I can never drink another Mai Tai again; you killed my ability to ever agin enjoy that cloyingly sweet verion of the cocktail served at every Laua and hotel restaurant on the island. Having been to Maui many times before, I knew not to expect much in the way of cutting edge mixology. I was fully prepared to drink my share of cocktails with umbrellas and be content. But then our paths happened to cross. There you stood, from the outside, a very unassuming second story location in a strip mall in Wailea. But I knew the minute I read the description of the Monkeypod Mai Tai that I was in for something very special. (Old Lahaina Rum, Maui dark rum, lime, Orgeat, Orange Curacao and Honey-Lilkoi foam)
No overly sweetened mixes here. The foam is like a lilkoi meringue; it slowly sweetens the cocktail as it melts. The flavor of the light and dark rum are not hidden behind a sweet syrup mixer (you can actually taste the alcohol) and the Orgeat adds just a hint of Almond.It is true Monkypod, that you feature lots of other intreaguing "new tropical" cocktails that showcase your appreciation for current mixology trends. But the Monkeypod Mai Tai has the strongest sense of "place"' (wine folkes call it terrior) of any cocktail I have ever tasted. Lush, beautiful, sweet, strong, and memorable; it's wonderfull Hawaii in a glass.
Mahalo-
Thirsty Lawyer
