Cap'n's Cabaret #29: Honolulu Luau!

Aloha!  Hail and welcome to the paradise isle of the Pacific, the home of King Kamehameha and birthplace of Hula, Surfing, and Luau!  Yes, beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii, land of rainbows and pineapples, a string of emeralds in the middle of the mighty Pacific!

It's been so much fun I swear we must have lost three weeks along the way!

Sure, I know tensions with Japan have been high with the war in China, but one need merely look out at the mighty battleships in Pearl Harbor to know you're in the safest place on earth!  All the better to relax and enjoy the show.

And talk about a show tonight: it's a night of exciting dueling arts as Tiki masters Don Beach and "Trader" Vic Bergeron vie for the best Mai Tai while three masters of that native stringed instrument the Ukulele vie for the best in that craft. 

Up first in the "Dueling Ukulele" competition is Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, who has wowed audiences on the continent with his mastery of the little strings.  Here he reminds us "It's Only a Paper Room" after all:

And now his friendly rival, the great Roy Smeck, showing why he's known as "the wizard of the strings" and a living legend of the Ukul...wait, is he grabbing a guitar?!  Yes, and playing "Little Grass Shack", Hawaiian slide-guitar style!  Talk about magic fingers!  We'll let this one slide, folks.

Finally, it's only right that the local boys get a shot, so introducing local native Hawaiian legend, Tau Moe singing "Rhythm of the Island".

Well...too close to call, folks!  How about a roaring round of applause for Cliff, Roy, and Tau!

And now...Mai Tais!  It's a drink that manages to capture all that is great about the Pacific Islands in liquid form.  And this duel is a little more personal, yet another disputed claim between Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic, this time over who can lay claim to the Mai Tai cocktail itself.  We can't guess who came first (both make that claim), but we invite our guests to try one of each in this head-to-head Mai Tai competion!  Try one of each and tell us what you think:

First up to bat, Trader Vic:

The Original Trader Vic Mai Tai

• 2 oz of white Rum
• Add juice from one fresh lime
• 1/2 oz Orange Curaçao
• 1/4 oz Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup
• 1/2 oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup

Shake vigorouslyover crushed ice and strain into a highball glass.  Add a sprig of fresh mint

Next, Don Beach:

Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai

• 2 oz  (or 1/4 cup) water
• 3/4 oz or 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 oz or 2 tablespoons fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 oz or 2 tablespoons sugar syrup
• 1 oz or 2 tablespoons dark rum
• 1-1/2 oz or 3 tablespoons golden rum
• 1/2 oz or 1 tablespoon Cointreau or triple Sec
• 1/4 oz or 1/2 tablespoon Falernum syrup
• 2 dashes or scant 1/2 teaspoon Angostura bitters
• 1 dash or scant 1/4 teaspoon Pernod or other anisette-flavored pastis

Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a tall highball glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with fruits and serve with a straw.

Cocktails courtesy of http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Bartending/Cocktails/Mai_Tai 

Aloha!!  And remember to get back on board the China Clipper for a luxurious flight all the way to Shanghai, China!