Mai Tai – The King of Tiki Drinks
Few cocktails embody the spirit of Tiki culture like the Mai Tai. Created in 1944 by Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron, this iconic drink balances rich aged rum, nutty orgeat, citrusy curaçao, and tangy lime into what many consider the perfect tropical cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 oz aged Jamaican rum (Appleton Estate 12-Year or Denizen Merchant's Reserve)
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz orgeat syrup (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
- ½ oz orange curaçao (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao preferred)
- ¼ oz rich demerara syrup (2:1 sugar-to-water)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake well (10-12 seconds) until chilled.
- Strain into a double old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice.
- Garnish with mint and the lime shell (placed upside-down on the drink).