Mai Tai Cocktail

In the early 1950’s, the Mai Tai almost caused us to run out of rum!

Inspiration

Mai Tai

Made by Jena Ellenwood

Oh, the Mai Tai… In all my career I have rarely encountered a cocktail with so many variations, each so fiercly defended by its fans. The cocktail itself first appears in 1944 when cocktail legend states that Trader Vic shook one up for some Tahitian guests who exclaimed “Maita’i roa a’e,” which translates to, “Out of this world! The best!”

Claiming primacy, Don The Beachcomber suggested Vic took the recipe from his 1933 cocktail menu. Vic fired back and the two never did come to terms. Whoever created it, I like mine with quality orgeat and a little funk from agricole or clairin, my best friend prefers a dark rum float. However you shake your Mai Tai up, it’s simply the best (the name says so)!

If you love this cocktail, check out our full cocktail library or our YouTube Craft Cocktail Making playlist for home mixology lessons as you make your drink.

Let’s Get Shakin’

Serves: 1

Special Tools: Double Rocks Glass, Jigger, Shaker, Hand Juicer, Knife

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

1⁄2 oz orgeat

¾ oz fresh lime juice

¾ oz orange curaçao

1⁄2 oz white rum

1 1⁄2 oz pot still rum

Steps

Combine ingredients in shaker
Add crushed ice
Shake!
Dump everything into double rocks glass
Top with more crushed ice and mint sprig

Variations: Swap a funkier/grassier rhum agricole or clairin for white rum or, for a sweeter and boozier kick, float a 1⁄2 oz of dark rum on top. So many wonderful versions of the Mai Tai!

Suzanne making a sour face wondering if she'll like this cocktail

But will I like it?

Cocktail flavor profile

Getting to know your palate, what you like, and what you don’t like is a critical part of being a great craft tippler AND key to becoming a great home bartender as well! So before you break out that barware and buy the key ingredients, here’s a little guidance on what to expect from this cocktail so you can start to hone in on exactly what elements of cocktails you enjoy and which you’d prefer to minimize. This helps you order new cocktails you love when you’re out on the town better as well!