Take a Sip of Maui with Pilina’s Mauka Cocktail

Welcome to the embodiment of Hawaii’s well-known aloha spirit.

One of the vital iconic motels on the tropical island of Maui, the Fairmont Kea Lani lately underwent a large renovation. Situated on the shores of idyllic Wailea, it’s a breezy, eye-popping gateway. Get up early with a cup of espresso and feast your eyes on a luscious dawn, wade in one among their Instagram-worthy swimming pools, take a canoe out for a guided tour, and finish the day with a sundown so spectacular, it often spurs applause from gawkers on the seaside.

Apart from a large ethereal foyer and sunny, modernized rooms (many with views of the seaside), the Kea Lani lately opened Pilina. An prompt gamechanger for the Hawaiian cocktail scene, it’s the grand creation of Cameron Corridor, the bar’s Basic Supervisor. Corridor, who’s labored at Fairmont properties in Bermuda to Whistler, Canada, constructed its program from the bottom up. Alongside the way in which, he infused that aloha spirit into the guts of the complete operation.

What makes Pilina particular?

The chance to create an area that provides not solely distinctive views and ambiance however showcases Hawaii’s native farmers, ranchers, fishermen, distillers, and brewers is a Kuleana (accountability) that I’m grateful to just accept. Our hope is for Pilina to supply greater than only a culinary expertise, however a sensory escape to paradise, the place each sip and chew is a celebration of the breathtaking magnificence that surrounds us.

We all know many elements are domestically sourced. Why was that vital for you?

We selected to prioritize authentically showcasing our ‘sense of place’ via our meals and beverage program. By highlighting Hawaiian elements, we not solely help native farmers and producers but additionally supply our friends a real style of the area’s wealthy culinary heritage. We wished to spotlight distinctive elements which you don’t see on different beverage menus in hope that our friends stroll away with new data or studying a brand new ingredient. If only one particular person learns one thing new about Hawaiian elements whereas eating in Pilina, then I really feel like we’ve completed one thing.

What are a few of Pilina’s stand-out concoctions?

We partnered with Kuleana Rum works to create our very personal bespoke rum mix particularly for Pilina. We selected to mix this with native Mai’a (bananas), Kona Espresso Beans, La’ie Vanilla beans (from Oahu), Campari, and Candy Vermouth for our Pilina twist on the Kingston Negroni. It has turn into a crowd favourite for negroni drinkers like myself.

For the Pilina Mai Tai, we selected to make use of Hawaiian Agricole Rum from Ko Hana for the bottom of our Mai Tai and blend it with a singular tackle orgeat. We make our orgeat with Huge Island Macadamia Nuts and Kukui Nuts. I’ve not seen kukui nuts utilized in a cocktail program earlier than, so it offers me an excellent feeling that we’re in a position to showcase an ingredient with such a big effect within the historical past of Hawaiian Tradition. On this cocktail, we additionally use Maui Gold Pineapple to make a shrub and end it with a topping of Ko Hana Kokoleka, an agricole rum which is aged in a barrel with native cacao and honey.

Make Corridor’s favourite cocktail on his menu, the Mauka:

Mauka

Elements

• 2 oz Fy Gin
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• ½ oz Ginger Liqueur
• ½ oz ‘Ōhi‘a Lehue Honey Syrup (infused with butterfly pea flowers and lavender)*
• 4-5 drops of Miraculous Foamer

Preparation

1. Add all elements to a shaker and shake vigorously with ice.
2. Double pressure into a relaxing bitter glass.
3. Use a honeycomb stencil and spray with angostura bitters.
4. Add a path of bee pollen and end with a lavender sprig.
5. Serve.

*Infused Honey Syrup

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Preparation

1. Add butterfly pea flowers and lavender to boiling water.
2. Permit this to steep for quarter-hour then pressure via a tremendous strainer.
3. With the liquid, add one to at least one components of ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua Honey.