Classic Tiki Cocktail Recipes: Learn how to make a great Mai Tai cocktail drink.
Different Mai Tai recipes are included. Also, we will learn about the origins of the Mai Tai, one of the kings of tiki cocktail drinks.
By: Kimo Cattlett
By far, one of the super stars of the tiki bar.
No other cocktail drink says tiki quit like the legendary Mai Tai.
ORIGINS OF THE MAI TAI:
Mai Tai means, or is translated as meaning "Great, The Best!" That was the first words uttered during the tasting of the start of the Mai Tai experiment.
There is a great debate over who invented the Mai Tai. Credit usually goes to the famous Victor Bergeron, aka "Trader Vic." Another famous tiki legend "Don the Beachcomber"or Don Beach, also claims credit. Trader Vic said that if anybody says they invented the Mai Tai, then they are a dirty lier.
The original recipe, severed at Trader Vic's restarant, was kept top secret. Ingredients were pre-mixed, so even the bartenders did not fully know what was in it. This still happens in todays pure blooded tiki bars.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Original Mia Tia did not have all the juices that todays restaurants serve. The only fresh juice in the original Trader Vic's recipe was lime. Todays pubs serve the Mai Tia with a lot of pineapple juice, which the original Mai Mai never had.
Trader Vic's Original Mai Tai Recipe - 1944
- 2 ounces of 17-year old J. Wray and Nephew Rum over shaved ice.
- Add juice from one fresh lime.
- 1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao.
- 1/4 ounce Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup.
- 1/2 ounce Orgeat Syrup (Trader Vics)
- Shake in cocktail shaker.
- Touch of fresh mint to garnish.
"Older Way" Mai Tai Recipe - Late 90's
- 1 ounce Fine Jamaican Rum (Appleton Estate, Myers Rum)
- 1 ounce Martinique Rum
- 1/2 ounce Orange Curacao
- 1/2 ounce Orgeat Syrup (trader vics)
- Fresh Lime Juice 3/4 ounce
- Mix & Serve
"Restraurant Style" Mai Tai Recipe
- 1 1/4 ounces Light Rum (Bacardi Silver, Cruzan Light)
- 1 ounce Dark Rum (Myers's Dark, Capitan Morgan)
- 1/2 ounce Triple Sec (Potter's, Dekuyper)
- 1/2 ounce Orgeat or Almond Syrup
- 3/4 ounce Orange Juice
- 3/4 ounce Pineapple Juice
- 3/4 ounce Sweet and Sour Mix
- Mix with Crushed Ice & Top with Dark Rum
- Garnish with Cherry, Orange or Pineapple
"Restraurant Style Two" Mai Tai
- 1 1/2 ounces Light Rum (Bacardi, Cruzan)
- 1 1/2 ounces Dark Rum (Myers's Dark, Capitan Morgan)
- 1 1/2 ounces Apricot Brandy (Dekuyper)
- 4 1/2 ounces Orange Juice
- 4 1/2 ounces Pineapple Juice
- 1 1/4 ounces Grenadine (to sink or float)
"Quick and Dirty" Mai Tai
- 2 ounces Light Rum (any white rum)
- 1 ounces Triple Sec
- 2 ounces Pineapple juice
- 1 ounce Orange Juice
- 1 ounce Amaretto
Glasses and mugs for the Mai Tai.
Tall old fashioned, fish bowl or favorite tiki mug.
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Tiki Article Summary
Tiki Drink recipes present, different versions of how to make a great mai tai cocktail. The Mai Tai is a great tropical cocktail drink that uses rum and fruit juice. Learn about a classic vintage cocktail for the golden era of tiki. A Trader Vic's original mixed drink. Read about one of the best rum recipes on the planet.
