- 45 ml1.5 ozaged rum
- 15 ml0.5 ozorange curacao
- 15 ml0.5 ozorgeat
- 22.5 ml0.75 ozlime juice
Garnish: mint sprig and lime shell
- Method
- Shaken
- Strength
- ~20% ABV
- Difficulty
- ●●●
Method
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with crushed ice.
- Shake briefly.
- Pour unstrained into a rocks glass or tiki mug.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a spent lime shell.
The story
A California restaurateur built this one in the 1940s using a rare, now-extinct Jamaican rum, and the recipe has been argued about by tiki bartenders ever since. There's no pineapple or orange juice anywhere in the real version, just rum, almond and lime doing all the work.
Flavour
Quick answers
Mai Tai questions
How do you make a Mai Tai?
Add all ingredients to a shaker with crushed ice. Shake briefly. Pour unstrained into a rocks glass or tiki mug. Garnish with a mint sprig and a spent lime shell. You need 45 ml (1.5 oz) aged rum, 15 ml (0.5 oz) orange curacao, 15 ml (0.5 oz) orgeat and 22.5 ml (0.75 oz) lime juice.
What's in a Mai Tai?
Aged rum, orange curacao, orgeat and lime juice, garnished with mint sprig and lime shell.
Is a Mai Tai shaken or stirred?
Shaken. Shaking chills, dilutes and aerates the citrus or cream.
What glass is a Mai Tai served in?
A tiki mug, over crushed ice.
How strong is a Mai Tai?
About 20% ABV once it is diluted, about as strong as a glass of fortified wine.
Barback: 100 Cocktails
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