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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    Trader Vic's Mai Tai

    Published: Jul 16, 2021 · Modified: Sep 1, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments
    mai tais on a table with fresh limes

    The Mai Tai might be the most famous Hawaiian cocktail. There are many different Mai Tai recipes that claim to be original. This version is a recipe adapted from the Mai Tai that's served at Smuggler's Cove.

    Even if you can't be in Hawaii right now, let this classic tiki cocktail take to you to the islands — perfect for your next luau party even if it's a party of one.

    The original Mai Tai recipe was created by Victor J. Bergeron (Trader Vic) in the 1940s. The recipe was so popular that it nearly depleted the world's supply of rum.

    The drink was simple and showcased a 17-year old Jamaican Rum. The drink was thusly named when several Tahitians had the drink and exclaimed "Maita’i roa a’e," which means "Out of this world." The Tahitian translation for "Maita’i" is "The Best."

    In 1953 the Mai Tai made it to Hawaiian shores when Bergeron was hired to oversee cocktail creation at the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider Hotels, and in 1954 the Original Mai Tai recipe was adapted to fit tourist palettes.

    Bergeron added pineapple juice and orange juice to sweeten the concoction and make it more palatable. This recipe usurped the original cocktail recipe and became one of the iconic drinks served at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki.

    Contrary to popular belief, the original mai tai recipe has no pineapple juice in it and no dark rum float. The original recipe is not overly sweet, and the ingredients were selected to feature the flavor of the Jamaican Rum.

    Mai Tai Ingredients (The Original)

    Rum

    The original rum used in the Mai Tai was 17 year J. Wrey & Nephew Jamaica Rum. This rum is no longer widely available, and bartenders have been trying to recreate the flavor since the 1950s when the popularity of the Trader Vic Mai Tai exhausted the availability of this rum.

    All rum is made from molasses or essentially sugar, but rum is produced in 80 different countries with vastly different methods of production.

    I used an aged Hawaiian rum in this recipe but have also experimented using golden rum, otherwise known as Anejo rum. Anejo rum has more oak, brown sugar, and caramel flavors in it.

    The black rum float was added to the tourist version of the Mai Tai for presentation. However, there is a rumor that an old guy used to order his Mai Tai's this way at Trader Vics sometime in the 1940s.

    Orange curaçao

    Orange curaçoa is an orange liqueur. If you have trouble finding it (I did), you can use Grand Marnier, which is made in the same style as curaçoa but is slightly more top-shelf.

    Orgeat syrup [or・zhaat]

    Pronounced with an OR and then with something between a J and a Z - Ot.

    Orgeat is a blended almond syrup with a curious flavor that cannot be replicated but is an essential ingredient when making a Mai Tai.

    There are no substitutions for Orgeat Syrup. You can make a cocktail without and add in more simple syrup, but you won't be able to call it a Mai Tai.

    Rich demerara simple syrup

    The original Mai Tai is made with Rock Candy Syrup, a 'rich' simple syrup made with 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar.

    Smuggler's cove uses a rich simple syrup made with demerara sugar, adding a caramel note to the cocktail.

    Fresh lime juice

    Freshly squeezed lime juice is the only juice in a traditional mai tai cocktail. Gently juice the halved limes so that you get no pith. (reserve these for garnishing)

    I am working on my post detailing the recipe for the tourist version of the Mai Tai recipe. That will be linked here very soon.

    Spent lime shells

    Save the lime shell halves from juicing to garnish this cocktail.

    Mint Sprigs

    Fresh mint sprigs garnish the Mai Tai.

    How to Make A Mai Tai

    The glass: Serve in a double old-fashioned glass or a rocks glass.

    Mai Tai Recipe being poured over ice in an double old fashioned glass

    Ready Your Cocktail Shaker

    Tropical cocktails are shaken with crushed ice and then served over more crushed ice.

    To do this properly, a double old-fashioned glass should be filled about two-thirds of the way with crushed ice. You will also add the ice from the cocktail shaker instead of straining the cocktail.

    Let's Get Started

    1. Fill your glass ⅔ of the way with crushed ice.
    2. Fill the cocktail shaker ½ of the way with crushed ice.
    3. Add all of the mai tai drink ingredients to the shaker, shake vigorously, and dump the shaken cocktail and the ice into the old-fashioned glass.
    4. Garnish with a spent lime shell and a sprig of ice.
    The original 
Trader Vic's Mai Tai Recipe garnished with lime and mint.

    More Cocktail Recipes

    Try a few of our favorite Lua-inspired Tiki Cocktails like the Pineapple Martini and the Blue Hawaii Cocktail.

    If you're in the mood for an icy glass of Limoncello or a fun summer cocktail like the Lemon Drop or a Bulle de Peche.

    • Simple Syrup - Perfect For Cocktails!
    • White Wine Sangria
    • The Siesta Cocktail
    • Brown Derby Cocktail
    • Hemingway Daiquiri
    • Red Sangria Recipe

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

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    Mai Tai Recipe (The Original)

    Laura Reigel
    The Mai Tai might be the most famous Hawaiian cocktail. There are many different Mai Tai recipes that claim to be original. This version is the original Mai Tai cocktail recipe and is adapted from the Mai Tai that's served at Smuggler's Cove.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Cocktail
    Cuisine Hawaiian
    Servings 1
    Calories 208 kcal

    Equipment

    • jigger
    • cocktail shaker
    • double rocks glass

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 fl ounces White rum
    • ½ fl ounce orange curaçao
    • ¾ fl ounces Lime juice
    • ¼ fl ounces orgeat syrup
    • ¼ fl ounces Rich simple syrup

    Garnish

    • Spent lime shells
    • fresh mint sprigs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Fill one rocks glass half way up with crushed ice.
    • Fill a cocktail shaker halfway up with crushed ice. Add the rum, orgeat, curaçao, lime juice, and simple syrup to the cocktail shaker.
    • Shake vigorously and then pour the mai tai into the rocks glass. Dump ice from shaker into the class.
    • Garnish with one spent lime shell and a sprig of ming.

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    • Rum. I used a quality aged Hawaiian rum.
    • Orange curaçao. Orange curaçoa is an orange liqueur. If you have trouble finding it you can use Grand Marnier.
    • Fresh lime juice. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the only juice in a traditional mai tai cocktail. Gently juice the halved limes so that you get no pith. (reserve these for garnishing)
    • Orgeat syrup. [or・zhaat] is a blended almond syrup. There is no substitute. **I like to use ½ ounce orgeat syrup and leave out the simple syrup altogether. 
    • Rich demerara simple syrup. Made with 1 cup of water and 2 cups of demerara sugar.
    • Spent lime shells. Save the lime shell halves from juicing to garnish this cocktail.
    • Mint sprigs.
    1. Tropical cocktails are shaken with crushed ice and then served over more crushed ice.
      To do this properly a double old-fashioned glass should be filled about two-thirds of the way with crushed ice. You will also be adding the ice from the cocktail shaker as opposed to straining the cocktail

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 208kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 7mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cocktail, mai tai, tiki cocktail
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

    More Cocktails

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    • Old Fashioned Cocktail
    66 shares

    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      July 27, 2021 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      This mai tai recipe is so good! It tastes just like the ones at Trader Vics. I had it several years ago and I'm so happy to find this recipe because I don't live near a Trader Vics.

      Reply
    2. Brad

      July 24, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      Personally I've always loved this version of mai tai over the super sweet ones you get at the hotels! Perfect for lounging outside by the pool.

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        July 26, 2021 at 5:24 pm

        Thank you, Brad, for the awesome review. I'm glad that you loved this recipe. Keep your eye out for more cocktail recipes.

        Reply

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