PREP TIME 5 min
Of all the brilliant Tiki drinks out there, the classic Mai Tai cocktail is probably one of the most famous. The traditional Mai Tai recipe uses five ingredients: two types of rum, orange liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup. This rum-based Tiki drink is on the IBA’s official list of cocktails—and for good reason. The classic Mai Tai cocktail is ‘out of this world.’ Like literally. And who wouldn’t want a cocktail like that?
1 Person
Pour the orange liqueur, rum, orgeat syrup and fresh lime into an ice-filled cocktail shaker
Shake until frosty (around 30 seconds)
Strain into a glass filled with ice
Top with crushed ice
Garnish with fresh mint
Serve
Many people confuse Mai Tai cocktails with tropical, overly-sweet pineapple and rum drinks. Unfortunately, over the years the original version of the Mai Tai recipe got corrupted by bars and restaurants who made their own versions and tweaked the recipe with cheap bottled mixers and poor-quality rum.
Victor J Bergeron (who invented the original Mai Tai recipe in 1944) would be the first to tell you that’s not what a classic Mai Tai cocktail is meant to be. After mixing together Jamaican rum, orgeat and orange liqueur, he served it to a couple of Tahitian friends. After tasting it, they exclaimed, “maita’i roa ae!”, which is Tahitian for ‘out of this world.’
The Mai Tai recipe is rum-forward with a subtle sweetness from the orange and tartness from the lime. The addition of orgeat syrup adds an interesting almond flavor. It’s lovely and complex — just the way we like it. Serve these at your next summer pool party and lap up the rounds of applause!
There are two golden rules for making the best Mai Tai cocktail. One, don’t use pineapple juice. Two, do not use cheap rum! This Tiki drink is all about showing off the taste of rum, so you’ve got to do it justice.
For a Mai Tai recipe that is out of this world, we suggest Appleton Estate — one of the oldest and most famous handcrafted Jamaican rums. This was also the rum of choice for old Victor (although his version used a 17-year-old variety that’s no longer available) but the 8-year reserve will be just fine.
We also have to mention the use of orange liqueur. While the original version uses an orange curaçao, we prefer Grand Marnier. We love this liqueur for its rich Cognac and bitter orange flavors.
Mai Tai’s are best served during summertime and is the perfect choice for:
