Two Types Of Rum For The Best Flavor
Many Mai Tai recipes use two types of rum mixed into the drink. Our version takes it a step further and floats the dark rum on top! It makes for a showy presentation and its become a tradition that some people like in their version of this drink. Heres a bit more about the two types of rum youll need:
- Aged rum: This type of rum is also referred to as golden rum, amber rum, or añejo rum . Aging gives it a complex flavor, more like a Cognac. It has undertones of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel. The aged rum that we used here was Brugal Añejo Rum.
- Dark rum: Also known as black rum, dark rum has a dark color and a rich flavor thats smoky and sweet.
What other cocktails can you use these rums for? Use aged rum in an El Presidente or Pineapple Rum Cocktail, and dark rum in a Dark and Stormy or .
What Is A Mai Tai
Commonly associated with the Tiki culture, the mai tai cocktail was actually created by Victor J. Bergeron in his Oakland, CA restaurant and not in Tahiti as many people mistakenly believe.
The first ever mai tai was made with 17-year-old J. Wray & Nephew rum. To the rum, Bergeron added lime, orange Curaçao, French orgeat, and simple syrup. He shook up the ingredients with shaved ice and garnished the cocktail with fresh mint and a lime wedge.
Bergeron had friends visiting from Tahiti at the time. When they tasted his cocktail creation, theyre said to have exclaimed, Maitai roa ae! Roughly translated, that means the best!
From then on, the rum cocktail was known as a Mai Tai.
What Is Sweet And Sour Mix
One of the mai tai ingredients in the Hale Koa signature mai tai is homemade sweet and sour mix.
Sweet and sour mix is a non-alcoholic mixer made with equal parts lemon and lime juice, plus simple syrup . Homemade sweet and sour mix lasts up to three weeks in the fridge, so you can make a big batch of it now to enjoy in future cocktails!
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Evolution Of The Mai Tai Cocktail
However, the mai tai has undergone a few changes since its creation.
Bergeron was asked to create cocktail menus for the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider Hotels in Hawaii. He added additional fruit juices to make the cocktail sweeter, and thus more attractive to tourists.
Over the years, various rums and mixers have had supply issues and thats also affected the exact ingredients in mai tais.
Regardless, the mai tai cocktail has been a wildly popular Tiki drink since Bergeron brought it to Hawaii. Movies like Elvis Presleys Blue Hawaii have also helped popularize the cocktail!
Modern Recipes And Riffs
30 ml Amber Jamaican Rum30 ml Martinique Molasses Rhum15 ml Orange Curacao15 ml Orgeat Syrup 30 ml Fresh Lime Juice7.5 ml Simple Syrup
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a double rocks glass or a highball glass. Garnish with pineapple spear, mint leaves, and lime peel.
Mai Tai Planters Punch by Jason Alexander at Devils Reef, Tacoma WA2 dashes Aromatic Bitters¼ oz Dons Spices No. 2½ oz Ferrand Dry Curacao1½ oz Plantation Xaymaca Rum½ oz Plantation OFTD Rum
Flash blend for five seconds with a cup of pure single ice. Pour unstrained into a tall glass adding more pure single ice to fill and garnish with few springs of mint.
Mai Tai by Shannon Mustipher, Tiki: Modern Tropical Cockails2 oz Aged Rum½ oz Rhum Agricole Blanc½ oz Orange Curacao½ oz Orgeat½ oz Lime Juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with cubed ice. Shake and dump into a double rocks glass. Garnish with a Mint Spring and the reserved Lime shell.
Recommended spirts: Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum, Pananubes Rum, Marie Brizard Orange Curacao.
The Reverends Tai by Matt Pietrek 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice¼ oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao ½ oz Orgeat ½ oz Plantation Rum O.F.T.D. Overproof1½ oz Plantation Rum Stigginss Fancy
Shake with ice. Serve over fresh crushed ice in a double old fashioned glass. Garnish with spent lime shell and other festive Tiki staples, e.g. pineapple fronds, orchids, etc.
Molasses Mai Tai by Kevin Crossman1 oz Lime Juice
Recommended spirits:
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Best Mai Tai Recipe: How To Make A Mai Tai
Mai Tai Bon Appétit. rum, simple syrup, white rum, curaçao, fresh lime juice, orgeat and 2 more. The MAI-TAI from Poipu Beach (Mai-tai means good in Tahitian, Poipu means crashing waves in Hawaiian. Just a Pinch. orgeat syrup, pineapple, maraschino cherry, orange juice, rock candy syrup and 5 more.
1 tsp Cherry Vanilla Puree. ½ oz Amaretto di Saronno. ½ oz Cointreau. 1 oz Fresh Govinda Orange Juice. 2 oz Fresh Govinda Pineapple Juice. ½ oz Whalers Dark Rum Float. Roll the shaker, pour in a large bucket glass. Float with Whalers Dark Rum, garnish with a parasol with cherry, pineapple and lime wedge.
How To Make malibu mai tai. 1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients and shake vigorously. 2. Strain into a tall glass or a Tiki glass. 3. Garnish, if desired, with a half orange slice or pineapple slice. Last Step: Dont forget to share!
Method. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cherry and umbrella and serve.
For garnish: Pineapple chunks. Maraschino cherries. Lime or orange wedges. Sprig of mint. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Pour over ice and garnish with a pineapple chunk, cherry, lime, and sprig of mint. Drink responsibly and enjoy!
What To Serve With A Mai Tai Cocktail
Here are some fun ideas that would taste great paired with this homemade mai tai cocktail recipe:
For a super tropical main dish to serve alongside these delicious Mai Tais, try this recipe for Pineapple Salsa Chicken. Chicken is flavored with a simple Caribbean chicken marinade, then grilled to perfection before being topped with pineapple salsa.
You can never go wrong with a burger in the summer. These Teriyaki Turkey Burgers are served on a tender brioche bun with the homemade Teriyaki BBQ Sauce, some greens, a grilled pineapple slice and onions.
For a tropical appetizer to serve with this Mai Tai recipe, try these Grilled Pineapple Lettuce Cups or Strawberry Mango Salsa.
A Mai Tai would be super refreshing along side these spicy Mango Habanero Pork Ribs.
Dont see what youre looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
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What Are The Ingredients For The Original Mai Tai
The original Mai Tai recipe doesnt contain many of the fruit juices, grenadine, or simple syrups typically found in tiki drinks. All of those ingredients add sweetness, flavor, and color to tropical cocktails. The original version is not the sweet drink many are accustomed to enjoying at their favorite resort.
The original contains the following ingredients:
- Golden or Amber Rum : this rum doesnt contain any spices or flavorings.
- Lime Juice: freshly squeezed .
- Orgeat Syrup: adds a slight almond flavor and a touch of sweetness.
- Orange liqueur: use either curaçao, Grand Marnier, or Cointreau to add orange flavor to the cocktail.
- Dark Rum: used to float over the top of the cocktail just prior to serving.
Mai Tai Tips And Variations:
- The pineapple juice and grenadine are non-traditional ingredients when it comes to a classic Mai Tai cocktail. They add an extra layer of flavor and pinkish orange color but you can absolutely leave them out if you prefer.
- For a stronger drink, blend white and gold rum as the base and float the dark rum on top as instructed. It becomes dangerously deceptive in flavor but original Mai Tais were created to show off the flavors in the different types of rum, so why not make a blend!
- Coconut rum can be used for a flavored version.
- This easy Mai Tai recipe makes one cocktail, however you can easily make larger batches for parties or groups. Keep all the ratios of the ingredients the same, just increase the amount of each!
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How To Make The Original Mai Tai #1 Tiki Recipe
Instructions
- Combine light rum, dark rum, orange curacao, orgeat, lime juice, falernum, and cracked ice into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously (and we mean VIGOROUSLY, it truly makes the difference
- Strain into an old fashioned glass over shaved ice.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a purple orchid.
Whats The Best Type Of Rum For A Mai Tai
This is incredibly subjective, but as a general rule of thumb youll want to look for a rum thats not spiced. I prefer using a blend of white and dark rums to make mai tais. The combination of rums creates a more complex flavor!
- Best dark rum for mai tais: Try Appleton Estate 8 Reserve Rum. Look for a dark rum with caramel and vanilla notes.
- Best light rum for mai tais: A classic brand likeBacardi is a good choice.
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Build The Cocktail In The Shaker
Now, add 1 ounce each of both of your rums, ½ ounce Grand Marnier, ½ ounce orgeat syrup, 3 ounces pineapple juice, and 2 ounces orange juice to the cocktail shaker.
Orgeat syrup is not a super common ingredient, but it’s what makes mai tais extra special. Rapone says it “makes it a more authentic version, like what you would find in Hawaii. It adds a rich almond undertone, which definitely helps balance the sweetness.” Yum!
Can I Easily Make These For A Crowd
A Mai Tai cocktail is a great drink for a crowd. It is very easy to multiply this recipe by the number of servings needed. Just add the chilled white rum, lime juice, orange curacao, and orgeat syrup to a large pitcher or punch bowl in the quantity you want. Then, pour the punch over ice in glasses, carefully top with the dark rum, then add garnishes. A fun Mai Tai bar would be so amazing for summer parties.
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The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission.
If you find yourself wanting to like the original Mai Tai, but not quite able to do so, this is your drink. This recipe for a Pineapple Mai Tai adds a couple ingredients to the quintessential rum cocktail making it a bit sweeter and more fruity.
This pineapple and rum drink has two ingredients too many to be an original Mai Tai recipe. Were adding pineapple juice and simple syrup to play up the tropical vibes. Theres no orange juice in this recipe because you dont need it if you use a good quality orange liqueur. That spirit will bring in the juicy orange flavor without needing to add another ingredient.
Like many other tiki drinks, this Pineapple Mai Tai has a lot of ingredients and when combined with ice, it will need a tall glass to hold it all. There are tons of fun tiki glasses out there – I’m obsessed with the pineapple glasses in these pictures – but you can always use a simple highball glass if thats what you have on hand.
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How To Make The Best Hawaiian Mai Tais
Step 1Prep garnishes. Slice some fresh pineapple for garnish. I also recommend using some maraschino cherries for garnish as well.
Step 2Measure the ingredients. In a large cocktail shaker, combine the ingredients the light and dark rum, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, pineapple/orange juice, and orgeat syrup.
Step 3Prep glasses. Add some ice to two glasses. Add pineapple garnishes and/or cherries.
Step 4Serve. Add some ice to the cocktail shaker, add lid, and shake vigorously. Pour mai tai mixture into the prepared glasses. Cheers!
What Does A Mai Tai Taste Like
The mai tai drink is tart and strong in flavor. Although its made with a sweet and sour mix these days, its by no means a sweet cocktail.
The rum flavor is prominent in a mai tai, so its important to use one thats good quality.
In short, its a cocktail with a distinct rum flavor and just a hint of lime.
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Tahiti Nui Mai Tai Recipe
To create a cocktail close to the Tahiti Nui Mai Tai Recipe :
- Add 1 oz of Pineapple Juice and a splash of guava, orange and/or passion fruit juice. Their Hawaiian Mai Tai recipe certainly has the addition of fresh fruit juices that made it taste just a bit smoother and that more tropical.
Once youve tasted a finely crafted Hawaiian Mai Tai drink, you may be spoiled by any other version! Try this concoction that will make you say A-LO-ha!
Kilohana Plantations 1944 Mai Tai Recipe
Since we didnt leave the island until late at night the next day, we practically had a whole extra day to enjoy the last bits of tropical fun on Kauai.
We visited the Kilohana Plantation and their bar was in the midst of their happy hour. This bar is a part of the old plantation home and full of antiques and atmosphere.
We also discovered the drinks are also works of art!
We enjoyed their 1944 Mai Tai, which was described as being patterned after the original Mai Tai recipe, birthed by Trader Vic Bergerons recipe in 1944. The original Mai Tai created by Trader Vic used aged Jamaican rum. Here at the plantation, the Koloa Rum Mai Tai is amazing. The Koala Rum is perfect for the tropical Mai Tai recipe.
The plantation still is full of fruit trees and some patches of sugar cane, so the bar recipe contained many fresh, but unique ingredients.
Their ingredients for a Mai Tai starts with fresh lime juice, Koloa Gold rum , Tahitian vanilla-infused simple syrup, fresh-pressed sugar cane juice, orgeat-almond syrup, orange Curacao, fresh mint and finished with a floater of Koloa Dark rum.
Heres how to make the best Mai Tai we found in Kauai.
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How To Make A Mai Tai
How to make a Mai Tai Cocktail. Add all ingredients except the dark rum into a boston shaker with crushed ice. Shake well for around 30 seconds, until the ingredients are well mixed. Pour the mix and ice into a rocks glass. Add a little more ice to make a crown and then float the dark rum over the top of the drink.
What Is The Best Rum For A Mai Tai
The original Mai Tai recipe uses light and dark rum. You want to be sure to use a good-quality rum, since this cocktail is mostly rum based. However, this is also not the time to reach for your most expensive bottle of aged rum, since its flavor will become diluted.
Here are some great rum options for making a real Mai Tai drink. They can be found in the liquor store for under $30:
- Cruzan Aged White Rum
- Havana Club Anejo Blanco Puerto Rican Rum
As for the dark rum, and mid-quality dark rum will do , but you do NOT want spiced rum for this recipe.
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How To Make A Mai Tai Pitcher Cocktail
You can easily use this recipe for mai tais to make a pitcher cocktail rather than individual glasses.
To make a pitcher mai tai, measure the ingredients in parts rather than in shots. The easiest way to do this would be to use measuring cups. So, ½ oz would become ½ cup and so on.
Note that youll have to mix the rum into the pitcher cocktail rather than floating it.
Historical And Island Mai Tai Recipes
The Island Mai Tai or Hawaiian Mai Tai is the iconic version of the cocktail, most likely the version that most people picture in their minds. Pineapple Juice and the Dark Rum Float were added to Mai Tais served in Hawaii starting in the late 1950s and were pervasive by the 1960s. That style is certainly the version that is most common in the islands today.
Some Pineapple and maybe some Orange Juice are okay in a Mai Tai, but when Amaretto is introduced replace the Orgeat and especially when heaps of Roses Grenadine are added it is no longer really a Mai Tai. As such, we dont include those recipes here.
1956 Mai Tai by Trader Vic Bergeron1 ounce Lime Juice¼ ounce Rock Candy Syrup¼ ounce Curacao1½ ounces Lightly Aged Puerto Rican Rum¾ ounce Hamilton 114 rum
Mix in 16 ounce tumbler glass with shaved ice. Drop half a spent lime shell in the glass. Stir and decorate with fresh mint. This was supposedly the recipe served at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel according to Trader Vic himself.
1958 Havana Trader Vics Mai TaiIn Mai Tai glass filled with shaved ice:Juice of 1 Whole Lime 1 ounce Mai Tai Mix1 ounce Trader Vics 15 yr Jamaica Rum1 ounce St. James RymShake and decorate with Lime shell, fresh Mint, and Fruit stick.
- Learn more: 1958 Mai Tai
House without a Key Mai Tai, Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki1 ¼ oz Lime Juice oz Orgeat oz Rock Candy Syrup oz Orange Curacao ¾ oz Bacardi Select/Black Rum¾ oz Bacardi Gold RumFloat ½ oz Lemon Hart 151 Rum
1½ oz Gold or Amber Rum½ oz Dark Rum
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