ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2010, Seattle Met brought hundreds of Seattleites together to vote for and crown Seattle’s very first Mai Tai Master. Leading up the event were nine Mai Tai Happy Hours hosted by Seattle Met. These hot spots included Naga, of Bellevue, and Barrio, Vessel, Tavern Law, Mistral Kitchen, Sazerac,Rob Roy, Cicchetti, and Fresh Bistro, all of Seattle. Each bartender created his own spin on the traditional Mai Tai, and their establishments promoted their signature drink during their happy hours and, in most cases, throughout the month of September. Readers were able to go online at seattlemet.com/maitai to vote for their favorite drink. As guests entered Sodo Park by Herban Feast for the Mai Tai Master main event, they were greeted by Polynesian dancers and given fresh plumeria leis flown in from Hawaii. Guests filled their plates with roasted pig and fresh Hawaiian fare, and sampled 3 oz. Mai Tais from each bar. Adding to the ambience was enchanting Hawaiian music with performances by dancers from The Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii. As the drinks were sampled, guests voted on ballots for the most delicious Mai Tai, then turned them in to be tallied and entered for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii. Judges Jeffrey Dorgan, Paul Clarke, Blair Reynolds, and Brian Canlis, all local and national cocktail critics, simultaneously sampled each bartenders Mai Tai, voting on their favorite as a group. When all ballots had been cast from both the guests and the judges, the honor of Mai Tai Master was awarded to Nathan Weber of Tavern Law. He won over the palates of the entire crowd with his classic yet distinct take on the Mai Tai, collecting both the People’s Choice award and the Judge’s Choice. After crowning the Mai Tai Master, the evening culminated with the announcement of the Hawaii trip giveaway winner. All proceeds from the event went to The Moyer Foundation’s Camp Erin, a camp for grieving children who have lost a family member or friend. A special thanks to our sponsors; Hawaiian Airlines, Brotherton Cadillac, and DonQ! And thank you to our contributors; Alaska Airlines, Marriott Resorts Hawaii, and Barbie Hull Photography.
