Easy Mai Tai
Our Mai Tai is rum forward with a pop of orange and hint of nuttiness that is never overly sweet. This is the kind of drink where you take one sip and are already planning to make another!
I love tropical cocktails like the Blue Hawaiian, Bahama Mama, and Pina Colada. Another favorite is the Mai Tai. It's a tiki legend for a reason! It tastes like vacation in a glass and is ready in just a few minutes.
Why Our Recipe Is the Best: A Sprinkle of Mixology
- It Uses the Right Rum: We use Jamaican rum which is aged and complex which mimics the original recipe from Trader Vic's.
- It's Made With Fresh Lime Juice: It is fresh, tart, and balances the drink without tasting artificial.
- It Uses High Quality Orgeat: The almond flavor doesn't get lost or taste overly bitter.
- It Skips the Fruit Juice: This prevents the drink from being syrupy sweet.
Ingredient Notes + Shopping Tips
- White Rum: I like the complex flavor of aged white rum. My go to brand here is Denizen. The Real McCoy 3 is also good.
- Dark Rum: Denizen Merchant's Reserve was designed for Mai Tais and is hands down our favorite. It is a Jamaican and Martinique blend that has a long fermentation time. This gives it a unique complex flavor with notes of banana and molasses. Appleton Estate Reserve is also very good.
- Orange Curacao: I like a slightly bitter citrus component like Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao. You can also use Triple Sec.
- Orgeat Syrup: Look for one made with real ingredients like can sugar and orange flower or rose water. I like Liber & Co which has a strong almond flavor that doesn't get lost. B.G Reynold is decent too. Look for it near the mixers in the liquor store. If you can't find it you could even use an almond flavored liquor like Amaretto or even L'Orgeat.
- Lime: Use freshly squeezed juice for the best flavor. To get the most juice I like to roll my limes on the counter and/or microwave them for 15-20 seconds.
Krystle's Tips: Steal My Culinary School Secrets
- Use a Jigger: Eyeballing a half ounce is tricky even for bartenders. Measure everything to keep the ratios correct
- Perfect Layering: Pour dark rum slowly over the back of a spoon.
More Classic Cocktails To Try
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📖 Recipe
Easy Mai Tai
Our Mai Tai is rum forward with a pop of orange and hint of nuttiness that is never overly sweet. This is the kind of drink where you take one sip and are already planning to make another!
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Servings: 1 Drink
Calories: 239kcal
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ Ounces White Rum
- ¾ ounce Dark Rum
- ½ Ounce Lime Juice Freshly Squeezed
- ½ Ounce Orange Curacao
- ½ Ounce Orgeat Syrup
- Orange Slices or Maraschino Cherries For Garnish, If Desired
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Instructions
- Add white rum, lime juice, orange curacao, and orgeat syrup into a cocktail shaker. Shake until cold and combined about 10-15 seconds.
- Pour into glass and top with dark rum. Garnish with orange slices and cherries if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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