The Authentic Mai Tai – A Couple Cooks

Right here’s the way to make the unique Mai Tai recipe! Collect the elements for this tropical rum drink that’s as complicated as it’s fruity.

The Mai Tai would possibly sound like a easy fruity resort drink, nevertheless it’s something however! No, this drink is a traditional cocktail from the 1940’s that’s been (cough) ruined by saccharine candy variations. How one can make a actual Mai Tai? The rum cocktail is breathtakingly complicated, that includes aged rum, orange liqueur, and almond syrup for nutty and vanilla notes in opposition to sharp citrus. Float somewhat darkish rum on high, and also you get to the core of a Mai Tai: it’s refined, nuanced, and would possibly we are saying…terribly particular.

What’s a Mai Tai?

Probably the most broadly accepted origin story of the Mai Tai is that the cocktail was invented in 1944 at Dealer Vic’s restaurant in Oakland, California. It turned very common within the 1950’s and 60’s, particularly at tiki eating places. (And since Tiki tradition is constructed on appropriation, we gained’t exalt the virtues of that phenomenon.)

Full disclosure: we weren’t followers of this drink till we tasted the traditional model! The Mai Tai cocktail in its unique type simply is smart. It’s tropical, nutty, boozy and zingy: and it’s nothing just like the grownup fruit juice you is likely to be anticipating. (I ordered a Mai tai at a bar not too long ago and it tasted like a Hawaiian punch juice field.)

Mai Tai elements

What’s within the unique Mai Tai? Regardless of what you would possibly assume, there’s no pineapple juice! There’s truly no fruit juice, apart from lime juice. The traditional Mai Tai cocktail is on the checklist of Worldwide Bartender Affiliation’s IBA official cocktails, which means that it has an “official” definition. The elements in a Mai Tai drink are:

The traditional Mai Tai elements additionally usually embody easy syrup. Utilizing a touch of easy syrup accentuates the flavour for a fruity, candy tart Mai Tai. Omit the easy syrup and it makes a extra boozy, spirit-forward drink. I favor including easy syrup for the flavour of that traditional tropical drink, however Alex prefers the boozier model. Attempt it each methods and discover your favourite!

What’s orgeat syrup?

You’ll have seen cocktails at bars that embody the ingredient orgeat syrup. What’s it, and is it completely mandatory for a Mai Tai?

• Orgeat syrup is a non-alcoholic almond syrup used for sweetening cocktails. It has a particular nutty taste with a touch of citrus that’s laborious to copy.
• How do you pronounce orgeat? Say Or-ZHAAT, the place the “ZH” is just like the J within the title Jacque.
• What’s an alternative to orgeat syrup? There is no such thing as a substitute for the distinctive nutty citrus taste. A Mai Tai with out orgeat syrup simply doesn’t work. It’s a tasty drink: simply not an actual Mai Tai.
• How a lot does orgeat syrup value? You may seize a bottle for about $10. It’s simple to seek out on-line: right here’s the orgeat syrup now we have. Burn up leftovers with a Japanese Cocktail, Trinidad Bitter, or Mojito Mocktail.

Orange liqueur: Grand Marnier vs Curaçao

A Mai Tai recipe historically makes use of orange curaçao, however it may be laborious to seek out. Listed below are a number of notes on what else to make use of as an alternative to the orange liqueur:

• Grand Marnier is your finest guess. Grand Marnier is the best finish orange liqueur, and brings nuanced, refined taste. We had a bottle (since we like Grand Marnier cocktails), so we used it right here.
• Cointreau additionally works. Acquired a bottle for making margaritas or different Cointreau drinks? You should utilize it right here too. The flavour is rather less nuanced, nevertheless it nonetheless works!

Two forms of rum make the perfect taste

Many Mai Tai recipes use two forms of rum blended into the drink. Our model takes it a step additional and floats the darkish rum on high! It makes for a showy presentation and it’s turn out to be a practice that some folks like of their model of this drink. Right here’s a bit extra concerning the two forms of rum you’ll want:

• Aged rum: Any such rum can be known as golden rum, amber rum, or añejo rum (which means “aged”). Getting old provides it a fancy taste, extra like a Cognac. It has undertones of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel. The aged rum that we used right here was Brugal Añejo Rum.
• Darkish rum: Often known as black rum, darkish rum has a darkish coloration and a wealthy taste that’s smoky and candy.

What different cocktails use a majority of these rums? Use aged rum in an El Presidente or Pineapple Rum Cocktail, and darkish rum in Rum Punch, Darkish and Stormy, or a Jungle Hen.

What persons are saying about this Mai Tai recipe

When you’ve bought your orgeat syrup, stocked up on golden and darkish rum, and figured our your orange liqueur, it’s time to make your Mai Tai cocktail! That is the simple half: shake up the elements in a cocktail shaker with ice, pressure right into a glass, float the darkish rum on high and garnish! Listed below are a number of feedback from readers who’ve made this recipe:

• “I assumed your recipe was wonderful. I added extra lime juice than listed by chance, however is turned out effective. The flavors are superb and I felt like I used to be again on Maui having fun with completely happy hour. It positive packs a punch! I’ll positively make this once more.” -Rosemary
• “Used 15 yr outdated Rhum Barbancourt from Haiti topped with Bacardi Black with Grand Marnier. It got here out very good!” -Jim
• “Wow, wow, wow! You guys hit this one on the pinnacle. Completely unbelievable recipe. The second I tasted this, the reminiscences of once I first had this got here again to me.” -Justin

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