Mai Tai Cocktail
White and dark rum blend with the almond flavor of orgeat, zesty lime, and sweet orange curaçao in this tiki inspired cocktail. With flavors both tangy and sweet, the mai tai is a real crowd pleaser. Disclaimer: this recipe is strong and best consumed in moderation!
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It’s Friday again and you know what that means - time for a cocktail recipe! Today I’m sharing a tiki cocktail favorite: the mai tai.
What are the traditional ingredients of a mai tai cocktail?
The traditional mai tai cocktail is made with a blend of rums, lime juice, orgeat, orange Curaçao, and simple syrup.
What is the origin of the mai tai cocktail?
The mai tai holds a special place in the history of tiki drinks and in my heart. Invented during the height of Oakland tiki culture (side note: Oakland is my city!) in the 1940s, the mai tai was created by Trader Vic and his crew at his world famous restaurant, Trader Vic’s.
What does ‘mai tai’ mean?
The phrase ‘mai tai’ is rooted in the Tahitian word for “good” or “excellent”. This cocktail definitely lives up to its name!
Tips for making the best mai tai cocktail
I tried a few different ways of making this cocktail, and I found that using brown sugar simple syrup had the richest, most flavorful result. You can also use demerara syrup if you have it handy.
What is demerara syrup?
Simple syrup made with brown sugar is often called demerara syrup. It is made by dissolving equal parts brown sugar with water using heat from a stovetop. Try my recipe for brown sugar simple syrup. It is very easy to make and it’s what I used for this recipe.
Can I use different types of rum in a mai tai cocktail?
Yes, you certainly can! Different types of rums can add drastically different flavors to the cocktail. A fun experiment would be to try out several types of rum to see what your personal preference is. I went with rums I had on hand already - white rum and dark rum.
What Kind of Glass Can I Serve a mai tai cocktail in?
I’ve seen mai tais served in so many different ways, from the high ball glass to a fish bowl. All of these options are great.
If you love cocktails made with rum, you might also want to try my mint mojito recipe.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
tumbler glass
cocktail shaker
spoon
Ingredients
1 ounce white rum
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce orgeat
½ ounce contreau etc. (curacaou)
½ ounce Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (link recipe)
Crushed ice
½ ounce dark rum
Bada Bing Cherries and a pineapple wedge for garnish
How to make a mai tai cocktail at home
Fill a tumbler glass with crushed ice.
Add white rum, lime juice, orgeat, curacaou, brown sugar simple syrup, and a large cube of ice to a shaker. Secure the lid and shake for 10 seconds. Pour the shaker contents into the tumbler filled with ice.
Place a spoon over the top of the glass. Pour dark rum over the spoon into the glass (so dark rum floats on top). Garnish with a cherry and a slice pineapple.
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Mai Tai Recipe
White and dark rum blend with the almond flavor of orgeat, zesty lime, and sweet orange curaçao in this tiki inspired cocktail. With flavors both tangy and sweet, the mai tai is a real crowd pleaser. Disclaimer: this recipe is strong and best consumed in moderation!
Ingredients
Directions
- Fill a tumbler glass with crushed ice.
- Add white rum, lime juice, orgeat, curacaou, brown sugar simple syrup, and a large cube of ice to a shaker. Secure the lid and shake for 10 seconds. Pour the shaker contents into the tumbler filled with ice.
- Place a spoon over the top of the glass. Pour dark rum over the spoon into the glass (so dark rum floats on top). Garnish with a cherry and a slice pineapple.
*Nutrition is auto-calculated by recipes generator.
