|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
This October, UKIAH Japanese Smokehouse, Swizzle Rumbar + Drinkery FTL, and Diplomático Rum will join forces to give back to a cause close to the hospitality community’s heart: the Cameron G. Scholderer Scholarship Fund. Created by Cameron’s parents, Sally and George Scholderer, the scholarship honors the legacy of Cameron G. Scholderer — a dear friend, former lead bartender, and beloved figure at many of Miami’s esteemed drinking establishments. Proceeds from this special month-long cocktail collaboration will support hospitality students at Florida International University’s (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.
From October 1 – 31, 2025, guests can enjoy the specially crafted cocktail, Chai-ing Too Hard, available at both UKIAH and Swizzle. Made with Diplomático Reserva Rum, St. George Spiced Pear, chai, yuzu marmalade, lemon, and Angostura bitters, the cocktail offers a rich, seasonal flavor profile with spiced and citrus notes. For every cocktail sold, $2 will be donated directly to the scholarship fund, providing vital financial support to students pursuing their undergraduate hospitality degrees.
“As Cameron’s go-to spirit was rum, the partnership between Swizzle and Diplomático made perfect sense,” said Lizzy Maynes, owner of UKIAH. “The connection is so deep, and he touched so many lives, that even the wonderful Diplomático ambassador that we are working with also knew him from his time in Wynwood and the USBG (United States Bartenders Guild).”
The collaboration kicks off with a Special Rum Happy Hour at UKIAH on Friday, October 3, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Guests can RSVP through Eventbrite HERE and will enjoy; a complimentary Diplomático cocktail, exclusive samplings, complimentary light bites from UKIAH (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.), and a raffle for Diplomático rum goodies and Dinner for Two at UKIAH. 50% of all Diplomático Rum Drinks will be donated to the cause on this night.
Swizzle will wrap up the month of giving with an Industry Night Celebration on Monday, October 27, 2025 from 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., offering a Halloween Bartender Take Over, designed for hospitality professionals but open to all. The event will feature a local bartender showdown, costume contest and raffle. 50% of all Diplomático Rum Drinks will be donated to the cause.
About UKIAH Japanese Smokehouse
Located in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, UKIAH Japanese Smokehouse blends bold Japanese flavors with the soul of American barbecue. Founded by award-winning Chef Michael Lewis alongside Steven Haigh, Lizzy Maynes, and Michael Sponaugle, UKIAH offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience with a wood-fired smoker, inventive cocktails, stunning riverfront views, and a warm, high-energy atmosphere. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Happy Hour is offered Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m., available at the bar, lounge, and on the outdoor terrace. For an elevated culinary journey, guests can indulge in the Chef’s Tasting Menu ($85 per person), a rotating “best of” experience that showcases UKIAH’s most beloved dishes through bold techniques and seasonal ingredients. Reservations can be made via the website https://www.ukiahrestaurant.
For more information, please visit: Website: https://www.ukiahrestaurant.
About Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery FTL
Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery is a Speakeasy Craft Cocktail and Rum Bar. With over 200 Rums and 30 original cocktails on the menu. Established in Miami Beach in 2016, Swizzle just expanded to Fort Lauderdale in January of this year. Currently #78 in North America’s 50 Best Bars list. Known for our Craft Cocktails using fresh squeezed juices, house made ingredients and warm hospitality.
About the Cameron G. Scholderer Scholarship
We proudly commemorate the enduring legacy of Cameron G. Scholderer, as recounted by his cherished friends and family, alongside the outstanding students whose lives his undergraduate scholarship program continues to profoundly impact. In 2017, The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management established the esteemed Cameron G. Scholderer Scholarship, graciously supported by his devoted parents, Sally and George Scholderer, in loving memory of Cameron’s passing in 2016. Cameron G. Scholderer, a revered figure in the dynamic Miami hospitality industry, passionately championed excellence and expertise in the realm of beverage and boutique bar management. Today, his esteemed scholarship empowers deserving students pursuing their undergraduate hospitality degrees, providing vital financial support necessary to excel in The Chaplin School’s top restaurant and hotel management courses.
The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU) is ranked 6th in the U.S. and 31st in the world among top U.S. public universities for tourism and hospitality management. Its programming, crafted over decades of industry collaboration, educational innovation, and thought leadership, provides students with world-class resources such as the Hurst Lecture series and beyond. Learn more or enroll now at https://hospitality.fiu.edu
About Diplomático Rum
Diplomático is a highly regarded, premium Venezuelan rum known for its rich, sweet, and smooth character. The brand’s flagship offering, Reserva Exclusiva, is a popular sipping rum with notes of orange peel, toffee, and maple syrup, and is aged for up to 12 years in oak barrels. Made from sugar cane honey and distilled in copper pot stills, Diplomático is celebrated by both rum aficionados and newcomers for its excellent balance and versatility in cocktails.
