022. Kern Mattei grew up at the historic restaurant during its heyday and now leads the efforts to modernize the infrastructure while maintaining as much of its original beauty as possible. He has been general manager since 1993, following in the footsteps of his father, Kern Mattei Sr. (1964-1991).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Restored<\/a>
Restored lamps and decor in the Tonga Room, one of The Mai-Kai’s eight elaborately themed dining areas. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ May 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seminar sneak preview<\/strong><\/p>\n

The seminar will be filled with many new and exciting details and insights. Here are a few special surprises guests can expect:<\/p>\n

• An authentic Mai-Kai cocktail featuring the restaurant’s proprietary rum blend will kick off the festivities.<\/p>\n

• New images from Mattei and his family archives will be shown.<\/p>\n

• Exclusive photos and video from inside The Mai-Kai will include brand new footage being shot this week.<\/p>\n

\"Manager<\/a>
Manager Kern Mattei documents progress in the restoration of The Mai-Kai’s iconic A-frame roof in April 2023. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

• A detailed look at plans for the reimagination will be explained by the key people on the ground.<\/p>\n

• Details on the reopening’s two phases will be explained.<\/p>\n

• Guests well get a peek at The Mai-Kai’s new cocktail menu, merchandise and signature rum.<\/p>\n

Both seminars are sponsored by Puerto Rico’s Don Q Rum<\/a>, one of those used in the original Derby Daiquiri.<\/p>\n

Attendees will receive Mai-Kai gIveaways during both seminars. Brand new merchandise will be available for purchase afterward.<\/p>\n

We hope to see you there!<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jim Hayward (@theatomicgrog)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n