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The Original Mai Tai Recipe

From: Beachbum Berry's Sippin' Safari , by
The Original Mai Tai
Difficulty: Easy | Total Time: 5 mins | Active Time: | Makes: 1 drink

The mai tai is one of the most perverted cocktails out there, frequently made with wrong ingredients like pineapple juice and grenadine. This recipe is the real deal: It traces back to Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron Jr. in the 1930s, and comes to us via Martin Cate, owner of Smuggler’s Cove. See Cate demonstrate how to make it in our You’re Doing It All Wrong video.

What to buy: Orgeat is an almond-sugar syrup traditionally made from whole blanched almonds. The nut oil gives the syrup (and cocktails made with it) a richness that can’t be duplicated with a cheap syrup made with almond flavoring and sugar. Try to find a high-quality brand such as Small Hand Foods or Trader Tiki’s.

This recipe was featured as part of our Tiki Cocktails photo gallery.

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 ounces aged rum
  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice, juiced lime half reserved
  • 1/2 ounce orange curaçao
  • 1/4 ounce Rich Simple Syrup, also known as rock candy syrup
  • 1/4 ounce orgeat
  • 1 cup crushed ice
  • 1 mint sprig, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all ingredients except the mint sprig in a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously, and pour the entire contents into a double Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with the juiced lime half and a mint sprig.
    Write a review | 3 Reviews
  • The Original Mai Tai Recipe
    3

    this recipe is not exactly right but close vsop rhum clement and appleton v/x would be the right rums to use the beachbum berry recipe is the real deal

  • The Original Mai Tai Recipe
    5

    This was far and away the best Mai Tai I've ever had! It renewed my interest in making drinks at home. Watch the video if you can; he gives you more tips like slapping the mint first to release its oils.

  • This recipe is stellar. I'd only ever had the OJ/rum float type of mai-tai and this one is just in an entire other realm of goodness. Good orgeat was worth the hunt, and I made my own rock candy syrup with raw sugar. Totally delicious and a huge party hit.

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