Mai Tai Cocktail

A classic Mai Tai Cocktail with 3 different kinds of rum, lime juice, almond and simple syrup. One sip and you’ll feel like you’re oceanside in Hawaii. 

A couple weeks ago, I declared Margarita Monday a thing when I shared my recipe for Watermelon Margaritas. I am declaring today Mai Tai Monday because…why not?

I first had a Mai Tai when Ryan and I went to Hawaii for our 10th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago. We sat down at a happy hour after we checked into our hotel, they were on special and that was that.

I was sold.

From that point on, pretty much each day during our vacation, we hopped from happy hour to happy hour sipping on drinks and looking at this…

We were without our kiddos, what else were we going to do?!

It’s been a couple of years since that trip to Hawaii but we still celebrate what we affectionately call “Mai Tai:30”. It took a few tries to get the recipe just right, but we finally did and that’s what I’m sharing with you today.

What’s in a Mai Tai?

Whatever you do, stay away from the pre-made mix. It’s just way too sweet and not the best. Instead, make your own.

RUM: There are three different kinds of rum used in this recipe: gold rum, silver rum and dark rum. 

TRIPLE SEC: an orange flavored liquor. You can also use orange curacao. 

SIMPLE SYRUP: This is a sweetener. You can buy your own or you can make your own by dissolving 1 part sugar in 1 part water. I usually use 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 water. Heat over medium heat and just until sugar dissolves. It’s pretty sweet so, stored in the refrigerator, that amount should last you awhile. 

ORGEAT SYRUP:  An almond syrup and honestly, it totally makes the Mai Tai. You can make the cocktail with only one kind of rum and it will taste pretty good. But make one without oregeat syrup and it’s just not the same.

Technique for making this recipe:

To make this cocktail, you’ll want to combine the golden rum, silver rum, triple sec, simple syrup, lime juice and orgeat syrup with some ice in a cocktail shaker.

Once combined, you’ll pour the cocktail over ice. Finally, to get the perfect “layered” look that is synonymous with a classic Mai Tai, you’ll want to do a float of dark rum.

To do a float of dark rum, simply hold a spoon above the glass and slowly pour the rum over the spoon. This will “float” the dark rum on top of the rest of the drink and give it the gorgeous layered look. 

This Mai Tai is sweet but not too sweet. Tangy but not too tangy. And it’s perfect for sipping on hot summer days or any day when you just want to be on a beach. 

Other cocktails  to try:

Tequila Sunrise

Pineapple Upside Down Mimosas

Spicy Bloody Mary 

Peppermint Patty Cocktail

Apple Pie Cocktail

Looking for a snack or appetizer to munch on while enjoying your Mai Tai?

Filipino Lumpia

Cabbage Salsa

Crab Wontons

Homemade Ranch Dip Recipe

Warm Marinated Olives

JoJo Potatoes

Note: This post was originally written in 2019. It was updated in 2020.