This Easy Mai Tai Recipe is a classic for a reason! Classics never go out of style and this tiki cocktail is a favorite rum cocktail for a lot of people!
Easy Mai Tai Recipe
I am so happy with the current creativity around craft cocktails. When we go out to dinner now, I spend as much time perusing the cocktail menu as I do the food! Each one sounds even better than the one before it!
That being said, there is nothing like the comfort of a classic cocktail. You know exactly what you’re getting. Like this Easy Mai Tai Recipe. It’s a classic. One sip and you are on a tropical island.
Original Mai Tai Recipe
I get my Mai Tai recipe straight from the man that invented the Mai Tai, Victor Bergeron, or as he is better known – Trader Vic! When I was packing up my grandmother’s liquor cabinet and barware, I found a collection of Tiki Cocktail glasses, stirrers, salt and pepper shakers and this Trader Vic’s Bartender’s Guide dated 1972.
Trader Vic’s had a location in St. Louis and I’m sure my grandmother and her friends spent a lot of time there, judging by all the stir sticks!
In the book, Vic talks about how he came to invent the original Mai Tai recipe. He was inspired by a Jamaican rum that he knew he didn’t want to overpower with too many other ingredients. After creating the drink, he gave it to two of his friends, Ham and Carrie Guild from Tahiti.
Carrie took one sip and said, “Mai Tai – Roa Aé. Which in Tahitian means, “Out of this world – the best!” And with that the Mai Tai was born!
Ingredients in a Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe
These are the ingredients needed to make an easy classic Mai Tai. We have played with the proportion a little from the original recipe, omitting the simple syrup and increasing the amount of orgeat.
White Rum – or an amber rum.
Dark Rum – or a black rum.
Cointreau – can also use my homemade Orange Liqueur.
Lime – we used fresh squeezed lime juice.
Orgeat – we used our Easy Homemade Orgeat Syrup.
How to Make a Mai Tai.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the two kinds of rum, the orange liqueur, freshly squeezed lime juice, and orgeat syrup. Shake for 15-20 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Tiki Cocktails
If you love Tiki Cocktails, get ready because I am doing a couple of weeks worth of them. Expect to see a Frozen Mango Daiquiri, a Frozen Banana Daiquiri and a Scorpion. Maybe even more!
If you’re looking for More Rum Recipes:
Piña Colada Popsicles – have your favorite rum cocktail in a fun frozen treat!
Dark and Stormy – only two ingredients in this classic!
Hemingway Daiquiri – if anyone knew his way around a daiquiri, it’s Hemingway!
Vanilla Infused Rum – turn any cocktail into a craft cocktail with this easy infused rum. Also, makes a great gift for your cocktail loving friends!
And, if you want even more, be sure and follow my Rum Recipes Board on Pinterest.
Easy Mai Tai
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau
- 1/2 ounce orgeat syrup
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Add ice cubes until the liquid is covered.
- Shake vigorously until shaker is cold. Strain into collins glass over ice. Garnish as desired.
I love cocktail posts like this. I’m terrible when it comes to impromptu cocktail mixing! But it’s so nice to give guests options when entertaining. I’m saving this. It’s perfect for summer gatherings. Rum always reminds me of the tropics.
Yes, it is a great cocktail for parties! Everyone loves them!
Oh I love mai tais! The orgeat syrup makes it soooo special and fantastic. Tiki cocktail perfection. I can’t wait for the rest of your cocktails this week!
Thanks so much Trish!
Yay…a yummy drink recipe that isn’t too sweet. I’m good with leaving out the simple syrup. Great idea. I’m looking forward to unwinding this weekend with one of these.
You’ll have to let me know what you think!
I love this! I have had mai tais in Hawaii but never tried making my own. This will be fun to be able to bring a little Island life home.
This cocktail certainly brings back fond memories. I was home from college for summer vacation. Some girlfriends and I went to a local spot that specialized in tropical cocktails. I’ll have to use your recipe to recreate the Mai Tai. I’m pinning.
You’ll have to let me know what you think!
There is nothing like a good mai tai to instantly bring back the memories of a great holiday in the tropics, love it!!
Exactly!
My local cocktail bar was having a Mai Tai workshop the other day, and I was super sad because I had to miss it. And then I came across your recipe, so it doesn’t really matter that I missed the class. I can just use this great classic version to make some at home! 🙂
That would have been a fun workshop though!
We just spend a week in Hawaii and guess what our drink of choice was? Yep, mai tais! As soon as we got home I’ve been on the hunt for this classic cocktail. Thank you!
Wait to you see how easy it is to make at home!
Yum! Can’t wait to make this!
You’ll have to let me know what you think!
It’s always fun playing bartender at home. This looks like the perfect drink to make for bbq parties. A hit with the guests for sure.
It’s the perfect party drink!
This looks great. Thanks also for the tip on the dark rum. This is a great recipe for our Maine house. Beautiful photography Pam.
What a beautiful drink and your presentation is stunning!
Such a tasty cocktail! Brings back so many fun memories of trips to Hawaii. I’ll have to give your easy version a go at home to get that vacation feel.
I can only do one and I’m better off halving the booze. Might strong drink, but very good.
Have a fabulous day. ♥