How To Make A Mai Tai

The name “mai tai” comes from the Tahitian saying “mai tai roa,” which is loosely translated to “out of this world.” The origin story of the Mai Tai is out of this world as two people claim they invented the tropical cocktail. Victor Bergeron claims to have invented the Mai Tai in 1944 at his California restaurant Trader Vic’s. But, Donn Beach of Don the Beachcomber claims that recipe was a copy of his own similar-tasting creation, the Q.B. Cooler.

EQUIPMENT

Ingredients

INSTRUCTIONS 

  1. Pour the lime juice, orgeat, curaçao or almond extract,and rum into the shaker.
  2. Add ice. Shake until very cold,about 15 seconds.
  3. Fill the glass with fresh ice and strain into it. Garnish with the lime wheel and mint sprig.

quick tip

It’s ideal to use a Jamaican rum, such as Plantation Rum Jamaica or Appleton’s Estate. For the orange curaçao, Pierre Ferrand or Cointreau is best. And if you don’t have orgeat,you can use ¾ ounce of simple syrup and a drop of almond extract.

Mai Tai

The name “mai tai” most likely comes from the Tahitian saying “mai tai roa,” which more or less means “out of this world.” The origin story of the MaiTai is similarly out of this world as two people claim they invented the tropical cocktail.

  • 1 ounce lime juice
  • 3/4 ounce orgeat
  • 1/2 ounce orange curacao
  • 1 ounce demerara rum
  • 1 ounce age dark rum
  • Lime Wheel and mint spreg

  1. Pour the lime juice, orgeat, curaçao or almond extract,and rum into the shaker.

  2. Add ice. Shake until very cold,about 15 seconds.

  3. Fill the glass with fresh ice and strain into it. Garnish with the lime wheel and mint sprig.

It’s ideal to use a Jamaican rum, such as Plantation Rum
Jamaica or Appleton’s Estate. For the orange curaçao, Pierre
Ferrand or Cointreau is best. And if you don’t have orgeat,
you can use ¾ ounce of simple syrup and a drop of almond
extract.