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Mai Tai
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- 1 ounce light rum
- 1 ounce gold rum
- 1/2 ounce orange curaçao
- 1/2 ounce Orgeat (Almond Syrup)
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce dark rum
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Shake all but the dark rum with ice.
Strain into old fashioned glass.
Top with the dark rum.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
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Mai Tai
DrinkBoy says:
Always use fresh lime juice. And the float of dark rum on the top is an important addition, but then be sure you use straws to drink it with.
Invented in 1944 by Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron, when he mixed Jamaican rum, juice from a frsh lime, a few dashes of orange curaco syrup, some french orgeat, and rock candy syrup. As recounted by Trader Vic history, it was served to some friends from Tahiti, who promptly proclaimed "Mai Tai, Roa Ae!", which in Tahitian means "Out of this world, the best!".
Mr. Bergeron was so put out by all of the various lounges that claimed to be the birthplace of the Mai Tai, that he contacted the friends he originally made his concoction for, and had them sign an affidavit attesting to it origins.
More often then not, when you order this drink it will also include Pinapple, Orange Juice, and who knows what other fruity additives in an attempt to increase he tropical flair of this drink.
I recently asked a bartender friend, who's abilities I trust, how he made a Mai Tai, his response was:
"Light Rum, Dark Rum, and a bunch of juices"
Ok. I'll never order a Mai Tai from him.
In the past, this cocktail was never one I would order twice. But I happened to order it at Chopsticks, a great little chinese restaurant here in Seattle, and it has since become such a standard for me, that no sooner have I taken my seat, then a fresh Mai Tai is on its way over without my having to say a thing.
In my mind, Trader Vic's original recipe is the only way to make this drink. The only juice is Lime, and the only spirit is Rum.
However, just to be complete, here is an alternate recipe that uses several different juices.
Mai Tai (Pineapple variation)
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1/2 ounce triple sec
- 1/4 ounce Rose's lime juice
- 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 1/2 ounces orange juice
- 1 dash of Grenadine
- 1/2 ounce dark rum
Shake all but the dark rum with cracked ice.
Strain into old-fashioned glass.
Top with dark rum.
Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry
