Maui Holiday Cocktail Inspiration

Given the fact that Maui Craft Tours focuses largely on the flavors and variety of local craft beverages, the majority of which fall into the boozy adult beverage category, it should come as absolutely no surprise that we believe everything can be made better with the perfect cocktail. Preferably more than one, but hey, we’ll take what we can get.

With the holidays rapidly approaching here in the Aloha State, we’ve put together a few cocktail recipes made with some of our favorite locally-crafted liquor, beer, champagne and wine, perfect for sprucing up that holiday party in (or out) of paradise.

Photo by Cheeky Kitchen.

From Thanksgiving till the New Year, you can rest easy, ’cause we’ve got your cocktail menu sorted! Even better? Grab a bottle or two from one of our many craft ohana while on one of our Maui tours, and knock out your Christmas gifts while stocking up on boozy goodness for yourself for the holidays. Win win, brah!

Above photos provided by: The Mill House

Thanksgiving: Maui-Inspired Cocktails

The Spicy Aloha

If you love micheladas, bloody marys or the occasional jalapeno margarita, you’ll love this refreshing yet spicy cocktail with a classic wheat beer from Maui Brewing Company. Not overly strong and made with just the right kick of spice, this is an excellent drink to sip while you’re prepping the Thanksgiving turkey.

Ingredients:  

12 Cans Pineapple Mana Wheat

Sparkling Water

15 Limes

2 Jalapenos

Sugar

Coarse Kosher Salt

Chili Powder or Cayenne Pepper (depending on your preference for spice)

Ice

What You’ll Need: 

Knife, Citrus Squeezer (optional), Small Plate, Highball Glasses

Instructions:

Prep:

1. Juice limes and set aside, reserving some wedges to use as a garnish.
2. Cut jalapenos in thin slices, removing seeds to use as a garnish.
3. Combine 2 teaspoons chili powder and 2 teaspoons kosher salt on a small plate.

Cocktail:

1. Rim the edge of your glass(es) with a lime wedge, and dip upside down into chili powder and salt mixture, shaking off any excess.
2. Combine 1/3 cup lime juice (per cocktail), 1/3 cup sparkling water, and 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar into glass and stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Fill glass with ice and pour beer over until it fills half the glass.
4. Top with lime, sparkling water and sugar mixture.
5. Stir and garnish with a lime wedge and jalapeno slice.

 

Maui Pineapple Bourbon Martini

If you’re a bourbon fan (and maybe even if you’re not… yet), you’ll love this tropical take on a whiskey sour with one of Hali’imaile Distilling Company’s best selling liquors. Made as a martini, we love adding egg whites for a creamy, delicious top layer, though it’s by no means a requirement.

Ingredients:

1 Bottle Paniolo Whiskey

2 Maui Gold Pineapples

10 Lemons

Honey / Agave Nectar (optional)

Egg Whites

Ice

What You’ll Need:

Knife, Blender, Strainer, Citrus Squeezer (optional), Shaker, Martini Glasses

Instructions: 

Prep:

1. Cut pineapple into small chunks, reserving some to use as a garnish.
2. Blend pineapple, and pour through strainer to remove excess pulp.
3. Juice lemons, and set aside.

Cocktail:

1. Pour 1 1/2 oz bourbon (per cocktail), 1 oz pineapple juice, 1 oz lemon juice and 3/4 oz egg white into shaker and shake without ice for 30+ seconds.
2. Add ice and shake again vigorously, adding a small squeeze of honey if you prefer sweeter drinks.
3. Strain into martini glass.
4. Garnish with pineapple wedge and enjoy!

 

Christmas: Maui-Inspired Cocktails

Coco Melon Christmas Cooler

You may be used to celebrating a white Christmas, but here on Maui, there’s no such thing! While mulled wine, apple cider and buttered rum may be standard holiday cocktails on the mainland and abroad, we personally find it a little too hot in paradise to keep that tradition. Try this refreshing cocktail for a real Christmas cool down, and thank us later.

Ingredients:

1 Bottle Sammy’s Beach Bar White Rum

1 Seedless Watermelon

1 Cucumber

Coconut Water

Ice

What You’ll Need: 

Knife, Shaker, Muddler, Strainer, Toothpicks (optional), Lowball Glasses

Instructions: 

Prep:

1. Cut watermelon into small 1 inch cubes and set aside, reserving a section to cut into thin slices to use as a garnish.
2. Cut cucumber into thin slices, reserving some to use as a garnish.

Cocktail:

1. Combine 2 oz Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, 3 watermelon pieces and 2 slices of cucumber into shaker and muddle well.
2. Add scoop of ice and 1 1/2 oz coconut water and shake well.
3. Fill lowball glass with ice, then strain drink into fresh glass.
4. Garnish with a watermelon and cucumber slice.

 

Mokha Espresso Maui-tini

What kind of monsters would we be if we didn’t include a dessert cocktail?! Perfect for pairing with your favorite post-dinner Christmas dessert, this indulgent, rich martini is made with locally-roasted coffee from Mill House Roasting and craft vodka from Hawaii Sea Spirits.

Ingredients:

Espresso Grind – Mokha Java Coffee

1 Bottle Ocean Organic Vodka

1 Bottle Kahlua (or chosen coffee liquor)

Brown Sugar

Ice

What You’ll Need: 

Coffee Grinder, Espresso Maker (or French Press), Shaker, Strainer, Martini Glasses

Instructions: 

Prep:

1. Using the Mokha Java Coffee, pre-make espresso and chill it in the refrigerator, reserving some beans to use as a garnish.

Cocktail:

1. Combine 2 oz Ocean Organic Vodka, 1 oz Mohka Java espresso, 1/2 oz Kahlua and teaspoon brown sugar into a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously for at least 20 seconds (to get the frothy layer on top), and strain into martini glass.
3. Top with 3 coffee beans and serve.

Coffee photos provided by: Mill House Roasting Co.

New Year’s Eve: Maui-Inspired Cocktails

Island Time Sparkler

New Year’s Eve without bubbly is like our birthday without tequila… nonsense! A super simple holiday drink made with a delicious elderflower liquor and an Estate Brut from MauiWine, you’ll definitely want one of these sparkling concoctions when it turns midnight.

Ingredients:

2 Bottles Blanc de Blanc

1 Bottle St. Germain

Raspberries

What You’ll Need: 

Champagne Flutes

Instructions: 

Prep:

1. Chill the bottles of Blanc de Blanc.
2. Rinse the raspberries.

Cocktail:

1. Fill champagne flute 1/3 full with St. Germain.
2. Top with Blanc de Blanc.
3. Garnish with raspberries.

 

Mango Mary ’18

We’re no experts, but in our experience, hardly anyone wakes up feeling 100% on New Year’s Day. Enter the Mango Mary, made with Hawaii Sea Spirits’ Ocean Vodka, local mangoes, and just the right amount of spice to overcome that fuzzy head.

Ingredients:

1 Bottle Organic Ocean Vodka

1 Bottle Bloody Mary Mix (we like Zing Zang)

3 Mangoes

10 Limes

Celery / Basil (your choice)

Chili Powder

Chipotle Powder

Sea Salt

Ice

What You’ll Need: 

Knife, Citrus Squeezer (optional), Blender, Small Plate, Highball Glasses

Instructions: 

Prep:

1. Remove the skins and pits from the mangoes.
2. Juice 9 limes with a citrus squeezer or by hand, and cut one in slices to rim glasses.
3. Wash celery (if needed) and cut stalks for garnish.
4. Combine mango, lime juice and bloody mary mix in a blender and blend until smooth.
5. Combine 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt onto a small plate.

Cocktail:

1. Use lime slice to wet the outer rim of glasses, and dip upside down onto small plate of spices. Shake off any excess.
2. Fill glass(es) with ice and 1 1/2 oz of Ocean Organic Vodka.
3. Top with blended Bloody Mary Mix and mango/lime juice mixture.
4. Garnish with celery stalk or fresh basil leafs.

 

Mahalo for reading our Maui holiday cocktail inspiration, and we hope you all have a fabulous holiday season! Whether you’re lucky enough to be celebrating in Hawaii or are toasting us from afar, we look forward to having you join us on a craft food and beverage tour soon. Aloha!

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