Kauaʻi Tai: Kōloa Rum’s new signature cocktail for Hawaiian History Month

Since opening in 2009, the Kōloa Rum Co. has crafted award-winning rums using Kauaʻi-grown sugar and water from Mount Waiʻaleʻale.

For Hawaiian History Month, which runs during September, Kōloa Rum is introducing a new signature cocktail: Kauaʻi Tai, a fresh island twist on the classic Mai Tai.

“Technically, every day is Hawaiian History Month here because our whole existence is based on Hawaiʻi’s rich history,” said Bob Gunter, president and CEO of the distillery.

Kaua’i Tai is crafted with locally inspired ingredients and a nod to sustainability, and like all of the distillery’s rums it is gluten-free and all-natural.

“We’ve created a fun twist to the ultimate classic,” Gunter said.

The drink is designed to capture the essence of the Garden Isle. Kōloa Gold Rum is infused with kaffir lime leaves, adding a bright, herbaceous flavor that complements a tropical mix of passion fruit, pineapple, orange and guava juices.

Lime juice and orgeat create a creamy finish, while a float of Kōloa Dark Rum adds a smooth, molasses-kissed depth. The drink is garnished with a pineapple frond, an orchid, and a lime wheel. The visually striking Kauai Tai evokes the golden hour.

The distillery was named after Kōloa town, where sugar production began in 1835. The company shares that story, turning a tasting into a cultural journey.

The distillery engages the community through tours, tastings and educational programs, offering visitors a hands-on look at how tradition and innovation intersect in Hawaiian culture.

As the dominant rum company in the Hawaiʻi market in terms of cases sold, Gunter says he wants “Kauaʻi to be known as an alcohol beverage base that will continue to produce a superior product for not only locals but all visitors.”

Bartender Randy Toki said: “Don’t forget you can cook with it. And, we also make rum cake.”

Through its Worthy Cause Program, Kōloa Rum Co. partners with events where companies can serve or sell their products as a fundraiser.

Most recently, the distillery donated $10,000 to “Friends of Iolani Palace,” the nonprofit that maintains the palace where King Kalākaua and his sister and successor, Queen Liliʻuokalani, walked the halls and ruled the Hawaiian Kingdom.

A special aged rum was also created in exclusive bottles and sold at Costco and Temura’s, raising $10,000 for the palace.

“The idea is not only to give back but to do so to organizations and entities that personify what our culture is all about here in Hawaiʻi, and Iolani Palace definitely does that,” Gunter said.

Two years ago, Koloa Rum Co. partnered with Foodland to celebrate the chain supermarket’s 75th anniversary with the launch of an exclusive rum bottle.

The Kōloa Hawaiian Mango-Pineapple Rum Cocktail debuted in stores on Sept. 29, 2023.

The company also partners with the Kaua‘i Humane Society, Kōloa Plantation Days, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Kōloa rum is sold internationally, which brings “a lot of responsibility,” Gunter said. “I want to represent Hawaiʻi and not compromise our ingredients, or our history, by maintaining our standards high and continuing to do it consistently.”

Gunter said Kōloa Rum Co. also is dedicated to continuing to work with organizations and entities that promote Hawaiʻi’s history.

“Does the world need more rums? No. But Hawai’i is unique. Kaua’i is special. So we’re hitting all the senses, and that’s the spirit of Hawai’i.”

For more information on Koloa Rum Co., or to schedule a tasting tour, click here.