Lemon Hart returns to The Mai-Kai!

Lemon Hart Demerara rum, one of the most ballyhooed spirits in the history of tropical cocktails, has returned to the bars of The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale, just two months after being made available in Florida by its new importer. Manager Kern Mattei made the announcement to his staff during the last weekend in April, and many classic drinks are reportedly returning to their original recipes.

Click here for the full story:
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/05/08/rums-of-the-mai-kai-legendary-lemon-hart-returns-to-the-promised-land/

Around a dozen of The Mai-Kai's already great cocktails just got even better. So far, I've tasted four of them and plan to return this week to try some more. Here's the Shrunken Skull:

Others updated include the Zombie and 151 Swizzle. Click on the link above for a full report, including links to revised reviews and recipes in the cocktail guide. The new 151 Swizzle recipe is the closest one yet to the real thing.

The same blog post also contains more info on Kohala Bay, aka Dagger, and updates on the cocktails that feature this dark Jamaican rum.

Also check the blog for info on a June 9 event at The Mai-Kai, where we hope to feature both Lemon Hart and Kohala Bay flights:
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/05/08/mai-kai-mixer-on-june-9-serves-up-cocktail-flights-live-music-and-dj-dance-party/

In the meantime, I strongly recommend anyone with the means to make a beeline for The Mai-Kai and revisit some of the classics drinks, now made the way they were originally intended. Okole maluna!

It's about time :) !

Seriously though, looking forward to visit someday.

Very cool! Any hints as to which liquor stores in the Miami area (although I am willing to hike as far north as WPB and as far west as Ft. Myers) carry the LM151? (For extra credit, what was the South Miami store that had Kohala Bay?)

Mahalo in advance!

Jokeiii,

Send me a personal message and I'll let you know the store that I know carries Kohala Bay. I'm not sure I'd want the non-registered hordes descending :>0

But from what I've heard, it shouldn't be hard for any Florida retailer to order ... I guess there's just not that much demand for it outside The Mai-Kai.

Same with LH151. It should be all over the state, you just have to know where to look. I'm getting low on my supply so I'll be on the hunt soon.

I haven't checked yet, but these are the two best stores for rum that are closest to The Mai-Kai:
67 Liquors, 5479 N. Federal Highway
Cellars Wine & Spirits Warehouse, 1739 E. Sunrise Blvd.

If we bug them, perhaps they'll carry both rums.

On 2012-05-09 09:17, Hurricane Hayward wrote:
Jokeiii,

Send me a personal message and I'll let you know the store that I know carries Kohala Bay. I'm not sure I'd want the non-registered hordes descending :>0

But from what I've heard, it shouldn't be hard for any Florida retailer to order ... I guess there's just not that much demand for it outside The Mai-Kai.

Same with LH151. It should be all over the state, you just have to know where to look. I'm getting low on my supply so I'll be on the hunt soon.

I haven't checked yet, but these are the two best stores for rum that are closest to The Mai-Kai:
67 Liquors, 5479 N. Federal Highway
Cellars Wine & Spirits Warehouse, 1739 E. Sunrise Blvd.

If we bug them, perhaps they'll carry both rums.

The person who rang up my St. Elizabeth's allspice dram at Cellar mentioned they like to have hard to find stuff. They would likely be interested in carrying it.

I had a 151 swizzle on Wednesday, it was very good!

Three more reviews and recipes have been updated with Lemon Hart (Jet Pilot, Yeoman's Grog, Oh So Deadly) and three with Kohala Bay (Yeoman's Grog, Oh So Deadly, Cobra Kiss).

• Jet Pilot (pictured) – This fiery and intense drink is now even deadlier, perhaps the strongest on the menu, with the addition of Lemon Hart 151. Not for the timid.

• Yeoman’s Grog – This descendant of another classic (the Navy Grog) is enhanced by 80-proof Lemon Hart, which combines with Kohala Bay dark Jamaican rum and powerful allspice notes to create an exotic taste explosion.

• Oh So Deadly – A light touch of 80-proof Lemon Hart (and Kohala Bay) soldify this flavor-packed drink as one of the best on the mild side of the menu.

Also check out a new Oh So Deadly tribute recipe, plus updates on Kohala Bay in the Cobra Kiss.

http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/05/08/rums-of-the-mai-kai-legendary-lemon-hart-returns-to-the-promised-land/#LH_drinks
http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/05/08/rums-of-the-mai-kai-legendary-lemon-hart-returns-to-the-promised-land/#dagger

'Mai-Kai Mixer' is coming on June 9!

Featuring The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide

[ Edited by: Hurricane Hayward 2012-05-15 15:08 ]

You mention Lemon Hart 80 proof. Do you suppose they dilute the 151 or are the importing it themselves from Canada? I doubt the latter since they only reintroduced LH to the menu recently.

TropicDrinkBoy: We're not really sure of the source of The Mai-Kai's supply.

But FYI I've tried the conversion method outlined here at home and it works great:
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=42188&forum=10

The guide is now updated with all 11 cocktails containing Lemon Hart:

http://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/2012/05/08/rums-of-the-mai-kai-legendary-lemon-hart-returns-to-the-promised-land/#LH_drinks

Reviews and recipes have been tweaked but the research continues ...