Post #791048 by Hurricane Hayward on Thu, Nov 8, 2018 12:54 PM

Bartenders from across the eastern half of the United States faced off on Oct. 30 in the regional finals of the second annual Chairman's Reserve Mai Tai Challenge at The Mai-Kai. The 12 competitors came from four states, from Illinois to Florida, for the chance to move on to the global finals in St. Lucia, the home of Chairman's Reserve Rum.

The judges included Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, Staci Town (Florida state business manager, Breakthru Beverage), Benjamin Jones (North American managing director of Spiribam, which controls the Chairman’s Reserve brand), plus yours truly!

It was an action-packed event with some very creative presentations and delicious cocktails. Here's just a small selection of photos:

Fisherman's Allure by Aiden Dillon from Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago

Miss Congeniality by Lindsay Chapman of Belle Epoque and The Old Absinthe House in New Orleans

Trying Mai Luck by Sophia Alba from Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago

My Death by Michael DeMahy from Death or Glory in Delray Beach, Fla.

Gregory Schutt (Crush XI in Melbourne, Fla., and The Fat Snook in Cocoa Beach) pulled off an upset victory to earn a trip to the finals in St. Lucia in 2019. The Peanut Butter Banana Mai Tai was an outside-the-box creation featuring two Chairman's Reserve rums, lime, peanut butter infused orgeat, banana liqueur and topped with marshmallow fluff. He impressed the judges by using a power drill as a mixer and a blowtorch to brulee the marshmallow fluff. Here's more on his drink:
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/style/suzy-leonard/2018/11/01/melbourne-bartender-creates-award-winning-peanut-butter-banana-mai-tai/1844454002/

He was a unanimous winner, but a host of others were close behind. The consensus No. 2 was Aiden Dillon, while Miami's Sam Wiener (Lost Boy Dry Goods / The Bend Liquor Lounge) finished third. I also gave high marks to Jesse Carr from Balise Tavern in New Orleans for his creative coffee and mezcal Mai Tai. I'll be posting a full recap with my take on all the drinks and festivities. In the meantime, the blog contains links to all the various photo galleries and videos ...
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2018/09/20/chairmans-reserve-mai-tai-challenge-bartenders-to-compete-at-the-mai-kai-for-trip-to-st-lucia/

The contest was held from around 1 to 4:30 p.m. before The Mai-Kai opened for the day and was attended by around 50 or so VIPs and industry guests. The Mai-Kai served complementary Mai Tais representing three iconic versions (Trader Vic, Don the Beachcomber and their own) ...

It was great to have the Bum back in town after a 2 1/2 year absence. He last visited during The Hukilau 2016.

A cool candid shot

Jeff and Mai-Kai owner Dave Levy

The judges hard at work

After the contest, an after-party was held in The Molokai bar featuring a DJ and open to the public. It was there that we first spotted the new Julep-style cup now being used for the 151 Swizzle ...

The next day, I met up with the Bum for a relaxing dinner in the Tahiti Room and a few Zombies for Halloween ...

A big mahalo to The Mai-Kai for hosting the competition, and to all the contestants for their hard work and participation ...