Mai Tai Cocktails evoke nostalgia even for those of us who are too young to remember tiki bars. A rum-based- and I do mean rum-based- cocktail, it is laced with sweet undertones and a punch of citrus from lime juice. Crushed ice dilutes the potency of the drink as it is poured into the most obnoxious glasses you own. Garnish your cocktails with a lime shell and sprig of mint and sip profoundly. Mai tais are potent. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
What is a Mai Tai Cocktail?
Mai tai comes from the polynesian word maita’i, which means “perfect” or “excellent”. I have yet to hear anyone say anything contradictory after tasting it. Its original version is nothing short of perfection. But, first! We need drama. There’ s always drama. Like the piña colada, the true creator of the Mai Tai has been hotly debated.
Victor Bergeron, Jr. (of Trader Vic’s fame) claims he first invented the drink in the mid-40s. However, Donn Beach, of Don the Beachcomber’s, claims the drink is his creation from the mid-30s. Since no one truly cares when, and by whom, it was created, we’re just going to praise the heavens it was created and move the hell on. But, why does every recipe begin with the same scandal?
The foundational ingredients of this cocktail are: rum, sweet syrup, and citrus juice. The variation plays out differently based on the mixologist. My version tows the line between Bergeron’s and Beach’s, but leans heavily towards Bergeron’s. No one makes the exact recipe these days. How am I so sure of that, you ask? I know because no one, that I know of, is willing to shell out FIFTY-FIVE grand for a bottle of Wray and Nephew 17 rum. Wray and Nephew 17 rum was the rum Bergeron swore by when making his mai tai. Rumor has it that the popularity of this very cocktail led to its shortage and demand increased. As expensive as it is, I’m not desperate enough to make this cocktail that authentic.
What you need to make your Mai Tai
Gather your ingredients to make this cocktail: white and dark rums, orgeat (or almond simple syrup), lime juice (freshly squeezed), orange curaçao, and demerara (or turbinado in a pinch) simple syrup.
Of course, you’ll also need your tiki glasses (or a tall old-fashioned glass), and crushed ice (the nugget kind is perfect for this).
Let’s get mixing!
Make the Simple Syrup
At least 20 minutes ahead of mixing, make your Demerara sugar simple syrup. Since we don’t have that “rich-people” rum, we’re going to mimic its molasses flavor by adding this to our drink.
Demerara sugar is pure, unrefined cane sugar. In a pinch, turbinado sugar- AKA Sugar in the Raw- or dark brown sugar can stand in. In a small pot, stir together equal parts demerara and cold water. Bring this mixture up to a boil while stirring to encourage that coarse sugar to melt. Remove the pot from the stove once the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is dissolved.
Allow the simple syrup to cool completely before using it. Because simple syrup contains sugar, it’s best to store it in the fridge and not at room temperature. Unless, of course, you’re going to use it all up to make these mai tais. Then just let it cool to room temp on the counter.
Begin the Mai Tai Mixology
Once the simple syrup has been made, the rest of the recipe is as simple as “pour and shake”.
Pour the freshly squeezed lime juice into the biggest cocktail shaker you own. The day will never come when I suggest using bottled lime juice. This recipe is definitely not a “bottled lime juice” one. The zip and brightness of the lime juice is what cuts through the malty-caramel of the rum and simple syrup.
After you’ve juiced the limes, save two of the lime shells for later.
In lieu of orange juice, which, in my opinion, makes a mai tai too sweet, we add orange curaçao.
Dekuyper is my go-to brand. Since there’s more than one type of curaçao, pay close attention to what you’re picking up. I’ve made the mistake of grabbing blue curaçao and ended up with Smurf drinks. Even the blue curaçao tastes of orange, but it doesn’t fit the color scheme for our mai tai.
If you can’t get your hands on orange curaçao for some reason, use triple sec. Cointreau is a last resort if you can’t find either, but since it’s not a true curaçao- one made with lahara fruit from Curaçao- try for the first two. Avoid Grand Marnier altogether since that’s an orange brandy-based liqueur and not a sugar cane one.
Add the orange curaçao to the shaker.
Sweeten It Up
In addition to the raw sugar simple syrup, the mai tai is sweetened with orgeat. Orgeat (pronounced ohr-ZHAT) is a non-alcoholic, almond-flavored syrup sweetener used in most tiki drinks. Monin is the brand I use most often. Don’t overdo it on the orgeat- no matter how much you love its aroma. You can go from maita’i to “bleh” in a teaspoon with this stuff.
As an aside: When I can get my hands on it, I like to add a tablespoon of falernum- instead of orgeat- to my mai tais. Falernum (fa-LEHR-num) has more complexity of flavors with its vanilla, lime, and cloves, in addition to almond. Also called Velvet Falernum, it’s a pain in the butt to find in certain markets, but if you’re lucky enough to score a bottle, grab it.
Hell! Grab two!
On to the Backbone of this Mai Tai
Since we need to mimic that expensive-ass rum, we’re going to use both white and black Bacardi rums. In case this your first recipe with me, I’m Puerto Rican so I’m all about sticking to rum that I know. Jamaican or Cruzan rums are two other great options to use in this recipe, as well. There are even great Hawaiian rums on the market now!
However, for the average budget, you can’t go wrong with Bacardi Superior and Black.
Add the white rum (Superior) to the shaker.
And follow that with the Black rum. You can use Amber rum if you don’t have black on hand. The darker the better, though. It best mimics that charcoal-like, malty flavor of the super expensive rum.
Once everything has been added to the shaker, cap it, and shake vigorously. Yes, I realize we didn’t put ice in the cocktail shaker. There’s a method to my madness. Stay with me.
Chill with the Right Ice
Because cocktail shakers are only so big and because we’re going to need to dilute all this licka, I’m pouring the mai tai over ice.
I really need you to invest in some tacky tiki glasses, by the way.
Fill your throwback tiki glasses to the top with nugget ice. You know what nugget ice is, right? It’s the ice pregnant women will claw your eyes out to get. I buy mine from Sonic, but if you don’t have one nearby, you can just use crushed ice. But be sure to fill it all the way to the top of the glass.
Now, remember, the majority of this mai tai is liquor, so it needs to be watered down. That’s why we’re adding so much ice now. Either add the ice, or wake up tomorrow with a hangover. You can’t have it both ways.
Make Your Mai Tai Cocktails Fun with Garnishes
What I love most about this mai tai cocktail is the garnish we’re floating on it. Can you guess what the lime shell and mint sprig represent?!?!?
AN ISLAND!!!! I knoooooooowwww!!! Sooo adorable!!! (If you didn’t guess an island, you need to pretend like you did)
Take those lime shells you reserved earlier and use a toothpick to pierce a hole on one side. Insert a sprig of mint into the hole you made with the toothpick. Place the island on the ice and your mai tai is gorgeously garnished!
Insert bamboo straws– you better not even think of paper parasols- and your mai tai is ready to be enjoyed.
Enjoy Responsibly
Please do so responsibly, though.
Pin this recipe to your cocktails board and share it with your friends and fam. Couldn’t we all use a little something maita’i these days?
Mai Tai Cocktail
Ingredients
Demerara Simple Syrup (Make 20 Minutes in Advance)
- 1/4 cup demerara sugar
- 1/4 cup water
Mai Tai Cocktail
- 3 ounces lime juice reserve two of the lime shells
- 2 ounces orange curaçao
- 1 1/2 ounces demerara simple syrup
- 1 ounce orgeat*
- 4 ounces white rum
- 4 ounces dark rum
To Serve
- 2 mint sprigs
- 3 cups crushed ice
Instructions
Make the Demerara Simple Syrup
- In a small pot, stir together the demerara and cold water. Bring the mixture up to a boil while stirring to encourage that coarse sugar to melt. Remove the pot from the stove once the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is dissolved.
- Allow the simple syrup to cool completely before using it. This simple syrup can be made a week in advance. Because simple syrup contains sugar, it's best to store it in the fridge and not at room temperature.
Mix the Mai Tai
- Pour the lime juice, orange curaçao, simple syrup, orgeat, white, and dark rums into a large cocktail shaker.
- Cap it, and shake the contents vigorously.
- Fill two tall highball or tiki glasses to the top with nugget (or crushed) ice. Divide the mai tai between the two ice-filled glasses.
- Use a toothpick to pierce a hole into the two lime shells you reserved earlier.Insert a sprig of mint into the hole you made with the toothpick. Place the "island" on the ice to garnish your cocktails.
- Enjoy responsibly.
Notes
Nutrition
This Mai Tai isn’t the only controversial cocktail out there!
Try these out, too:
Classic Piña Colada
Mangonadas (Spiced Mango Margarita)
Definitely know what we’ll me trying this weekend 🍹 picking up a bottle of curaçao asap!
Go for it, Nij! You’re going to love this one!
Oh I am so ready to re-create this Mai Tai! You’re step-by-step instructions are PERFECT! I will definitely be tagging you on IG as soon as I make it!
Awesome! Thanks, Tamara!
I love Mai Tai’s. Gotta try this!
Enjoy it!
This cocktail looks so refreshing and tasty! I will have to try it soon since I have all of the ingredients on hand already. AND not the rich people rum either lol.
LOL!!! Yeah! Forget that rich people rum, girl!
How cute is the little lime islands in the drink?? I love it! I love a good mai tai but I’ve never known the history and origins of the drink, so thanks for this post and delicious recipe!
It’s my pleasure, Chenée!
I am on my way Marta!! Perfect for Happy Hour!!
Lol!! It is a great happy hour drink
Hi Marta! I always learn so much reading your post! This Mai Tai looks amazing! I can not wait to make it!
Enjoy it!
This looks amazing! Just what I need for the weekend! Thank you for sharing!
Me pleasure.
Girl, you gonna have me thinking I’m a mixologist! I can’t wait to try this!!
YOU CAN DO IT!!
I love learning something new and had no idea what mai tai meant. Your version looks amazing!
Thanks, Brittany!
I haven’t had a Mai Tai in yearrsssss! I believe it was my 22nd birthday.
Well, it’s time to change that, Heather!
Oh yes please. I would love to sip on one of these. It looks incredible.
Thanks, Amber!
Mai Tais are one of my favorite go-to fruity drinks cravings!!!! It’s the best! I also NEED those glasses!!! SO CUTE
This one isn’t as fruity as they normally are, since it’s made like the original recipe.
This looks fabulous!! Have never made my own Mai Tai at home. I can’t wait to give this recipe a try!!
It tastes so much better at home.
I seem to only have these cocktails on vacation, but now since I know how to make it, I can have it at home. We all need to let our hair down in these difficult times.
Ain’t that the truth, Millie!
The glasses, the island SO. CUTE! I’ve never tried this but I love anything with rum so it’s going to be my next choice
You’re going to love this, Mimi!
I have never needed a Mai Tai cocktail on a beach as much as I do today. I suppose I’ll settle for garden=side instead. Thanks for this recipe!
Yes. Gardenside will work too.
This is something I’ve never trie so I can’t wait to make it. Btw your glasses are super cute x
Thanks! I love them
Looks like a great recipe! If I drank alcohol I would totally try this!
Normally I’d be able to offer a virgin option, but this one has too much rum, LOL!
*cringes in college regret* Holy heck I miss Mai Tai’s but this one seems so much more legit than the ones during the college years (I’m looking at you terrible bartenders and sketchy frat boys). It’s the perfect transition into summer so I can’t wait to make it. It’s always 5’oclock somewhere!
P.S. I love those glasses!
LOLLLL!!!! You have me snorting over here, I’m laughing so hard!
Haha! It’s time for me to ring in 25 upgrading from college drinks!
Yes, girl! Level up to adulthood in style!