Post #772063 by Hurricane Hayward on Sat, Jan 14, 2017 11:56 PM

Next up, a re-examination of the lost cocktails ...

The Demerara Float was exactly as we remembered it from Swanky's book release party in September, so no need to elaborate. Here's the full back-story, reviews and recipes:
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/09/07/lost-cocktails-of-the-mai-kai-the-classic-demerara-float-rises-again/

The Impatient Virgin, which hasn't been served since The Hukilau 2013, also stuck close to the same recipe. It's worth noting that this classic cocktail was served strained into a martini glass this time around, which is similar to its original configuration. So I revisited the tribute recipe to confirm its accuracy ...

http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/09/28/lost-cocktails-of-the-mai-kai-uncovering-the-influential-impatient-virgin/

The one surprise of the trio was Last Rites, which also made its last official appearance in June 2013. I had the opportunity to taste it again in 2014, but there was a distinctive difference this time around. A burst of rich molasses flavor that had me perplexed. Other people I asked tasted the same flavor, which we originally thought was a molasses syrup. But there was no historical precedent for that particular ingredient, so I was left scratching my head until I talked to owner Dave Levy. He revealed the secret: Not a syrup, but a rum: Of course, it's Cruzan Blackstrap. He said they added this distinctive spirit to spice up the rum blend, and indeed it does that. I like both versions, which are now both featured as tribute recipes ...

http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2011/10/29/mai-kai-cocktail-review-the-classic-last-rites-returns-from-the-grave/

Okole maluna!