You can’t be a bartender in Hawaii with out knowing the Mai Tai. While some may despise the drink, others are willing to turn it into a creative outlet which I bore witness to at last week’s Mai Tai Mix Off preliminary competition at the Royal Lahaina. Ten bartenders went head to head in five seven minute rounds with their own personal recipes. The top three competitors will get a place at the Second Annual Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival held on August 14 at the Royal Kona Resort.

Blair took top awards with his kamaaina mai tai, w ryan burdens kiona aloha mai tai a show stopper, and jeff felice’s mai tai making an awesome blend of bacardi flavors

All bartenders in competition

Peoples choice winner Julie Henson from Kahales beach Club kihei with joey gottesman

Sent from my iPhone
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> > This table is full of creative mai tai styling >

> > > Bacardi models >

> > > Drink by Jeff Felice of westin KOR >

> > > > Loved the strawberry mai tai from Maui Brewing Co joel Fleck

> > > > > Sent from my iPhone
Posted via email from jenrusso’s posterous

photo credit: brianholsclaw
Mai Tais are like our State cocktail, at least for the tourists. But all of the bartenders here must make many Mai Tais daily. The Royal Lahaina Resort is hosting their chance to have a little fun with our “Hawaii-an punch” as twelve bartenders go glass to glass in a Mai Tai competion poolside at the Don the Beachcomer Restaurant sponsored by Better Brands and Bacardi. The competition is a qualifier for the Second Annual Don the Beachcomer Mai Tai Festival held at the Royal Kona Resort. …