Post #517259 by GatorRob on Sun, Mar 14, 2010 1:23 PM

Oh, there is one thing I wish the Mai-Kai would bring back on a regular basis. They still do it on occasion. Sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't. And that is: ice shells, ice cones, etc. I know they can't always get the glassware that these drinks used to be served in, but they can still do the sculpted ice if they want to. We know it's time consuming, but it adds so much to the presentation (which, by the way, enhances the perceived quality of the drink).

So, our dear Mai-Kai family, bring out the ice!

I count 4 ice sculptures in that picture.

Now let's line 'em up (girls AND drinks) and behold from this late 50s/early 60s shot...

(Sorry for the break in the picture, but it's a really W-I-D-E shot.) Are all those drinks pictured better than the ones you can get in the Mai-Kai today? Hard to know for sure. The rums that were available back then seem to have been generally better than what is available now. We know that courtesy of this jaw-dropping post from a year ago over on Jeff Berry's blog. But, the situation has improved a lot in recent years with more premium rums available now than have been available in years. But those premium rums are expensive and demand a certain appreciative clientele to make it financially feasible. The Mai-Kai's drinks are already expensive to cover the enormous overhead expense of just keeping the lights on, the water flowing and the torches lit. I'm doubtful the average Mai-Kai visitor would tolerate much more in cost if that's what it took to increase the quality. (Not saying they need to, just thinking aloud.)