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The classic Mai Tai drink recipe is a strong cocktail with a refreshing citrus and rum flavor that isn’t overly sweet.
The Mai Tai is a classic tiki cocktail that conjures up images of an exotic, tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific.
Whip up this bevvy, relax in a lounge chair outside, and close your eyes. You’ll have no trouble imagining the feel of an ocean breeze and the sound of waves crashing on shore.
Mai Tai Origin
Despite popular misconception, the Mai Thai is not from Thailand!
According to Wikipedia, Victor J. Bergeron claimed to invent this cocktail at his restaurant, Trader Vic’s, in Oakland, California in 1944.
The Original Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe
If you’ve never made this drink at home, you’ll see just how easy it is!
Mai Tai Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
- Light rum
- Orange curacao
- Orgeat
- Lime juice
- Crushed ice
- Dark rum – to float on top
- Maraschino cherry – optional garnish
- Lime wheel – classic garnish
- Mint sprig – classic garnish
How to Make a Mai Tai From Scratch
- Add the light rum to a rocks glass or a shaker glass.
- Pour in the orange curacao.
- Measure in the orgeat syrup.
- Add the fresh lime juice.
- Now add the crushed ice and give it a stir. If you’re using a shaker glass, put the lid on and give it a shake!
- Slowly pour the dark rum on top to float it. If you’re using a shaker glass, pour the cocktail into a rocks glass with crushed ice and then slowly pour the dark rum on top.
Don’t forget your favorite garnishes. I like a mint sprig, lime wheel, and maraschino cherry. Cheers!
Equipment
Let me start by saying that you don’t need any fancy equipment to make this cocktail recipe! You can just add all the ingredients to a glass, and if you want, you can leave the layers without stirring and sip it. And definitely don’t stir after you float the rum on top!
However, if you feel like you want to take your cocktails to the next level in general, a shaker set is an easy way to do it. And bonus, you can find a decent set that’s relatively inexpensive!
Variations
Different variations of this cocktail add orange juice or pineapple juice, amaretto, falernum, or grenadine.
Mixologist’s Tips
- Use fresh-squeezed lime juice for the most intense bright citrus flavor.
- If you can’t find orgeat syrup, for this recipe you can substitute 2 tablespoons simple syrup + 1 drop almond extract + 1 drop orange extract (or if you don’t have orange extract, you can use 1/4 teaspoon orange blossom water).
- The classic version of this cocktail is slightly tart in a refreshing way. However, if you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, feel free to add a splash of pineapple juice.
Mai Tai Drink Recipe FAQs
Orgeat syrup is a sweet syrup with a slight bit of creaminess, a strong almond flavor, and a hint of floral orange blossom water.
Tip: If you don’t have orgeat syrup, you can substitute with simple syrup and a couple drops of almond extract and orange extract or orange blossom water.
A lime wheel and mint sprig are classic garnishes for this tiki cocktail. I also like to add a maraschino cherry for the little pop of color and sweetness. If you really want an elaborate, fun presentation, you can add a pineapple wedge!
Even though I’ve heard that floating dark rum on top isn’t part of the original Mai Thai recipe, I think it’s a fun and pretty addition! You can choose if you want to do it or not.
To float the dark rum on top, gently pour the rum onto the top of the ice. It will float!
Tip: To help the rum pour gently and slowly, you can hold a spoon upside down over the ice and pour the rum onto the spoon, letting it flow into the glass on the ice.
More Cocktails to Try
- Hot Toddy
- Sour Cherry Margarita
- Blackberry Mojito Mocktail or Cocktail
- French 75 Cocktail
- Lilac Violet Wedding Cocktail
Let’s Connect
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
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Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces light rum
- 1 1/2 ounces orange curacao
- 1 ounce orgeat syrup
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 1/2 ounce dark rum
- 1 maraschino cherry for garnish
- 1 lime wheel for garnish
- 1 fresh mint sprig
Instructions
- Stir together the light rum, orange curacao, orgeat syrup, and lime juice in a rocks glass.
- Add the crushed ice and float the dark rum on top.
- Garnish with a cherry, lime wheel, and mint sprig.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- How to Float Rum: To float the dark rum on top, gently pour the rum onto the top of the ice. To help the rum gently and slowly pour, you can hold a spoon upside down over the ice and pour the rum onto the spoon, letting it flow into the glass on the ice.
- Substitute for Orgeat: If you can’t find orgeat syrup, for this recipe you can substitute 2 tablespoons simple syrup + 1 drop almond extract + 1 drop orange extract (or if you don’t have orange extract, you can use 1/4 teaspoon orange blossom water).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
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This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on May 21, 2021 and updated on June 7, 2024.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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