Mai Tai Recipe: A Timeless Tiki Treasure with a Nautical Soul

Exotic yet refined, the Mai Tai is more than just a cocktail—it’s a passport to the tropics, a breeze off the Pacific, and a toast to maritime escape. Originally crafted in the 1940s as a showcase for fine rum, this iconic drink quickly became the signature of tiki culture, adored by adventurers, island dreamers, and those with a taste for the extraordinary.

Our Mai Tai recipe elevates the original, balancing the rich complexity of aged rum with the citrusy brightness of lime, the delicate sweetness of orgeat, and the orange-kissed notes of curaçao. It’s the perfect pour for a beachfront soirée, a polished yacht gathering, or any moment that calls for the spirit of the South Seas.

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Recipe Details

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1 cocktail
Skill Level: Easy to Moderate

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Ingredients

1 oz white rum
1 oz aged dark rum (for depth and richness)
1/2 oz orange curaçao
1/2 oz orgeat syrup (almond-based)
3/4 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
Crushed ice

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Instructions

In a shaker, combine white rum, curaçao, orgeat, and lime juice with ice.
Shake vigorously until well chilled.
Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice and strain the mixture over it.
Float the dark rum on top for a layered effect.
Garnish with a fresh mint sprig, lime wheel, and a slice of pineapple for tropical elegance.

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