Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
Miami Rum Renaissance Festival

Tiki Evolution: The Historic Rums and Iconic Cocktails of the Mai-Kai with Kern Mattei and Cory Starr.

New beverage director Cory Star mixed up three cocktails and joined longtime Mai-Kai manager Kern Mattei in a discussion of the historic cocktails and menus at the South Florida restaurant.

More on The Atomic Grog
• 15th Miami Rum Renaissance Festival features tastings of elite brands, Mai-Kai seminar, plus more
• Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening Guide
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist

June 6-9, 2024
The Hukilau
in Pompano Beach

It was an honor to lead special guided tours for passholders at the historic Mai-Kai restaurant as part of the annual Tiki weekender in South Florida. At the Beachcomber Resort, I had the pleasure of assisting Will Anders with his presentation on his Tiki carving career.

Full coverage on The Atomic Grog
• Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
• Hukilau villagers return to the Mai-Kai
• Mai-Kai from the Outside In

April 5-7, 2024
Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando

Return to Paradise: the Mai-Kai Rises Again

Mai-Kai Cocktails: Tiki History in a Glass

Presentations hosted by Jim "Hurricane" Hayward, with manager Kern Mattei, public relations director Pia Dahlquist, creative director "Typhoon Tommy" Allsmiller, and other members of the Mai-Kai team.

The Atomic Grog blog:
* The Mai-Kai reveals new images, plans for restoration at Orlando event, continues $15M project
* The first Tiki-a-Go-Go is a retro roadtrip through mid-century culture, appreciation

Aug. 2-6, 2023
Tiki Oasis in San Diego

The Derby Daiquiri and Beyond: How to Create Your Own Classic

Tiki History Reimagined: The Restoration and Reopening of the Mai-Kai

Exclusive seminars featuring Jim "Hurricane" Hayward with the Mai-Kai's Kern Mattei and "Typhoon Tommy" Allsmiller

June 8-11, 2023
The Hukilau in South Florida

The Hukilau highlights: Photos and memories from Tiki weekender

New details on the Mai-Kai renovations, new merchandise revealed at Inuhele 2023 in Atlanta

New images and renderings of the historic restaurant's multimillion-dollar refurbishment unveiled during presentation at Tiki weekender. Attendees also got a sneak preview of new mugs and other merchandise along with a new signature rum. >>> FULL COVERAGE

VIDEO: Deconstructing Kohala Bay
Hurricane Hayward joined the Austin Rum Society online to reveal several new rum blends that hope to duplicate the Mai-Kai's late, great dark Jamaican mixing rum. In the video below, we also enjoyed a Rum Barrel featuring the new recipe and discussed the history of the Mai-Kai ...

A new Zombie becomes final challenge for The Hukilau villagers

Upon completion of The Hukilau, villagers had one Final Destination: the "Hereafter Party at Death or Gory in Hellray Beach." To bring the theme full circle, The Atomic Grog presented a Zombie to end all Zombies.
>>> Event overview | Photos, recap
RECIPE: The Final (Destination) Zombie

The Mutiny is a worthy foe in the battle of the tropical titans

A companion to the Black Magic, this tropical drink created by Mariano Licudine is a classic in its own right.
>>> See the history, review and recipes
>>> Tribute to the Mai-Kai's Mutiny, version 3.0
VIDEO: The Mutiny on Spike's Breezeway Cocktail Hour

Take a trip down the Tiki Trail for a lethal new Zombie recipe

It was a honor mixing up an original cocktail on the longest-running weekly online gathering of Tiki enthusiasts.
>>> Check out and order the special merchandise featuring new Zombie artwork
RECIPE: Tiki Trail Zombie from The Atomic Grog

The Atomic Grog 10th anniversary: Beware! Deadly Zombies ahead

After 10 years and more than 1 million page views, we take a look back at the blog's best posts and most popular cocktails. A special anniversary Zombie kicks off 10 months of deliciously dangerous drinks.
>>> RECAP: A decade of The Atomic Grog
>>> Tiki Top 10: Most popular blogs | More blog posts worth reading
Most popular cocktails | More drinks worth trying
RECIPE: Revenge of the Atomic Zombie Cocktail

Mai-Kai cocktail review: The Black Magic emerges from the darkness as a true classic

Inspired by one of the Mai-Kai's Gallons To Go, we've mixed up a new version of this classic Tiki cocktail.
>>> See the full story
The Atomic Grog on Spike's Breezeway Cocktail Hour

Mai-Kai cocktail review: Jet Pilot soars over its ancestors with flying colors

This latest and greatest version of the Mai-Kai's Jet Pilot should be approached with caution. It's big, bold and bad to the bone. See the full story
>>> The Atomic Grog serves the Jet Pilot on Tiki Trail Live

The Atomic Grog joins The Trader Brandon Transmissions

VIDEO, RECIPE: Watch the live interview, see the new Barrel O' Rum recipe
>>> Check out our Tiki Tuesday chat with Brandon Kleyla on his Instagram page

Hurricane Hayward on Inside the Desert Oasis Room

Listen to the "Covid Chronicles" episode recorded live with Adrian Eustaquio as The Atomic Grog blogger made his way to the Mai-Kai to pick up Gallons to Go.

VIDEO & PHOTOS: Skinny Jimmy Stingray talks classic surf, performs at the Mai-Kai
South Florida's Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band rocked The Molokai bar during a special Retro Rekindled monthly community gathering at the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. The live set followed a presentation with The Atomic Grog's Hurricane Hayward about the guitarist's musical journey from punk to instrumental surf.
>>>> See new video and photos from the event

The Atomic Grog presents new class and symposium at The Hukilau 2019

Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog took guests on an virtual journey to the Caribbean to learn about the key rums and styles that have dominated the Mai-Kai’s acclaimed cocktails for more than 60 years. He was joined by rum expert Stephen Remsberg for an Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy class at Pier Sixty-Six hotel, and by Cocktail Wonk writer Matt Pietrek for an on-stage symposium at the Mai-Kai Grand Finale.
>>> Hear the Mai-Kai symposium on the Inside the Desert Oasis Room podcast
>>> See the full preview plus 2018 event recap and photos

Mai-Kai Walking Tour on Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast
It was an honor to participate in the Mai-Kai history tour with carver Will Anders and manager Kern Mattei. It’s a real Tiki museum audio walking tour. CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE PODCAST

Special event: 'Demerara Rum - The Mai-Kai's Secret Weapon'
The Atomic Grog was pleased to present a special happy-hour talk during the Mai-Kai Takeover event
on Jan. 19, presented by the Magical Tiki Meet-Up and Retro Rekindled.
>>> Full event recap, including photos and highlights of our Demerara rum discussion

The Atomic Grog on Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast
Listen to Hurricane Hayward and Texas Tiki and cocktail podcaster David Phantomatic in the Samoa Room at the Mai-Kai as they discuss (what else) the historic tropical drinks and influence of South Florida's Polynesian Palace.

Sold out! How to Mix Like the Mai-Kai: I'm humbled and honored to have the firstOkole Maluna Cocktail Academy class to sell out at The Hukilau 2018 in June!
>>> See the event photos

Hurricane Hayward at the Mai-Kai's 60th annversary celebration in December 2016 in Fort Lauderdale.
>>> See the full coverage on the blog