Ingredients
Scale
- 1 oz (30 ml) dark rum (Jamaican preferred)
- 1 oz (30 ml) light or gold rum
- ¾ oz (22 ml) fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
- ½ oz (15 ml) orange curaçao (or Cointreau)
- ½ oz (15 ml) orgeat syrup
- ¼ oz (7 ml) simple syrup or rock candy syrup
- Crushed ice or ice cubes
- Fresh mint sprig for garnish
- Lime wheel for garnish
- Optional: spent lime half for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Your Glass – Fill a rocks glass or Old Fashioned glass with crushed ice or regular ice cubes and set aside. This pre-chills the glass while you mix the drink.
- Juice the Lime – Cut a fresh lime in half and juice it to get ¾ oz of fresh lime juice. Strain out any seeds but keep the pulp for better flavor.
- Add Ingredients to Shaker – Pour the dark rum, light rum, fresh lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.
- Add Ice and Shake – Fill the shaker with ice cubes (not crushed ice for shaking) and seal tightly. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels very cold. This properly chills and dilutes the drink.
- Prepare the Glass – If your glass has melted ice, dump it out and refill with fresh crushed ice, mounding it slightly above the rim for that classic tiki presentation.
- Strain and Pour – Strain the cocktail mixture over the fresh ice in your prepared glass, pouring in a circular motion for even distribution.
- Garnish Beautifully – Slap a fresh mint sprig between your hands to release the aromatic oils, then place it prominently in the drink. Add a lime wheel and, if you want to be traditional, place the spent lime half shell on top. A cocktail umbrella and colorful straw complete the tropical look.
- Serve Immediately – The Mai Tai is best enjoyed ice-cold, so serve right away and enjoy your tropical escape!
Notes
- Rum Quality Matters – The rum is the star, so use the best quality you can afford. Cheap rum will result in a harsh, unbalanced drink.
- Fresh Juice Only – This cannot be stressed enough. Bottled lime juice has a cooked, metallic flavor that will ruin your Mai Tai.
- Orgeat is Essential – Don’t skip this ingredient or substitute with just almond extract. The orgeat’s texture and subtle sweetness are crucial to the authentic flavor.
- Adjust Sweetness – Taste as you go. Depending on your rum and curaçao, you might want slightly more or less simple syrup.
- Ice Matters – Crushed ice gives the best presentation and dilution rate, but regular cubes work fine if that’s what you have.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American (Tiki)
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail (approximately 5 oz)
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 8mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg