A mai tai cocktail is the perfect tropical drink. And there is nothing better to cool down on a hot, steamy summer day than this delicious mixed drink! Grab that cocktail shaker and start crafting one of the most famous tiki drinks – an easy Mai Tai!

A Brief History of The Mai Tai Cocktail

To explore the Mai Tai cocktail, you first have to know the roots of the “Tiki Culture.” The tiki culture was born out of the desire to fall in love with the unknown.

Americans, wanting to escape the Depression Era, would dress in their Sunday best, and flock to tropical nightclubs. Here, they would dance away the night under palm trees and coconuts while sipping their favorite cocktail at the time, a Martini.

Ernest Gantt turned the cocktail scene upside down. Ernest Gantt opened the doors to Don’s Beachcomber Cafe in Los Angeles in 1934. The bar was a place to escape, at least temporarily, to a far-off land. Wearing a pith hat, safari suits, and floral leis, Gantt would serve strong rum drinks in hollowed out pineapples and coconuts. And the “tiki culture” was born.

Finally, escaping the Depression Era, they visited tropical nightclubs in their nice suit while dancing the night away under palm trees and coconuts. But, even though they were lured by the tropical atmosphere they still played it safe and only ordered the drink they knew, a Martini.

All except one man, Ernest Gantt. The man who forever changed the cocktail. He was the first to combine exotic cocktails with over the top, tropical décor at his place, Don the Beachcomber.

Why is it called a Mai Tai?

When you sip a Mai Tai, you are taking a sip back in history to 1944. The owner of a tiki restaurant, Trader Vic (aka Victor Jules Bergeron), was serving a couple of friends from Tahiti at his Oakland tiki restaurant. Not wanting to serve the tried and true standards of the day – Martinis, Manhattans, and Daiquiris, he began to create a simple, yet exotic rum drink.

Using a golden-colored medium bodied rum from Jamaica, he combined it with fresh lime, orange, curaçao, a dash of rock candy sugar, and a dash of orgeat syrup. Then, he shook the mixture with shaved ice, added half a lime shell and a branch of mint. Serving the drink to his friends, he waited for their reaction. Carrie took one sip, and said, “Mai Tai-Roa Aé”, which is Tahitian for “Out of this world-the-best.” 

Through the years the Mai Tai has morphed and changed a bit. But one thing that has not changed is its ability to transport the sipper to the islands for a little while. Many of the Mai Tai cocktails you order on vacation, on cruise ships, or in bars are a bit sweeter, but still very tropical.

What are the ingredients for a Mai Tai?

If you like a sweet cocktail, a Mai Tai is the cocktail for you. This is such a good drink! The classic version of this drink includes two types of rum: a dark rum and an aged rum. While some Mai Tai cocktails use spiced rum, as well as other types of rum, fancy syrups, and extra liqueurs, we prefer the classic mai tai recipe.

The next signature ingredients in a traditional mai tai recipe are orgeat syrup and orange liqueur. Oddly, Orgeat is an almond syrup, made from almonds and sugar. And it is one of the essential ingredients that gives this tropical drink its distinctive flavor.

For the orange liqueur in a mai tai recipe, there are a few options to choose from. You can use Cointreau, Gran Marnier, or fresh squeezed orange juice. Your choice of orange liqueur, depends on your flavor preference. However, do not substitute pineapple juice juice for the orange liqueur, that is not part of the traditional recipe.

The last two ingredients are lime juice and simple syrup. You may omit the simple syrup, if you prefer this rum based cocktail less sweet, however the lime juice is a must! Traditionally, it is the only real fruit juice in the original Mai Tai recipe.

Substitution For Orgeat

If you don’t have orgeat, you can substitute it for an almond syrup, or even amaretto. If you use amaretto as a substitute, it may impart a slightly bitter flavor. Make sure to adjust the simple syrup ratio to taste.

The Original Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Recipe

• Jamaican Rum
• Aged Rum
• Simple syrup (see recipe below)
• Orgeat
• Fresh squeezed orange juice or orange liqueur
• Fresh Lime juice
• For Garnish: pineapple slice, maraschino cherry, mint sprig or a lime wedge

This a great drink, but be careful… it’s really potent!

How To Make A Mai Tai Cocktail

1. Fill a cocktail shaker full of ice
2. Add in all the Mai Tai ingredients
3. Put the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds of so until the shaker is very cold
4. fill a tall glass with ice
5. Pour the cocktail through the shaker strainer into a tall glass

Recipe for Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan
• Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
• Allow the syrup to cool 

Refreshing Mai Tai with a Tropical Twist

Now that you’ve tasted the original Mai Tai, it’s time for one with a tropical twist. This recipe is is perfect for outdoor gatherings, BBQs, or poolside parties. It’s a thirst quencher for those steamy summer afternoons and evenings when you need a refreshing cocktail before dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 oz dark rum
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1 oz amber rum
• 1 oz fresh orange juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1 drop pure almond extract
• 1 tsp sugar
• Dash of grenadine
• Garnish with a slice of orange

How To Make A Mai Tai With A Tropical Twist

1. Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 1 cup of ice cubes.
2. Strain into a glass filled with ice cubes – this one is perfect . For serving Mai Tais poolside, try these cocktail glasses

From it’s beginnings as a drink in the Tiki culture of the late 1930’s into the 1940s the Mai Tai has evolved into a popular cocktail found on almost every Caribbean island, cruise ship and beach bar. Now it’s super simple to craft this cocktail at home!

Try experimenting with fun cocktail glasses in different color or shapes. Fun garnishes like umbrellas or tropical fruits like pineapple are a beautiful touch as well. Perfect for summertime gatherings, this cocktail recipe will make you the hit of any party!

Looking for the perfect dish to serve with your Mai Tai? Try this Grilled Teriyaki Citrus Honey Salmon! The fruity and fresh flavor of the tropical Mai Tai will pair beautifully with the smoky citrus flavor of the salmon. It definitely a winning combo for a romantic dinner with your loved one.

Another tasty drink you may enjoy trying is the tropical Goombay Cocktail!