Michael DeMahy Archives - The Atomic Grog

February 24, 2025March 27, 2025

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

Updated March 24, 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 joins spirits festival, welcomes brands for cocktail and rum tasting events NEW

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

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Jump to more news below
• 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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The Mai-Kai's beverage director, Cory Starr (left), served up cocktails with bartender Joey Sunshine during the Tropical Spirits Festival at Fort Lauderdale's Bonnet House Museum & Gardens on March 9. — The Mai-Kai’s beverage director, Cory Starr (left), served up cocktails with bartender Joey Sunshine during the Tropical Spirits Festival at Fort Lauderdale’s Bonnet House Museum & Gardens on March 9.

Mai-Kai joins spirits festival, welcomes brands for cocktail and rum tasting events

Posted March 24, 2025

The Mai-Kai and new beverage director Cory Starr stepped up their efforts to being spirits and cocktail education to the masses in March with an appearance at a local festival, two nights of special drinks in the outdoor Bora Bora Bar, plus a rum tasting for staff and guests in the main showroom.
Previous coverage: Photos & video: Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities

Cocktails presented by the Mai-Kai at the Tropical Spirits Festival in Fort Lauderdale included the Tahitian Drum (left) and Royal Hawaiian. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward /March 9, 2025)

Tropical Spirits Festival and after-party at Mai-Kai

We ran into Starr and bartender Joey Sunshine at the first Tropical Spirits Festival, held deep inside the historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens near Fort Lauderdale Beach. The event was organized by Robin and Robert A. Burr, whose pioneering Miami Rum Renaissance festival has been a mainstay on the spirits festival circuit since 2009.

Before the Mai-Kai reopened in November, Starr and manager Kern Mattei joined the Atomic Grog for a special presentation at the 15th annual event in Coral Gables. Rather than just concentrate on rum, this new event celebrated “all things tropical” and featured brands and cocktails that also spotlighted tequila, gin, brandy, vodka and more.

The setting was perfect. The Bonnet House estate dates back to 1920 and features historic buildings and natural areas that showcase South Florida’s lush surroundings. Hundreds of attendees enjoyed dozens of booths featuring samples of spirits and cocktails.

After the Tropical Spirits Festival, the Mai-Kai welcomed Adrienne Stoner of Maison Ferrand and Planteray Rum (right) for an after-party in the Bora Bora Bar attended by enthusiasts such as Emily Driscoll from Tiki-a-Go-Go and The Hukilau. Click for a larger view of the menu. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / March 9, 2025)

Starr and Sunshine served up two Mai-Kai cocktails (one classic and one new) plus one Hawaiian standard. This allowed them to feature rum (Planter’s Punch), tequila (Tahitian Drum), and gin (Royal Hawaiian). The Planter’s Punch has been on the Mai-Kai menu since 1956, while the Tahitian Drum is a Starr creation added to the new menu for the November launch.

The Royal Hawaiian, created in 1948 at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki Beach, exceeded our expectations. It was perhaps the best sip of the day, a perfectly balanced tropical delight featuring fantastic house-made orgeat by lead bartender Michael DeMahy.

Later that evening, Starr and the Mai-Kai hosted Adrienne Stoner, community rum liaison for Maison Ferrand, for the Topical Spirits Festival after-party. The French company’s rums and some of its other spirits were featured in an expansive booth at the festival.

At the Mai-Kai, Starr took advantage of this bounty of products to craft a menu of five drinks – three Mai-Kai classics and two unique twists on famous standards. They were available exclusively during the 7-10 p.m. event. We were lucky enough to taste four of the five and gave them all high marks. Here’s the lineup:

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

October 30, 2024April 17, 2025

UPDATES: Latest news and full coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening

Mcbiff introduces new Mai-Kai art print, merchandise during special event

Updated April 16, 2025
This blog post will feature continually updated information from official sources at the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida. It will also include in-depth coverage and photos from journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward, along with information gathered from other reliable sources. Bookmark and return for the most accurate and complete guide to the reopening of the Tiki landmark, est. 1956.
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive
SEE ALSO: Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights

LATEST NEWS BELOW: Mcbiff introduces ‘Mystery at the Mai-Kai’ print, merchandise during special event NEW

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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A post shared by Jim Hayward (@theatomicgrog)

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Jump to more news below
• Mai-Kai gives food menus a major facelift with all new bar, dining room dishes
• February-March 2025 update: Artists continue working on Mai-Kai design projects
• Inuhele event recap: Paradise Reimagined: Deep Inside the Mai-Kai Restoration
• Videos: A moment of zen
• Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
• January 2025 update: Tiki gardens and new dining options open as Mai-Kai menus get a refresh
• 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: Answers to frequently asked questions
• Mai-Kai celebrates grand reopening, return of signature dinner shows
• Mai-Kai hosts preview of bars in advance of grand reopening
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist

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California artist Mcbiff signs prints of his new "Mystery at the Mai-Kai" painting during the release event April 11 in the Mai-Kai Trading Company. He later debated the merits of the Black Magic vs. Mcbiff's Magic. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward) — California artist Mcbiff signs prints of his new “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” painting during the release event April 11 in the Mai-Kai Trading Company. He later debated the merits of the Black Magic vs. Mcbiff’s Magic. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)

Mcbiff introduces ‘Mystery at the Mai-Kai’ print, merchandise during special event

Posted April 16, 2025

The Mai-Kai hosted Mcbiff for the official release of his “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” print and two nights of merchandise signings in the restaurant gift shop April 11-12. The California artist met with fans of his work and the Mai-Kai as they purchased an array of new items while enjoying special Mcbiff cocktails created for the event.

Upon entering the Mai-Kai Trading Company, guests were immediately enchanted by the 30-by-45-inch framed giclee print (No. 1 of 150) hanging just inside the entrance. Brightly illuminated, this immediately became a new photo spot. It didn’t take long for prints No. 2 and No. 3 to sell for $1,800 each to lucky collectors.

Beverage director Cory Starr joins Mcbiff for the first photo in front of the artist's first "Mystery at the Mai-Kai" print, which hangs in the restaurant's gift shop. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / April 11, 2025) — Beverage director Cory Starr joins Mcbiff for the first photo in front of the artist’s first “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” print, which hangs in the restaurant’s gift shop. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward / April 11, 2025)

The printing and framing were done by the same company that handles Mcbiff’s work for the Disney Parks, a relationship that has enhanced his stature in the Tiki art world. All of the museum-quality special editions that were available sold on the first day. More will be available in the gift shop soon.

Much more plentiful are the standard matted 14-by-18-inch prints, which continue to be available at the Mai-Kai along with Mcbiff prints released at the reopening in November. The first painting highlights much of the signature imagery of the Mai-Kai in Mcbiff’s own colorful style, including the unique A-frame building; familiar Tiki carvings, hanging lamps and jade tile; the Mystery Drink and Mystery Girl; and founding owners Bob and Jack Thornton, along with Bob’s widow Mireille.

“Mystery at the Mai-Kai” takes it up a notch, presenting a more detailed and avant-garde South Seas landscape that features many of the restaurant’s most well-known locations, past and present. There’s the showroom stage in the center, flanked by dining rooms (New Guinea, Tonga, Hawaii, Moorea, Tahiti, Samoa), the Trading Company, and the Molokai Bar. Look for cool details, such as the signature cannibal trio atop the large Mai-Kai sign in the bottom right.

This treasure map of sorts contains new additions, including the Bora Bora and Okole Maluna bars, as well as historic features such as the Chinese ovens. Created with Mcbiff’s trademark whimsical flourishes, the artwork is both reverential and fun. It took Mcbiff more than six months to complete the project.

Mai-Kai bartender Michael DeMahy presentes Mcbiff with a trio of special cocktails he created for the artist's print release April 11. At right, Mcbiff and fiancée Anna toast the — Mai-Kai bartender Michael DeMahy presentes Mcbiff with a trio of special cocktails he created for the artist’s print release April 11. At right, Mcbiff and fiancée Anna toast the “Mystery at the Mai-Kai” event with the Mcbiff’s Magic cocktail. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)

Some of the artwork is also featured on glassware and tote bags. The design from the reopening was used to create aloha shirts, glasses, totes, and pillow cases, all still available for purchase.

Continue reading “UPDATES: Latest news and full coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening”