{"id":7201,"date":"2014-01-20T16:15:36","date_gmt":"2014-01-20T21:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=7201"},"modified":"2023-09-25T18:19:30","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T22:19:30","slug":"mai-kai-cocktail-review-the-new-tiki-swizzle-is-a-sweet-and-savory-addition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2014\/01\/20\/mai-kai-cocktail-review-the-new-tiki-swizzle-is-a-sweet-and-savory-addition\/","title":{"rendered":"Mai-Kai cocktail review: Tiki Swizzle bows out, joins list of ‘lost cocktials’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated June 2018<\/em>
\nSee below:<\/B> Our Tiki Swizzle review<\/A> | UPDATE:<\/B><\/FONT> Official recipe<\/A>
\nRelated:<\/B> New cocktail menu unveiled at anniversary party<\/A> | Mai-Kai cocktail guide<\/A>
\nNEW: <\/B><\/FONT> The Mai-Kai updates bar menu, adds classic ‘lost’ cocktail<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2014, when The Mai-Kai rolled out the first major update of its classic menu of tropical drinks in decades, it also made the rare introduction of a new cocktail. The Tiki Swizzle also held the distinction of being the only drink on the menu to feature spiced rum.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Tiki Swizzle in September 2016. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, the Tiki Swizzle’s a run on the menu didn’t last long. It was removed during the next major menu update in May 2018, replaced by the iconic Suffering Bastard<\/A>.<\/p>\n

While four years may be a long run on a menu at a modern craft cocktail bar, it’s merely the blink of an eye at The Mai-Kai. Most of the drinks have been on the menu for decades, and a majority date back more than 60 years<\/a> to the restaurant’s 1956 inception.<\/p>\n

The Tiki Swizzle now joins a small group of “lost cocktails”<\/a> that were removed from the menu over the years. While certainly not as iconic as the Demerara Float<\/A> or Liquid Gold<\/A>, it does have a back-story and history that connects it to the current Tiki revival.<\/p>\n

The drink was introduced at The Hukilau in June 2013<\/a>, created by The Mai-Kai for Kahakai Tiki rum<\/a>. It was promoted in the months that followed on special table cards in The Molokai bar and proved to be so popular that it made its way onto the revamped menu.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Tiki Swizzle was added to The Mai-Kai’s redesigned cocktail menu in 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The inclusion of spiced rum, always popular with the general public and the tourist-heavy crowd that frequents The Mai-Kai, probably had a lot to do with its sudden popularity. Sales of spiced rum has surged over the past decade, and it’s only natural that The Mai-Kai would create a drink to meet demand.<\/p>\n

It also gave those seeking out a strong drink a sweeter option. It may be the sweetest of all the strong drinks, or the strongest of the sweet drinks. It’s sort of a mash-up of the Mara-Amu<\/A> and Hidden Pearl<\/A>, and if you fancy those two medium-strength drinks you’ll probably enjoy this entry-level strong drink.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that rum also became the cocktail’s downfall. Kahakai Tiki’s promotional efforts ceased, and the rum became unavailable to The Mai-Kai. Substitute rums were used and the Tiki Swizzle lost its initial buzz. When the time came for a menu update, it was the natural choice to bow out and make way for a classic that had become a favorite during sporadic appearances during “lost cocktail” events and The Mai-Kai’s “Flashback Friday” promotion in 2017.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, especially in the world of classic Tiki cocktails, new and trendy is not necessarily a recipe for longevity. However, if you’re a fan of the Tiki Swizzle, we’re told that it remains in the bar’s inventory and you should be able to order it as an off-menu drink. <\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The official menu description (2014-2018)<\/FONT><\/I>
\n\"Tiki<\/a>
\nTIKI SWIZZLE<\/b><\/p>\n

Made with Kahakai Tiki Rum, fresh juices and homemade syrups, this concoction is sure to please.<\/p>\n

Okole Maluna Society review and rating<\/B><\/p>\n

Size:<\/B> Medium<\/p>\n

Potency:<\/B> Strong<\/p>\n

Flavor profile:<\/B> Lime, passion fruit, spicy rum.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Tiki Swizzle in January 2014. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Review:<\/B> Refreshing and easy to drink for a strong cocktail, with a tart and sweet flavor punch.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/B> 3 out of 5 stars (see how it ranks)<\/a><\/p>\n

Ancestry:<\/B> A new drink introduced at The Hukilau in 2013, concocted by The Mai-Kai’s bar staff to showcase a new spiced rum.<\/p>\n

Bilge:<\/B> Before the Tiki Swizzle, the only other new recipe to crack The Mai-Kai’s lineup of classic tropical drinks was The Hukilau<\/A>, named for the annual Polynesian Pop festival that has called The Mai-Kai home since 2003.<\/p>\n

Agree or disagree? Share your reviews and comments below!<\/B>
\n

<\/div> <\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\"Tiki<\/a>
Tiki Swizzle by The Atomic Grog, January 2014. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OFFICIAL MAI-KAI RECIPE<\/strong>
\n(Adjusted by Hurricane Hayward)<\/em><\/p>\n

TIKI SWIZZLE<\/strong><\/p>\n