Tropical Drinks – Maui Style
The Maui dining experience can be an exciting mix of flavors and cultures, and often the best medleys on the island are the drinks. The Ginger Buddha Drop, the Maui Tai and the Lime Popsicle are just a sampling of the exotic specialties waiting to be poured, mixed or shaken for you by skilled mixologists around the island. Here’s where to find them.
Lahaina Grill [Go to listing]
Located at the historic Lahaina Inn just off Front Street in Lahaina, the Bar at Lahaina Grill is commonly known as the most popular bar in town. Often you will find people choosing to dine at the bar while being served by experienced bartenders that pour drinks to perfection. The Lime Popsicle is an unusual twist on a Cape Cod, using Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka. Made from Indonesian lime (the ones you get in Thai cuisine), this spirit complements the cocktail without any artificial overtones. The Ginger Buddha Drop is an excellent example of bartenders using their creativity to take a familiar cocktail and make it a unique house special. Made with Hangar One Citron “Buddha’s Hand” vodka, this strange and rare South Asian citrus cocktail is beautiful and aromatic when professionally crafted to include fresh lemon juice and crystallized ginger. It’s served as a chilled martini with a sugar rim.
Stella Blues
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 The phrase “Keep on Truckin’” is more than just a motto for this Grateful Dead themed restaurant in Kihei. The 17-year-old, family-owned business is a staple on the south side and has quite a friendly vibe that goes along with its “trippy” cocktail list. The Grapefruit Truckin’ is a groovy libation prepared with Finlandia grapefruit flavored vodka, fresh lime juice, and finished with seltzer water. Once known as a “forbidden fruit,” the grapefruit has continued to rise in popularity around the world, becoming a welcomed player to skilled mixologists. The free love continues at the Stella Blues bar with the Cosmic Charley’s Caipirinha. This is a Brazilian classic made with Leblon Cachaça Brazilian rum and muddled with fresh lime and sugar. From Brazil’s premiere cane fields this rum makes for a far out cocktail, named after a girl called Caipirinha.
Kobe Japanese Steak House
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While the focus at Kobe Japanese Steak House in Lahaina is the thrilling art of teppanyaki and the death-defying skill of knife-wielding chefs, the bar offers exciting adult beverages including lychee flavored sake, Japanese beers and creatively mixed tropical drinks. The Kobe Special is made with rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice—a pleasant, cherry flavored twist on a Maui favorite, the Lava Flow. If frozen, creamy goodness is not to your liking, Kobe Japanese Steak House offers a unique take on the Mai Tai with their Hawaiian Sunset. Made with all the usual Mai Tai players, the bartenders have mixed sloe gin and brandy into this tiki bar classic.
Moose’s Pub & Café, Kihei
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 Moose’s Pub & Café / Fred’s Mexican Café is located just across from Kamaole Park II in Kihei and is equipped with beautiful views as well as tasty cocktails. Happy Hour is the Tour de Force at this South Maui destination. Here the bartenders are very fast and efficient, making it easy to grab a quick Margarita or Lava Flow, and let the good times roll. The Margarita is well prepared with gold tequila, sour mix, and the Margarita’s often forgotten amigo —a splash of fresh orange juice served frozen or on the rocks. Lava Flows on Maui are as common as Upcountry rain, but this frozen concoction deserves special note due to the addition of Parrot Bay rum. This delicious and creamy Piña Colada with a strawberry swirl is served in a large glass with fresh pineapple and is the perfect companion for a South Maui sunset.
The Ma’alaea Waterfront Restaurant
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With more than 50 years of combined restaurant experience, the Smith family has achieved no less than excellence with their restaurant, the Ma’alaea Waterfront. When you travel to the harbor town of Ma’alaea, your reward awaits you at the bar with “Don the Bar Man.” A seasoned veteran of the Maui culinary experience and current “headmaster” of mixology at Maui Community College, Don has several creative libations for your cocktail pleasure. The Maui Tai is a fine combination of Maui Platinum rum, Maui Dark rum, Maui Gold pineapple juice and fresh lime—served with lots of Don-style love over crushed ice and garnished with a fresh stick of sugar cane. Also on the cocktail menu is the Blowfish, an interesting synthesis of Stoli Orange vodka, passion fruit juice, and fresh lime and then finished with ginger ale.
Longhi’s at Wailea
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 Bob Longhi has been one of Maui’s most prolific restauranteurs for more than 30 years, with two restaurant locations on Maui and one on Oahu. At The Shops at Wailea location, the bartenders offer a wide range of unique cocktails, all prepared with fresh juices and hand crafted in a beautiful open-air bar. Longhi’s Lahaina Lemonade is a drink made with Smirnoff Citrus vodka, Chambord and fresh squeezed lemonade. The Chambord gives the concoction a smooth, slightly tangy feel and is most enjoyable on a hot Maui afternoon. The Wailea Mojito is a perfect example of a Kettle Prime classic, made with Ten Cane rum and hand crafted with sugar, fresh lime, and mint with a nice little surprise at the end—Prosecco wine. This Italian sparkling wine is substituted for seltzer water and adds a unique European twist to this otherwise traditional cocktail.
drink photos by Ryan Siphers
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Tropical Drinks 
