News and reviews of made on Maui products and Maui-based companies and success stories. Also featuring island shopping guides

Posts tagged ‘Ocean Vodka’

The Ultimate OCEAN Cocktail Showdown

What’s a winning recipe for an awesome event? Combine equal parts Ocean Vodka, celebrity chefs and charitable giving, shake it all up and serve immediately on the rocks at a stunning beachside location… 

ultimate ocean vodka cocktail showdown 2015

Earlier this year, Ocean Vodka invited cocktail aficionados to submit cocktail recipes using Ocean Vodka and following a ‘Farm to Table’ theme. On Saturday, April 11, the six finalists will be creating their drinks for The Ultimate OCEAN Showdown at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali!  Guests, along with a panel of judges, will be asked to vote for their favorite cocktail, with the winning cocktail named Ultimate OCEAN Cocktail and to be featured on all cocktail menus on property for a year! The recipe creator will also receive a $500 cash prize and a three-night stay at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.

pineapple express cocktail maui

Pineapple Express by James Shoemaker of Dazoo Restaurant, Photo by me, (too bad you can’t vote for best photograph, right? Maybe next year…)

To view the final six recipes, click here!

“We are thrilled to be hosting our 2nd annual Ultimate Ocean Vodka Cocktail Contest this year with our partners at the Sheraton Maui,” said Shonna Pinheiro, Director of Marketing, Events and Tourism for Ocean Vodka. “Recipe submissions tripled this year versus last year!”

In a new twist on the event this year, each finalist has been paired with a celebrity chef, who will create a dish to pair with the cocktail.  Guests will also get a chance to vote on on the Best Chef Creation and the Best Food Pairing for the evening.

The event will also be a benefit for six island non-profits, with $25 of each ticket sale going towards the ticket buyers’ choice of non-profits. In addition, each non-profit will be paired with a cocktail, and the organization paired with the winning cocktail will receive a portion of the cocktail’s sales from the next year!

cucumber cooler - cocktail recipe - maui - ocean vodka

Cucumber Cooler by Daniel Vincent of Austin, TX!

Entertainment for the evening will be provided by Jimi Canha, followed by CrazyFingers. Event ticket holders will also have free entry to the Afterparty at Black Rock Lounge.

“The Ultimate Ocean Showdown is a great community event celebrating the talents of creative mixologists and celebrity chefs, local nonprofit organizations, and entertainers alike for a fun evening full of passion on Ka‘anapali Beach,” shared Brian Hunnings, the Sheraton’s Executive Assistant Manager.

Here’s the list of this year’s finalists, presented with cocktail name, hometown, paired chef, and paired non-profit: 

Waiona - ocean vodka cocktail recipe

Waiona by Amie Fujiwara of Honolulu

Ross Steidel’s Poi Dog (Lahaina, Hawai’i) – Alex Le from The Pig and the Lady in Honolulu Oahu – Make-A-Wish Hawai’i 

Amie Fujiwara’s Waiona (Honolulu, Hawai’i) – Sheldon Simeon from Migrant in Wailea Maui – Whale Trust

Allison Bellows’ Pele’s Pineapple (Waialua, Hawai’i) – Will Chen From HiFreshBox in Manoa Oahu – Imua Family Services

Victor Mendoza’s Napili Tini (Lahaina, Hawai’i) – Shawn Gavin from the St. Regis Princeville Kauai – Grow Some Good 

James Shoemaker’s The Pineapple Express (Kihei, Hawai’i) – Hank Adaniya from Hank’s Haute Dogs in Kaka‘ako Oahu – Hui O Wa’a 

Daniel Vincent’s Cucumber Cooler (Austin, Texas) – Lee Ann Wong from Koko Head Café in Kaimuki Oahu – Women Helping Women

Event Details –

  • Location: Ocean Lawn, Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa
  • Time: 6-9pm
  • Date: Saturday, April 11, 2015
  • Cost: Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door, with $25 going to your choice of six selected charities!  Or you can upgrade to a VIP table for 10 for only $1,000!
  • Buy Tickets Here (will be directed to Honolulu Box Office website – scroll down for the showdown event!) 
  • And make sure to follow Ocean Vodka on Facebook for lots more on the event!

Category:

Event, Food and Beverage, Fundraiser

Tagged with:

Booze News You Can Use… Maui Made Liquor Round Up

What’s going on in the world of Maui-made liquors?  Lots… read on.

OCEAN® Organic Vodka   

Next time you head to the store for your OCEAN® Organic Vodka, expect a whole new bottle to reel you in!  At the Maui retailers that currently carry the 750ml bottle, the brand new ‘fishing float’ design will have you bobbing up and down in delight (sorry the fishing puns are just too easy).  Look for it at your favorite retailer, including ABC Stores, Times Supermarkets, Whaler’s General, Whole Foods and more starting mid-October 2014!  (OCEAN Pics by Jessica Pearl)

ocean new bottle vodka glass fishing float

The new bottle is inspired by the traditional glass fishing net float – first used by the Norwegians in the mid 1800’s.  Though they are no longer used for fishing, they occasionally wash up on shore or are found by boaters.   Especially in the Pacific, most of the glass floats coming ashore originated in Japan. The traditional glass floats are now recognized as collectors’ items around the world.

ocean new bottle vodka glass fishing float

In a nod to the brand’s global relevance, the neck of the bottle is angled to mimic that of the earth’s axis.  Additionally, the bottle subtly and elegantly showcases an evolved version of a more timeless logo mark.

The bottles are expected to wash ashore on the mainland beginning in January 2015.

maui new rum deep island rum wave clear Wave Rum

From the same distilling company that brings you OCEAN® Organic Vodka, Hawaii Sea Spirits introduces Deep Island Hawaiian Rum. Made from organic sugar cane and blended with deep ocean mineral water, Deep Island Hawaiian Rum delivers a true rum experience complete with all of the flavor and character that is germane to fresh pressed cane juice.  The authentic clear Maui rum is a little sweet with hints of tropical florals and rich dark molasses.  According to Hawaii Sea Spirits’ CEO Shay Smith. “This particular clear rum is dubbed “WAVE” to further depict our respect for the energy in water that brings life to our islands.”

The rum will be available for purchase and sampling at The Farm starting September 1 and in limited release for introduction in Hawai‘i this year (Look for it at any retailer that carries Ocean), and in full release in the US mainland markets beginning 2015.

Pau Vodka

The friendly folks (and by friendly we mean hilarious, and maybe a bit crazy, cough, cough, Mark...) at Haliimaile Distilling are taking the show on the road – on the third Thursday of each month as they co-sponsor Pau Vodka Night at Dazoo in Paia.   Each event brings a new theme (like 80’s night, below), four new cocktails, and zany new ways to win Pau Vodka swag, distillery tours and so on… (costume and instagram contest, etc).  Mark Nigbur, Haliimaile’s Master Distiller makes an appearance from 5-7pm, but sometimes the party goes all night…

 

Maui Brewing

maui brewing kihei construction opening Anyone who follows Maui Brewing on Instagram (and you should: @MauiBrewingCo) is enjoying following along on the process of the Kihei Brewery and pub.  Besides all the mouth-watering pics of brews from their Kahana location and beyond, we get to check out bits and pieces of the construction, like stained concrete floors and whatever these are:

with captions like this: Drag conveyor set. We can unload 48,000# of malt in 1 hr. By comparison. We unload 37,000# in 6hrs currently.

In other exciting news, the Bikini Blond Lager was named the official craft beer of Hawaiian Airlines, should be on your flight as of this month!  Congrats.

maui brewing hawaiian airlines

Costco Shopping 

A well known secret amongst the locals (ok, its not a secret at all) is that the booze selection at Costco is stellar.  They even regularly have someone to ask about the wine, so you can pick up something to go with your rotiserrie chicken or 10 pounds of sirloin.   Besides wine, they have a pretty decent beer selection with an increasing selection of craft brews, and just about any kind of liquor you may ever want.  I snapped some pics of the local choices just today, plus an awesome growler of Dead Guy Ale that glows.  I’m assuming its the label that glows but who knows, maybe the beer glows.  I should probably stock up since its almost my birthday….

ocean vodka costco price maui

 

Blogging Disclaimer: I am a paid consultant for Dazoo Restaurant. 

Category:

Food and Beverage

Tagged with:

Maui’s Most Unique Wedding Venues

Maui is full of breathtaking wedding venues – from beautiful churches, white sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs, but the island also offers some really unique options for truly memorable weddings.  We’ve compiled the 5 Most Unique Wedding (and wedding-related) Venues on (and around) Maui.

Maui.Unique.Wedding.Venues

Haiku Mill – An Abandoned Sugar Mill

In 1861, Haiku Mill began its life as a sugar mill, only to be abandoned twenty years later, where it sat quietly, becoming part of the landscape, for the next one hundred years.  The only remains of the initial structure, the stately stone walls, are now covered with vines and lush vegetation.  The area has been lovingly restored, and entering the property is like stepping back in time. The Haiku Mill blends the stunning natural beauty of Hawaii with the Old World elegance of Europe. Conde Nast listed Haiku Mill as one of the top 25 wedding venues in the WORLD, one of only two listed in the USA. Haiku Mill is available for intimate parties to grand weddings,  private events and photo shoots.  Click here to see more.

Alii Kula Lavender – A Working Lavender Farm

The rolling lavender fields and stunning, bi-coastal views of Ali’i Kula Lavender farm offer unforgettable backdrops for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or other private event.  Created by Agricultural Artist and Horticultural Master, Ali’i Chang, the thirteen acre farm is home to approximately 55,000 lavender plants and 45 different varieties of lavender.   The farm recently hired Melissa Padilla of Opihi Love Event Rentals to coordinate their private functions, ensuring that each bride and groom will enjoy the event of their dreams. Click here to see more.  (Photos by Tamiz Photography) 

Maui Ocean Center –  A Tropical Aquarium

From rehearsal dinners, sunset ceremonies, or unique wedding receptions, Maui Ocean Center provides an under-the-sea setting in this central Maui location.   The aquarium even offers underwater weddings in their Open Ocean exhibit, if bride and groom are SCUBA certified.  Guests can witness the event in the comfort (and dryness!) of the 54′ long acrylic tunnel which runs through the exhibit, or the large floor to ceiling viewing window.   Or, if you are looking for an out of-the-box proposal idea, how about an underwater one? One of the aquarium’s staff divers will carry a sign with a message for your special sweetie!  Click here to see more.

Ocean Vodka – Organic Farm and Distillery

Ocean Vodka Farm and Distillery recently opened The Point, a private event space, 22,000 square foot grassy vista with unparalleled views of the north and south shore of Maui, surrounded by fields of organic sugar cane.  Besides weddings and private events, Ocean Vodka offers tours and samplings at its 80 acre farm, located in lower Kula, near Surfing Goat Dairy.  Click here to see more. 

Trilogy – Sailing over the Pacific

Trilogy Weddings captures the essence of romance with their exclusive sailboat venues. Whether it is an intimate rehearsal dinner, private group snorkeling adventure (a pre- or post- destination wedding group activity!) or celebrating your ceremony and reception, a professional planner will ensure every detail of your important day is perfect.  Click here to view more. 

Category:

Uncategorized, Wedding

Tagged with:

Side Trip To Ocean Vodka and Surfing Goat Dairy

Omaopio Road, which connects Kula to Puunene, didn’t have much reason to see visitor traffic, unless you had a particular interest in fancy goat cheese or adorable baby goats.   Now, in addition to Surfing Goat Dairy, Omaopio Road is now also a destination for vodka connoisseurs!

In April, Ocean Vodka, the number one selling ‘made in Hawaii’ spirit, opened a brand new Organic Farm and Distillery, with tours available several times a day.

I arrived too late for the tour, but the gift shop is open to the public currently during tour hours, from 9-4 daily.  There’s a few logo items available for purchase, and some vodka of course, but according to Danielle, the very friendly shop employee, in a few weeks it should be full of some great made on Maui finds!  I’ll check it out and report back.

Tours of the organic farm and distillery are available daily at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 1:00 and 2:30.  Tours are $10 a person or $25 includes lunch.  To schedule your tour you should contact Ocean Vodka here , or just drop by and see if there’s space available!

According to their website,

Ocean Vodka is the only spirit in the world made from organically farmed sugar cane, blended with deep ocean mineral water and powered by the sun. Ocean Vodka is 100% Certified USDA Organic and gluten-free, with a proprietary column distillation process that produces an ultra-clean spirit highly decorated and unrivaled in the marketplace.  When this pure refined spirit is blended with deep ocean mineral water, Ocean Vodka takes on a unique, mineral-rich flavor found in no other vodka.

Hum, I wonder if the tour includes a sample…

The Ocean Vodka Gift Shop Open 9-4 Daily

The Ocean Vodka Gift Shop Open 9-4 Daily

Ocean Vodka is the only Vodka in the world distilled from Organic Sugar Cane

Ocean Vodka is the only Vodka in the world distilled from Organic Sugar Cane

The New Ocean Vodka Distillery

The New Ocean Vodka Distillery

And, a baby pineapple.

And, a baby pineapple.

 

Just up the road from Ocean Vodka is Surfing Goat Dairy, where you can purchase goat cheese, check out the baby goats (there always seem to be some babies there!  These goats breed like rabbits!), and yes, take a tour!

Surfing Goat Dairy actually offers three types of tours, a casual tour with no reservations necessary, for $10/adult and $7 kids, evening chores and milking tour, Mon-Sat at 3:15 for $15/a, $12/k, (reservations recommended) and a grand dairy tour for $25 on selected Saturday mornings, which includes milking a goat and sampling many cheeses!  

I haven’t taken a tour yet, but it’s a nice, casual place where you can hang out and enjoy the goats, and if you linger long enough, you can get some good info!  According to yesterday’s overheard conversation, the dairy  mixes too particular types of goats (and probably more) – one that produces lots of milk, and one that produces milk with a high butter-fat content.  There really is more to goat cheese than I ever knew, perhaps this summer we’ll have to add a goat tour to our list of family activities!

One thing is for sure- there’s a lilikoi goat milk cheesecake that I’m dying to try!  There’s even a nice shady seating area to enjoy your cheesy delights.

Hours of Operation at the Surfing Goat Dairy

Hours of Operation at the Surfing Goat Dairy

If there's anything cuter than a baby goat I haven't found it

If there’s anything cuter than a baby goat I haven’t found it

Silly goat, enjoying the views of upcountry Maui. WIth the ample sun on Omaopio, solar panels make sense for the dairy and the distillery!

Silly goat, enjoying the views of upcountry Maui. WIth the ample sun on Omaopio, solar panels make sense for the dairy and the distillery!

Category:

Food and Beverage, Tours

Tagged with: