The Mai Tai

Before you start:

This isn’t a fruity drink. It’s not red, it’s not pink, it’s not blue.  Somewhere over the years, the Mai Tai lost its way. It became filled with cheap rum, every fruit juice available,  and grenadine. That might be tasty, but it’s not a Mai Tai.  A true Mai Tai showcases the rum front and center. In fact, Trader Vic created this drink to showcase one of his favorite rums, J. Wray & Nephew 17 year. And as any amateur mixolgist knows, you don’t go hiding the complex flavors of a  17 year old spirit with fruit juice and sugar. Legend has it the drink was named when the Trader mixed one up for a guest, and upon their first sip they exclaimed “Mai Tai, Roe Ae!” roughly translated to “out of this world.”

Our Version of the Mai Tai is a slight variation from Trader Vics original.  After doing much field research (it’s a rough job) and much at home experimentation, this is the recipe that gave me the same intoxicating (pun!) taste and aroma of my first sip at the now defunct Trader Vic's bar in Dallas.  Here’s what you will need:

Your handy hand juicer.  As always I prefer the lime green hand press widely available in most kitchen stores.

Your trusty cocktail Shaker.

Fresh Limes

A mountain of Cracked (or Crushed) Ice

The Ingredients:

• 1 oz Dark Jamaican Rum (I prefer Myers)
• 1 oz Aged Jamaican Rum ( I prefer Appleton Estate VX)
• Juice of 1 small lime (1oz)
• ½ oz orgeat Syrup ( pronounced Oar Zhat, this ingredient can sometimes be hard to find, but it is key. Larger Liquor stores should carry some form of it in their mixer section. )

Garnish:

• A fruit Stick (A pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry on a tooth pick)
• A large Sprig of Mint

The Method:

1. Fill shaker with cracked ice.
2. Cut lime into 2 equal halves.
3. Juice both halves over the ice. Toss one half into shaker (this lets the oils of the lime skin into the mix... key!).
4. Add ½ oz of orgeat to shaker.
5. Pour 1 oz of aged Jamaican rum in shaker.
6. Pour 1 oz dark jamaican rum into shaker.
7. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds or until shaker becomes icy on the outside.
8. Pour unstrained, the entire content of shaker into double old fashioned glass.
9. Garnish with fruit stick and large sprig of mint.
10. Put on a Martin Denny record.
11. Savour the exotic taste of tiki.

Footnote:  When you drink your Mai Tai you will want to use a short straw or no straw at all.  This is key to the experience.  When you sip the aroma of the mint blends with the rummy, limey scent to create the ultimate tiki experience. Enjoy!