Do you want to bring the taste of the tropics to your own home? Then you need to try this tropical Mai Tai recipe.
This cocktail is the perfect way to transport yourself to a sunny beach, even if you’re stuck at home.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a refreshing and exotic drink that will make you feel like you’re on vacation.
So, grab your cocktail shaker and get ready to mix up a taste of paradise!
History of the Mai Tai
The Mai Tai is an iconic rum-based cocktail that epitomizes tropical tiki culture.
Its classic recipe includes:
• Aged Jamaican rum
• Orange curaçao
• Fresh lime juice
• Orgeat syrup
• Simple syrup
You mix these ingredients by shaking them vigorously with ice, then strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron is attributed with the Mai Tai’s origin in 1944.
He created it at his Oakland, California restaurant, Trader Vic’s. Legend has it that when Bergeron served the drink to Tahitian friends, they exclaimed “Mai tai-roa ae!”, meaning “Out of this world! The best!”
This cocktail helped launch the tiki craze of the 1950s and 60s.
Tiki bars across America began featuring their own versions, often adding fruit juices or additional spirits.
The original recipe remained a closely guarded secret for years.
Rival restaurateur Don the Beachcomber even claimed he had invented it earlier.
However, Trader Vic’s version is now widely accepted as the authentic Mai Tai.
Today, you can find Mai Tais on menus worldwide.
While many bars put their own spin on it, cocktail enthusiasts often seek out places that still craft the drink using Trader Vic’s original recipe.